Dinner dilemmas are a thing of the past with this incredibly simple and satisfying chicken skillet meal.
Imagine tender, juicy chicken pieces mingling with crisp-tender green beans, all cooked together in one pan for minimal cleanup. This recipe is a weeknight lifesaver, delivering a complete and delicious meal without the fuss.
Perfect for busy families, this dish comes together quickly and uses straightforward ingredients you likely already have on hand. It’s a hearty, wholesome option that everyone at the table will love, making dinner prep a breeze and leaving you more time to enjoy with your loved ones.
One-Pan Chicken and Green Bean Skillet
- Total Time: 30-35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
This incredibly simple and satisfying one-pan chicken and green bean skillet is a weeknight lifesaver, delivering a complete and delicious meal with minimal cleanup. Tender, juicy chicken pieces mingle with crisp-tender green beans, all cooked together for a hearty, wholesome option that’s perfect for busy families and home cooks of all skill levels.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. Pat your chicken pieces dry with paper towels. Heat the olive oil in a large, oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the chicken pieces in a single layer, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside on a plate.
2. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the chopped onion to the same skillet, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook for about 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens and becomes translucent.
3. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Immediately add the trimmed green beans to the skillet. Toss them with the onions and garlic for about 2-3 minutes.
4. Pour in the chicken broth, then sprinkle in the Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Stir everything together, ensuring the green beans and aromatics are well-coated.
5. Return the seared chicken pieces to the skillet, nestling them among the green beans. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover the skillet and let it cook for 8-10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (reaching an internal temperature of 165 F) and the green beans are crisp-tender.
6. Uncover the skillet and check the doneness of the chicken and green beans. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if using, and serve immediately.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: main dish
- Method: skillet
- Cuisine: american
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
Keywords: chicken, green beans, skillet, one pan, weeknight, easy, healthy, dinner, quick, family friendly
What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
This one-pan chicken and green bean skillet is a true hero in the kitchen, especially on those evenings when time is short but you still want to serve something homemade and nutritious. It’s designed for home cooks of all skill levels, from beginners just starting their culinary journey to seasoned pros looking for a reliable, no-fuss meal. The beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity and efficiency. Everything cooks in a single skillet, which not only concentrates the flavors but also makes cleanup incredibly easy – a major win on any busy night.
This recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prepping for lunches, or even a casual weekend lunch. It’s a balanced meal with protein from the chicken and plenty of fiber and vitamins from the green beans. It’s also highly adaptable, allowing you to tweak flavors to suit your family’s preferences. If you’re looking for a dish that delivers on taste, convenience, and health, this chicken skillet meal with green beans is an absolute must-try. It’s comforting, satisfying, and consistently delicious, making it a staple in many households.
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Gathering your ingredients for this skillet meal is straightforward, focusing on fresh, accessible items. The beauty of this recipe is that it doesn’t require any exotic spices or specialty produce, making it an economical and convenient choice for any grocery run. You’ll find everything you need easily at your local supermarket.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
- 1 small yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish, optional)
When it comes to substitutions, feel free to adapt based on what you have. If fresh green beans aren’t available, you can use frozen green beans; just be sure to thaw them first and pat them dry to prevent excess water in the skillet. For the chicken, boneless, skinless chicken thighs offer a slightly richer flavor and tend to stay moister, but breasts work perfectly well for a leaner option. If you don’t have Italian seasoning, a mix of dried oregano, basil, and thyme can be used. Vegetable broth can easily stand in for chicken broth if preferred. For a touch of heat, a pinch of red pepper flakes can be added along with the other seasonings.
Time Needed From Start To Finish
This recipe is designed for speed and efficiency, making it an ideal choice for those hectic days when you need a delicious meal on the table in a flash.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Total Time: 30-35 minutes
The preparation involves simple chopping of chicken, trimming green beans, and dicing an onion and garlic. The cooking process is equally quick, with everything coming together in one pan, minimizing the time spent hovering over the stove. This realistic timeline ensures you can enjoy a wholesome, homemade dinner without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Creating this flavorful chicken and green bean skillet meal is incredibly simple. Follow these steps for a perfectly cooked dish every time.
- Prepare the Chicken and Skillet: Start by patting your chicken pieces dry with paper towels. This helps them brown nicely. Heat the olive oil in a large, oven-safe skillet (preferably cast iron or heavy-bottomed) over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the chicken pieces in a single layer, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown. The chicken doesn’t need to be cooked through at this stage, just nicely seared. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside on a plate.
- Sauté the Aromatics: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the chopped onion to the same skillet, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook for about 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens and becomes translucent. This step builds a foundational layer of flavor.
- Add Garlic and Green Beans: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic, as it can turn bitter. Immediately add the trimmed green beans to the skillet. Toss them with the onions and garlic for about 2-3 minutes, allowing them to start to brighten in color.
- Introduce Liquids and Seasonings: Pour in the chicken broth, then sprinkle in the Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Stir everything together, ensuring the green beans and aromatics are well-coated. The broth will help create a light sauce and steam the green beans.
- Return Chicken and Simmer: Return the seared chicken pieces to the skillet, nestling them among the green beans. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover the skillet and let it cook for 8-10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (reaching an internal temperature of 165°F) and the green beans are crisp-tender.
- Check for Doneness and Serve: Uncover the skillet and check the doneness of the chicken and green beans. The green beans should still have a slight bite, not be mushy. If there’s too much liquid, you can remove the lid and increase the heat slightly for a minute or two to reduce it, stirring gently. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if using, and serve immediately.
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
This chicken and green bean skillet is wonderfully versatile, making it easy to adapt to different tastes and occasions. For a simple weeknight meal, it’s fantastic on its own, but it also pairs beautifully with a variety of sides.
To make it even more kid-friendly, consider cutting the chicken into smaller, bite-sized pieces before cooking. You can also add a touch of mild cheese, like shredded mozzarella, over the top during the last few minutes of cooking for a melty, comforting finish that kids often love. If your children are not keen on green beans, you can swap them out for broccoli florets or even small potato cubes, though potato cubes will require a longer cooking time.
For variations, try adding other vegetables. Sliced bell peppers, mushrooms, or cherry tomatoes can be tossed in with the green beans for added color and nutrients. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice over the finished dish brightens all the flavors. For a creamy twist, stir in a tablespoon or two of cream cheese or a splash of heavy cream at the very end, just until melted and combined. You could also add a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese for a savory, umami boost.
When serving, this dish is excellent alongside fluffy white rice or quinoa, which can soak up the delicious pan juices. Roasted potatoes or a simple side salad also make great companions. For a heartier meal, serve it with a crusty baguette to sop up every last drop of the flavorful sauce. It’s also a fantastic option for meal prep; portion it into containers with your favorite grain for healthy lunches throughout the week.
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
Even simple recipes can have a few pitfalls. Knowing what to watch out for can help you achieve perfect results every time with your chicken skillet meal.
One common mistake is overcrowding the skillet. When you add too much chicken at once, the pan temperature drops, and instead of searing, the chicken steams. This results in pale, less flavorful chicken. To avoid this, cook the chicken in batches if necessary, ensuring there’s enough space between pieces for proper browning.
Another frequent issue is overcooking the chicken. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts can dry out quickly. Keep an eye on the cooking time and use a meat thermometer to check for an internal temperature of 165°F. Once it reaches this temperature, remove it from the heat. Chicken thighs are more forgiving if you’re worried about overcooking.
Mushy green beans are another common complaint. This usually happens from overcooking. Green beans should be crisp-tender, meaning they still have a slight bite to them. Start checking their doneness around the 8-minute mark after adding them to the skillet with the broth. If using frozen green beans, they tend to cook faster, so adjust your timing accordingly.
Finally, not seasoning properly can lead to a bland dish. Don’t be shy with the salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Taste the sauce before adding the chicken back in and adjust the seasonings as needed
FAQs
- Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
- How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
- Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
- Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.
