Katie Couric’s 5-Ingredient Lemon Chicken: The Effortless Dinner You Need in Your Life

For the past three years, I’ve become obsessed with a Katie Couric recipe each time I discover one. First, it was her Southern tomato sandwich, then her bacon and peanut butter sandwich, and now, it’s her simple five-ingredient lemon chicken.

What do these three recipes have in common? They all get you in and out of the kitchen with a delicious meal in no time. That’s why I’m such a fan of Couric’s cooking style—when it’s time to eat, I’m not looking to spend hours prepping or washing a pile of dishes. So, I’m perfectly happy to enjoy one of her three-ingredient sandwiches for lunch and follow it up with her easy, zesty chicken for dinner.

Many of Couric’s fans are probably familiar with this recipe, as it first gained attention during her time on 'Today.' The 'Today' website shared the recipe in 2005 after she made it on-air during the NBC morning show.

Since then, it’s become a staple easy dinner recipe that’s been shared every year—and thanks to the availability of lemons year-round, it’s perfect no matter the season.

How to Make Katie Couric's Zesty Lemon Chicken

In 2021, Couric posted this recipe on her personal site, Katie Couric Media, saying, 'I can’t stop raving about this chicken. It’s unbelievably simple.'

And it truly is. All you need are chicken breasts, flour, butter, olive oil, chicken broth, and fresh lemon juice.

To make Couric's lemon chicken, lightly coat your chicken breasts (I used two) in flour and pan-fry them in butter and olive oil until golden and cooked through. Once done, remove the chicken from the pan, then add two cups of chicken broth and the juice of one lemon, along with some flour to thicken the sauce. Simmer until the sauce reaches a gravy-like consistency, then return the chicken to the pan to warm it up.

Couric serves her 'lip-smacking lemon chicken' over basmati rice or pasta.

As Dean Martin would say: wham, bam, thank you, ma’am—could it get any easier? I don’t think so.

I Gave Katie Couric's Lemon Chicken a Try

I recently tried Couric’s lemon chicken, and I’m already convinced it’s going to be a regular in my weeknight meal lineup. It’s incredibly simple to make with just a few ingredients and a one-pan cooking method.

I had dinner ready in under 30 minutes, which is exactly what I need on a busy weeknight. Plus, I had tasty leftovers for the next few days. I used half of the lemon chicken in a salad the following day for a zesty twist, and enjoyed the rest over leftover basmati rice the next day.

With three amazing recipes under my belt, I can confidently say that I’ll love almost anything that comes out of Couric’s kitchen.