This Garlic Butter Chicken and Green Beans recipe is a true weeknight hero, delivering big flavor with minimal fuss.
It’s a complete meal cooked in a single pan, making cleanup a breeze and ensuring you get a delicious, healthy dinner on the table even on your busiest evenings.
Perfect for families, this dish combines tender chicken with crisp-tender green beans, all coated in a savory garlic butter sauce. It’s a wholesome and satisfying option that doesn’t compromise on taste, proving that healthy eating can be incredibly enjoyable and straightforward.
Table of Contents
- What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
- Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
- Time Needed From Start To Finish
- How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
- Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
- Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
- How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
Garlic Butter Chicken and Green Beans
- Total Time: 30-35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
This Garlic Butter Chicken and Green Beans recipe is a true weeknight hero, delivering big flavor with minimal fuss. It’s a complete meal cooked in a single pan, making cleanup a breeze and ensuring you get a delicious, healthy dinner on the table even on your busiest evenings. Perfect for families, this dish combines tender chicken with crisp-tender green beans, all coated in a savory garlic butter sauce. It’s a wholesome and satisfying option that doesn’t compromise on taste, proving that healthy eating can be incredibly enjoyable and straightforward.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 400 F (200 C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy cleanup.
2. Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. If very thick, slice horizontally or pound gently to an even thickness. Place the prepared chicken on one side of your lined baking sheet.
3. Trim the ends off your fresh green beans. Arrange the trimmed green beans on the other side of the baking sheet, separate from the chicken.
4. In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt the unsalted butter. Add the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper to the melted butter. Stir everything together until well combined.
5. Drizzle about half of the garlic butter mixture over the chicken breasts, ensuring they are well coated. Then, drizzle the remaining garlic butter mixture over the green beans, tossing them gently on the baking sheet to ensure every bean is glistening with the flavorful sauce.
6. Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165 F (74 C) and the green beans are tender-crisp.
7. Once cooked, remove the baking sheet from the oven. If desired, sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley for a pop of color and freshness. Serve immediately and enjoy your healthy, flavorful one-pan meal!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: main dish
- Method: roasting
- Cuisine: american
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
Keywords: chicken, green beans, garlic butter, one pan, weeknight, healthy, easy, dinner, meal prep, family friendly
What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
This recipe is a fantastic choice for anyone looking for a delicious, healthy, and incredibly convenient dinner solution. It’s perfect for busy parents, individuals new to cooking, or anyone who appreciates a flavorful meal without a mountain of dishes afterward. The beauty of this dish lies in its simplicity and efficiency; everything cooks together in one pan, infusing the chicken and green beans with rich garlic butter flavor. You’ll love how quickly it comes together, making it an ideal candidate for weeknight dinners when time is short but you still want to serve something homemade and nutritious. It’s also a great option for meal prepping, as it reheats beautifully, providing healthy lunches or dinners throughout the week.
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Gathering your ingredients for this one-pan wonder is straightforward, focusing on fresh, accessible items you likely already have or can easily find at any grocery store. The key to success here is using quality ingredients that will shine through in the final dish.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish, optional)
For the chicken, boneless, skinless chicken breasts are specified for their lean protein and quick cooking time. However, boneless, skinless chicken thighs can also be used if you prefer dark meat; just be aware they might require a few extra minutes of cooking to reach a safe internal temperature. When it comes to green beans, fresh is definitely best for their crisp texture and vibrant flavor. If fresh aren’t available, you can use frozen green beans, but ensure they are thawed and patted dry before adding them to the pan to prevent excess moisture. The butter can be substituted with olive oil for a dairy-free option, though the butter does add a rich depth of flavor that is hard to beat. Feel free to adjust the amount of garlic to your personal preference; if you’re a garlic lover, an extra clove or two won’t hurt! For the Italian seasoning, any good quality blend will work, or you can create your own with a mix of dried oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary.
Time Needed From Start To Finish
This recipe is designed for speed and efficiency, making it a perfect fit for busy schedules.
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 20-25 minutes
- Total time: 30-35 minutes
These times are estimates and can vary slightly depending on your oven and how quickly you prep your ingredients. The key is to have everything ready to go before you start cooking, which helps streamline the process and ensures a smooth cooking experience.
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Creating this delicious one-pan meal is incredibly simple. Follow these steps for perfectly cooked chicken and green beans every time.
- Preheat Your Oven and Prepare Your Pan: Begin by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). As the oven heats, line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy cleanup. This step is crucial for preventing sticking and making post-dinner tidying much faster.
- Prepare the Chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. This helps them brown nicely. If your chicken breasts are very thick, you can slice them horizontally to create thinner cutlets or pound them gently to an even thickness. This ensures they cook evenly and quickly. Place the prepared chicken on one side of your lined baking sheet.
- Prepare the Green Beans: Trim the ends off your fresh green beans. If any are particularly long, you can snap or cut them in half. Arrange the trimmed green beans on the other side of the baking sheet, separate from the chicken for now.
- Create the Garlic Butter Sauce: In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt the unsalted butter. Add the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper to the melted butter. Stir everything together until well combined. This aromatic mixture is the heart of the dish!
- Coat the Ingredients: Drizzle about half of the garlic butter mixture over the chicken breasts, ensuring they are well coated. Then, drizzle the remaining garlic butter mixture over the green beans, tossing them gently on the baking sheet to ensure every bean is glistening with the flavorful sauce.
- Bake to Perfection: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and the green beans are tender-crisp. You’ll know the chicken is done when it’s no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear. The green beans should be slightly softened but still have a pleasant bite.
- Garnish and Serve: Once cooked, remove the baking sheet from the oven. If desired, sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley for a pop of color and freshness. Serve immediately and enjoy your healthy, flavorful one-pan meal!
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
This Garlic Butter Chicken and Green Beans recipe is wonderfully versatile and can be adapted to suit various tastes and occasions. For a kid-friendly twist, you can cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces before cooking, making it easier for little hands to manage. You could also add a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese over the chicken during the last few minutes of baking for a cheesy crust that kids often love.
To change up the flavor profile, consider adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice over the finished dish for a bright, zesty kick. A pinch of red pepper flakes can introduce a subtle heat if you enjoy a little spice. Other vegetables can also be incorporated; small broccoli florets, asparagus spears, or even cherry tomatoes would roast beautifully alongside the chicken and green beans. Just ensure any added vegetables are cut to a similar size to the green beans so they cook evenly.
This dish is fantastic on its own as a complete meal, but it also pairs wonderfully with simple sides. For a heartier meal, serve it alongside fluffy white rice, quinoa, or a baked potato. A simple side salad with a light vinaigrette would also complement the richness of the garlic butter. For a party or buffet, you could serve the chicken and green beans in a large platter, allowing guests to serve themselves. It’s a dish that looks appealing and tastes great, making it suitable for both casual family dinners and more informal gatherings.
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
Even with a simple recipe like this, a few common mistakes can impact the final outcome. Being aware of these can help you achieve perfect results every time.
One frequent slip-up is overcooking the chicken. Chicken breasts can dry out quickly if cooked for too long, resulting in a tough and unappetizing texture. To avoid this, use a meat thermometer to check for an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). As soon as it reaches this temperature, remove it from the oven. Remember that chicken will continue to cook slightly after it’s removed from the heat (carryover cooking).
Another common issue is under-seasoning. The garlic butter is the star of this dish, so make sure to season it adequately with salt and pepper. Taste the butter mixture before drizzling it over the chicken and beans, if you’re comfortable doing so, to ensure the flavors are balanced. Don’t be shy with the Italian seasoning either, as it adds a wonderful aromatic depth.
Crowding the baking sheet is another mistake that can lead to uneven cooking and steaming instead of roasting. If your chicken and green beans are piled too closely together, they won’t get that lovely golden-brown sear. Use a large baking sheet, or if you’re making a double batch, divide the ingredients between two baking sheets to ensure everything has enough space to cook properly. This allows for better air circulation and more even cooking.
Finally, not patting the chicken dry before seasoning can prevent it from browning effectively. Excess moisture on the surface of the chicken will steam rather than sear, leading to a less flavorful crust. A quick pat with paper towels makes a big difference.
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
This Garlic Butter Chicken and Green Beans recipe is fantastic for meal prep and leftovers, making your week even easier.
To store any leftovers, allow the dish to cool completely to room temperature first. Then, transfer the chicken and green beans to an airtight container. It will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. For best results, store them together, as the flavors will
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.
