This Paleo and Whole 30 approved Garlic and Lemon Chicken Skillet combines spaghetti squash noodles, chicken, and broccoli with a creamy garlic and lemon sauce. It all comes together in one skillet for a simple meal that is gluten free, grain free, and dairy free.
Skillet recipes are the best, mostly because they don’t require a lot of clean up. This Garlic and Lemon Chicken Skillet is not only easy to clean up but also tastes great. The dairy free garlic and lemon cream sauce is mixed together with the spaghetti squash, broccoli and grilled chicken so each bite is packed with flavor. It can be meal prepped a head of time and reheats easily so you can enjoy it multiple nights!
Ingredients:
- Chicken-can be grilled or baked.
- Spaghetti squash-for more detailed instructions on how to make perfect spaghetti squash noodles check out my post here.
- Broccoli-can be frozen or fresh (I use frozen because it’s easier).
- Canned coconut milk-the milk and liquid will separate in the can so whisk them together before adding to the rest of the ingredients.
- Lemon juice-fresh or bottled lemon juice will work.
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Pepper
Options for Preparing the Chicken
Grilling the chicken adds extra flavor to this dish but you can also bake it if grilling is not an option. Bake the chicken at 350 degrees until it reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees (about 20 minutes). To save time, butterfly the chicken before grilling or cooking.
How to Make this Skillet Meal Easier
Meal prepping the chicken and spaghetti squash a head of time turns this recipe into a quick and easy one skillet dinner that’s ready in under 15 minutes! Bake the spaghetti squash following the directions below. Use a fork to scrape out the insides of the spaghetti squash creating the spaghetti like noodles. Grill the chicken and cut it into small pieces. Keep the spaghetti squash noodles and chicken in the refrigerator until you are ready to make the rest of the recipe.
How to Make Garlic and Lemon Chicken Skillet
If you meal prepped the chicken and spaghetti squash ahead of time, skip to step three.
- Step one: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut the spaghetti squash lengthwise and scrape out the seeds and stringy flesh using a spoon. Place the spaghetti squash with the inside facing up on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
- Step two: Butterfly the chicken and grill it until it reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees (about 20 minutes). Remove the chicken from the grill and cut it into small pieces.
- Step three: When the spaghetti squash has 15 minutes left, heat the broccoli in the skillet until it is defrosted. Whisk together the coconut milk, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper and lemon juice. Add this sauce to the skillet and cook on medium heat for 3 minutes.
- Step four: Remove the spaghetti squash from the oven and use a fork to scrape out the insides creating spaghetti like noodles. Add the spaghetti squash noodles to the skillet and cook on low heat for 5 minutes.
This Garlic and Lemon Chicken Skillet is a healthy dish that will leave you satisfied. Make sure to tag me on Instagram @theglutenfreegrasses if you make this recipe so I can see your creations!
-Kelsey
Garlic and Lemon Chicken Skillet (Paleo & Whole 30)
Course: Dinner/LunchDifficulty: Easy6
servings10
minutes45
minutes55
minutesIngredients
4 large chicken breasts
2 spaghetti squashes
2.5 cups frozen broccoli (2 bags)
1 (15 oz) can of coconut milk
2 teaspoons onion powder
3 Tablespoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/3 cup lemon juice
Directions
- Preheat the oven 350 degrees. Cut the spaghetti squash lengthwise and use a spoon to scrape out the seeds and stringy flesh. Place the spaghetti squash with the inside facing up on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
- Butterfly the chicken and grill it until it reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees (about 20 minutes). Remove the chicken from the grill and cut it into small pieces.*
- When there is about 15 minutes left on the spaghetti squash, add the broccoli to the skillet. Cook on high heat until it is defrosted. Whisk together the coconut milk, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper and lemon juice and add to the skillet. Cook on medium heat for 3 minutes.
- Remove the spaghetti squash from the oven and use a fork to scrape out the insides creating spaghetti like noodles. Add the spaghetti squash to noodles to the skillet and continue to cook on low heat for 5 minutes.
Notes
- Grilling adds flavor to this dish but if this is not an option, you can also bake the chicken in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees.