Description
Juicy, golden chicken fillets with caramelized onions and a squeeze of fresh lemon — a simple, flavorful meal made with pantry staples. This easy, budget-friendly chicken fillet recipe is perfect for busy weeknights when you want something fresh and homemade without spending hours in the kitchen.
Ingredients
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup sliced onions
- Juice of 1/2 lemon (or lime)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon Italian herbs
- Oil for frying - just enough to lightly coat the pan
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Butterfly: Slice each chicken breast in half horizontally to make 4 thin fillets.
- Tenderize: Pat dry and gently pound so they cook evenly.
- Season: Add salt, black pepper, and Italian herbs on both sides.
- Marinate: Toss fillets with lemon juice and rest 10 minutes for brightness and tenderness.
- Pan-fry: Heat a thin film of oil in a skillet. Cook 1–2 fillets at a time, 3–4 minutes per side, until golden and cooked through.
- Onions: Remove chicken. In the same skillet, sauté the onions until soft and lightly caramelized (add a touch more oil if needed).
- Serve: Return chicken briefly to warm through, spoon pan onions over the top, and finish with chopped parsley.
Notes
For extra tenderness, marinate the fillets for up to 30 minutes before frying.
Love stronger flavors? Add a hint of garlic or a pinch of chili flakes for a subtle kick.
Keep the onions in the same pan — they absorb the chicken flavor beautifully.
This recipe also works wonders with chicken tenderloins or even chicken steak cuts if that’s what you have on hand.
Note: These values are rough estimates based on common ingredients. For medical or dietary advice, it’s always best to consult a registered nutritionist or healthcare provider.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Worldwide
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 filet
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 410 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg