• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Short Order Cook

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Food & Fun
  • Travel & Dining
  • Meet Angela
  • Work with Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Food & Fun
    • Travel & Dining
    • Meet Angela
    • Work with Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Main Dishes

    Published: Oct 21, 2022 · Modified: Jan 23, 2023 by Angela · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    Creamy Lemon Dill Butter Chicken 

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Pan-seared chicken in a creamy lemon dill butter sauce is rich, decadent, & fabulous. The balance of cream, citrus, fresh herbs, and juicy chicken thighs is simple to make yet tastes gourmet. After one bite of the succulent chicken in a rich & creamy pan sauce, you will wonder where this recipe has been all your life.

    It's an easy one-pan recipe that's done in less than 30 minutes so you can enjoy it any day of the week. Simply dredge some boneless skinless chicken thighs into seasoned flour and brown them for flavor. The lemon dill sauce with heavy cream finishes it off until they are tender. In no time, this chicken recipe is ready and on the table.

    Creamy Lemon Dill Butter Chicken Plated with fresh dill on top and as a garnish.

    This quick chicken recipe is fast enough to make for dinner even on a busy weekday. But it will also please any foodie and can be served for special occasions. Just don't let any of your guests know how crazy easy it is to make.

    It is great for dinner parties, birthdays, and Sunday suppers. Pair it with your favorite Chardonnay for an anniversary or Valentine's Day dinner.

    This was inspired by my creamy coconut chicken recipe on this site. That recipe has Asian flavors and is dairy-free. Both have an unreal sauce but this new recipe uses real cream & butter for a velvety finish. It pairs wonderfully with crispy broccolini and parmesan.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Top Tip -
    • Substitutions
    • Keto & Low-Carb Creamy Dill Chicken
    • What to Serve with Creamy Chicken
    • Equipment
    • Storage & Reheating
    • FAQ
    • Creamy Lemon Dill Butter Chicken 
    • Food safety

    Ingredients

    This recipe starts out with boneless skinless chicken thighs. I like to use thighs because they cook up quickly and are more flavorful in my opinion. Thigh meat also doesn't dry out as easily as chicken breasts.

    For the sauce, butter, cream, lemon juice, fresh dill, and a few other ingredients will come together. Seasoning and dredging the chicken in flour is also important. This is so each piece can brown beautifully and really hold onto the yummy sauce.

    Ingredients on a table.
    • Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
    • All-Purpose Flour
    • Seasoned Salt
    • Black Pepper
    • Vegetable Oil
    • Salted Butter
    • Heavy Cream
    • Fresh Lemon Juice
    • Fresh Dill

    See the recipe card for quantities.

    Instructions

    This one-pan recipe comes together quickly. So get all your ingredients ready before you begin cooking. Once everything is within your reach and near the stove, it's time to get cooking.

    There are 3 simple steps to this recipe. You will start by coating and browning the chicken pieces. Then you will remove the chicken and make the pan sauce. Finally, add the chicken to the sauce to all come together. Viola - this creamy lemon dill chicken recipe is so easy!

    Dredge & Brown the Boneless Skinless Thighs

    Dredging chicken thighs in flour have so many benefits when making a recipe like this. It not only helps with the browning process but it will help thicken the sauce later when everything comes together. To learn more about why dredging is a great step for pan-frying chicken see the FAQ section below.

    Here are the steps on how to dredge chicken thighs in seasoned flour. Begin by patting the pieces of chicken dry on both sides. This will help the flour mixture stick to the thigh meat.

    Adding seasoned salt to a dish of flour.

    In a shallow pan or dish, add the flour & seasoned salt. Mix to combine.

    Chicken Dredging boneless skinless chicken thighs in seasoned flour.

    Add one piece at a time to the flour mixture. Flip over a few times to coat all sides evenly. Shake off any excess.

    Chicken Thighs dredged in flour added to a skillet to cook.

    Preheat a medium-large skillet with vegetable oil over medium-high heat. I had my stove on 7. Set the chicken pieces in the hot oil - do not crowd the pan.

    Chicken Thighs browned in the skillet.

    Brown chicken pieces for 4-5 minutes on each side.

    Transfer the chicken to a plate. It will continue cooking later in the sauce so it is ok if it is not done all the way through. This will keep it from being overcooked when the total cooking time is complete.

    Make the Creamy Pan Sauce

    Now it is time to make the butter dill pan sauce that adds so much flavor to this chicken dish. Turn the pan down to medium-low. Add chicken broth and scrape up any tiny bits from cooking the chicken.

    To the pan add the butter, cream, lemon juice, and black pepper. Stir to combine.

    Adding butter and ingredients to skillet.

    Simmer

    Add the chicken pieces to the pan with the lemon butter sauce. Continue cooking until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°. Do not let it boil, it should be on a low simmer at this point. It will take about 8-10 minutes - depending on how thick the chicken thighs are.

    Hint: Flip the chicken over every few minutes so that each side gets a chance to soak up the flavors of the sauce.

    Creamy Lemon Dill Butter Chicken Adding chicken back to pan with sauce.

    Turn off the heat and remove the pan from the stove. Add fresh dill to the sauce and baste the chicken to coat it with the sauce.

    Creamy Lemon Dill Butter Chicken Overhead skillet ready to eat.

    Top Tip -

    Don't OVERCOOK the chicken in the earlier steps. Since the chicken goes through a 2-step cooking method it can be easy to overcook it.

    Follow the cooking times and remember the chicken will not have an internal reading of 165° after the browning step. It will be done and 165° after simmering in the sauce. Use an instant-read thermometer to guarantee juicy chicken every time.

    Instant read thermometer with link to buy.

    Substitutions

    This easy one-pan recipe can be altered to fit several dietary or lifestyle needs. For a yummy creamy dill chicken recipe that is gluten-free, keto, low-carb, or grain-free try one of these quick substitutions. The easy swap-outs or changes still make a wonderful homemade chicken recipe.

    • Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs - if you love crispy skin, you can use boneless chicken thighs with the skin on
    • Flour- use gluten-free flour to make this gluten-free or omit it for a grain-free chicken recipe.

    Keto & Low-Carb Creamy Dill Chicken

    This recipe can easily be made keto-friendly, low-carb, gluten-free, & grain-free. Simply omit the flour that the chicken thighs are dredged in before browning in the pan. With that simple change, this chicken recipe in a creamy butter dill sauce becomes very low-carb and is high in fat, perfect for a ketogenic diet.

    It is also a high-protein recipe with less than 2g of net carbs. If you break down this recipe into 3 servings and omit the flour, here is the nutritional information for this recipe. 440 calories, 27g fat, 1.2g net carbs, and 45g protein.

    Plated chicken thighs in a creamy dill butter sauce.

    What to Serve with Creamy Chicken

    Comforting chicken recipes with a creamy sauce go really well with side dishes that can soak up all those flavors. I suggest serving this over pasta, rice, cauliflower rice, soft polenta, egg noodles, or zucchini noodles. For some crusty bread to dip into that luscious sauce make some fresh-baked ciabatta bread.

    For other sides that go well with lemon dill chicken, try these yummy recipes.

    • Air Fryer Broccolini with Lemon & Parmesan
    • Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Brown Sugar, Bacon, & Blue Cheese
    • Crispy Air Fryer Keto Radishes
    • Easy Homemade Soft Dinner Rolls

    Equipment

    This simple recipe does not require a bunch of special ingredients or kitchen tools. There are only a few items that I recommend when making this creamy chicken recipe.

    Instant read thermometer with link to buy.
    ChefsTemp Finaltouch X10 - $69.99

    Finaltouch X10 is the Winner of Red Dot Product Design in 2022. The Red Dot Design Award is one of the three most prestigious professional design competitions in the world. Winning the award proves its the Leader in Design and Technology. Chefs around the world rate ChefsTemp thermometers the best meat thermometer in 2022 for a reason.

    Instant read thermometer with link to buy.
    ChefsTemp Pocket Pro - $34.99

    Professional thermocouple probe sensor with 1 second reading time, this pocket size kitchen gadget is suitable for both professional chefs and home cooks. Pocket Pro is another amazing innovation from ChefsTemp. It is a 4-way rotating display thermometer, which means it will detect your holding angle and rotate the display accordingly. Convenient for both left and right hand users!

    The Short Order Cook is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission on the sale at no additional cost to you. This helps with the costs of running the blog. Thank you! 

    Storage & Reheating

    This recipe holds up well for storing and enjoying later. Place sauce and chicken in an air-tight storage container. Place in the refrigerator and store for up to 5 days.

    The creamy sauce may separate a bit when reheating. Simply add a splash of cream back to the sauce and stir. This will make the sauce creamy again. This reheats quickly in the microwave.

    The cream sauce doesn't stand up well to freezing. For that reason, I do not recommend freezing any leftovers.

    A plate of chicken in dill sauce ready to eat.

    FAQ

    Can I use boneless skinless chicken breasts instead of thighs?

    The cooking times are based on cooking thighs. Thighs tend to be thinner pieces of chicken and cook faster. Therefore, if you wish to substitute the thighs for breasts, it will take longer to cook.

    I suggest browning each piece for 5-6 minutes. Then when you cook it in the sauce make sure to check that the internal temperature is 165°. (thin chicken breast cutlets will take the same amount of time as the thighs)

    Can I replace the fresh dill with dill weed?

    The herbaceous flavor that comes from fresh dill is grassy & bright. Dried dill doesn't hit the same way. However, in a pinch, you can use dill weed as a substitute for the fresh dill in this cream sauce.

    Since fresh dill and dill weed packs a different flavor punch, the amounts will vary. Instead of using a tablespoon of fresh dill, use 1 teaspoon of dill weed instead. Substituting dill in recipes is easy if you know how to do it correctly.

    Why dredge chicken in flour?

    There are several reasons why coating chicken in a thin layer of flour before pan-frying is a good idea. To begin with, it helps create a lovely brown crust. That crust helps seal in juices and acts as a bit of a protective layer from the extreme heat of the pan.

    That crust also lends a nice texture with a bit of crunch, even when served with a sauce like in this recipe. When you have a chicken recipe with a pan sauce, the dredging step is also important for other reasons. That small bit of flour helps the pan sauce thicken as the chicken simmers in the sauce.

    Creamy lemon and dill butter sauce over chicken thighs in a skillet.

    Creamy Lemon Dill Butter Chicken 

    Angela
    Pan-seared chicken in a creamy lemon dill butter sauce is rich, decadent, & fabulous. The balance of cream, citrus, fresh herbs, and juicy chicken thighs is simple to make yet tastes gourmet. This easy one-pan recipe is fast enough for a weeknight dinner but also gourmet enough for a special occasion.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Main Course
    Servings 4

    Equipment

    • 9-12" Skillet

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs
    • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
    • 1 tablespoon avocado or vegetable oil
    • ½ cup chicken broth
    • 1 tablespoon salted butter
    • ½ cup heavy cream
    • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
    • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 tablespoon fresh dill chopped
    • fresh dill sprigs optional garnish

    Instructions
     

    • Pat dry the boneless skinless chicken thighs.
    • In a shallow pan, like a pie pan, combine flour and seasoned salt.
    • Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat.
    • Dredge chicken thighs in seasoned flour. Shake off any large clumps before gently adding each piece to the hot oil.
    • Brown chicken for 4-5 minutes on each side.
      Transfer the chicken to a plate. It will continue cooking later in the sauce so it is ok if it is not done all the way through.
    • Turn the pan down to medium-low. Add chicken broth and scrape up any tiny bits from cooking the chicken.
    • To the pan add the butter, cream, lemon juice, and black pepper. Stir to combine.
    • Add the chicken pieces to the pan with the lemon butter sauce. Continue cooking until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°. It should take about 8-10 minutes - depending on how thick the chicken thighs are.
    • Turn off the heat and remove the pan from the stove. Add fresh dill to the sauce and baste chicken to coat with the sauce.
      Plate the chicken and pour the sauce over the chicken pieces. Add sprigs of dill for garnish.

    Notes

    Nutrition Facts
    Servings: 4
    Amount per serving  
    Calories 359
    % Daily Value*
    Total Fat 20.5g 26%
    Saturated Fat 8.3g 42%
    Cholesterol 129mg 43%
    Sodium 602mg 26%
    Total Carbohydrate 7g 3%
    Dietary Fiber 0.3g 1%
    Total Sugars 0.2g  
    Protein 34.8g  
    Vitamin D 10mcg 49%
    Calcium 44mg 3%
    Iron 2mg 12%
    Potassium 352mg 7%
    *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice.
     

    Food safety

    Make sure your chicken is cooked all the way through before plating. Here are some tips when cooking chicken. Remember to use my tips for handling raw chicken plus these additional food handling rules.

    • Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
    • Wash hands after touching raw meat
    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

    « What to Serve with French Toast
    Easy Ground Beef Recipes With Few Ingredients »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. chelsea says

      October 24, 2022 at 7:05 pm

      5 stars
      I was looking to see if you can add dill to piccata when I found this recipe. If you like chicken piccata and dill you will love this recipe. I may even add capers next time.

      Reply
      • Angela says

        October 25, 2022 at 7:23 pm

        That sounds really good.

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Angela the short order cook on a step stool reaching into the top kitchen cupboard.

    Hi, I'm Angela I’m Angela, a petite mom that loves to cook, eat, drink, & explore all things food. I have been cooking since I could pull up a stool to finally reach the counter. I still rely on my trusty stool every day. I am a former personal chef turned blogger that hopes you find something new & tasty to love while you are here.

    More about me →

    This site has links to products/services that may make us a commission. #ad

    Popular

    • Air Fryer Broccolini with Lemon & Parmesan
    • Toaster Oven Bacon
    • Best Pots & Pans for Gas Stove
    • Teriyaki Chicken on a Stick
    • Homemade Snickers Bars
    • Creamy Coconut Chicken 
    • 3-Ingredient Sloppy Joes (Gluten-Free)
    • Collard Greens Seasoning

    The Short Order Cook LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com

    #ad The Short Order Cook LLC is an affiliate of ButcherBox. I have been a customer for years and cannot recommend it enough. Great prices & even better meat! Sign up today.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Disclosure Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work With Me
    • Meet Angela
    • Meet the Family

    Copyright © 2023 The Short Order Cook LLC All recipes, photos, and articles on this site are the property of The Short Order Cook LLC. You are welcome to share a photo ONLY with an accompanied do-follow link back to this site. Publishing any items as if they were your own is prohibited.

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read Privacy Policy
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT