Shrimp scampi gets all the attention, but keto chicken scampi deserves its own spotlight. This is chicken tenders in a garlicky, buttery lemon sauce, on the table in under 30 minutes.
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No flour dusting on the chicken, and no wine in the sauce, so this stays properly keto without losing any of the flavor. Chicken tenders are my pick here, they cook fast and need almost no trimming.
Boneless chicken thighs or a cut-up chicken breast both work fine too, if tenders are not what you have on hand.
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Chef Jenn’s Take on Chicken Scampi
A butter sauce like this one breaks easily, and the most common mistake is leaving the heat on while whisking in the butter. Take the pan completely off the heat first, then whisk in cold butter cubes a few at a time, letting each addition melt before adding more. Rush that step with the burner still on and you end up with a greasy, separated mess instead of a smooth sauce.
If the sauce does separate anyway, an immersion blender can usually bring it back together. And if you do not mind a few extra carbs, a splash of white wine reduced in the pan before the broth goes in adds another layer of flavor, though it is genuinely optional.
Do not overcook the chicken. Tenders especially dry out fast and turn tough if they sit in the pan too long past done.
Leftovers reheat best in two steps. Heat the chicken hot on its own first, then spoon the cold sauce over the top so it melts gently without separating, instead of trying to reheat everything together in one go.
What You’ll Love About Chicken Scampi
- Reheats well with the right technique, so leftovers are just as good the next day.
- On the table in under 30 minutes, with a sauce that tastes like far more effort went in.
- No flour and no wine required, so it stays properly keto without losing flavor.
Ingredients
- Chicken tenders – My pick for this recipe, they cook fast with almost no trimming needed. Boneless thighs or a cut-up breast work too.
- Chicken broth – Make your own chicken bone broth to keep it low in net carbs!
- Garlic – Fresh, minced. Skip the jarred kind for this one.
- Butter – Ice cold, cut into chunks. Cold butter is essential for whisking the sauce together smoothly.
- Lemon juice – Fresh squeezed.
- Parsley and green onion – Fresh, chopped.
How to Make Chicken Scampi
Scroll down for the full recipe card with exact measurements and printable instructions.
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then brown on both sides, working in batches so the pan isn’t crowded.
Remove the chicken and add the garlic to the pan, cooking for about a minute. Add the chicken broth and simmer to reduce and concentrate the flavor.
Return the chicken and any juices to the pan, and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, until the chicken reaches 165°F. Remove the chicken to a serving dish, leaving the liquid in the pan.
Take the pan off the heat, add the lemon juice, and whisk in the cold butter a few cubes at a time, letting each addition melt before adding more.
Add the parsley and green onion, check the seasoning, and spoon the sauce over the chicken.
Make It A Meal
The bright lemon flavor here pairs especially well with Green Beans with Bacon. Pan-Roasted Asparagus and Garlicky Swiss Chard both echo the same garlic-forward flavor already in the sauce.
Storage
To freeze, cool completely, then portion into freezer-safe containers or bags and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat the chicken hot on its own, then spoon the cold sauce over the top so it melts without separating. Refrigerated leftovers keep for up to 4 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
This recipe runs about 2 net carbs per generous serving. The number in the recipe card below will recalculate once this post is republished, so use it as an estimate until then.
It’s similar in spirit, but not an exact copy. Restaurant versions typically serve the chicken over pasta, dust it in flour, and thicken the sauce with flour, all of which push the carb count too high for keto.
This usually happens when the pan is too hot while whisking in the butter. Take the pan off the heat entirely before adding it, and if it does separate anyway, an immersion blender can help bring it back together.
Yes, a splash of white wine reduced in the pan before the broth adds extra flavor, though it also adds a few extra carbs. It’s genuinely optional.
Add Preferred SourceKeto Chicken Scampi
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds raw chicken tenders
- 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onion
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a large skillet. Sesaon the chicken tenders with the salt and pepper. Over medium-high heat, brown the chicken on both sides. Work in batches and don't over-crowd the pan. Add more oil as needed.
- Remove the chicken and add the garlic. Cook for one minute. Add the chicken broth and simmer a few minutes to reduce and concentrate the broth flavor.
- Return the chicken to the pan (along with any juices) and simmer the chicken 2-3 minutes or until it is cooked through. Remove the chicken to a serving dish, leaving the juice behind in the pan.
- Cut the cold garlic into chunks. Remove the broth from the heat and add the lemon juice. Using a whisk, whisk in 2-3 of the cold butter cubes to the pan, whisking until melted. Add another 2-3 cubes and repeat until the butter is incpororated and the sauce is slightly thickened. Add the green onion and parsley and check for seasoning.
- Spoon the sauce over the chicken tenders and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Recipe Card Tips
- Take the pan off the heat completely before whisking in the butter. This is the single most important step for a smooth, unbroken sauce.
- Use cold butter, cut into chunks, not softened. Cold butter whisks in gradually instead of melting all at once.
- Reheat leftovers in two steps: chicken hot on its own, then cold sauce spooned over the top so it melts without separating.
Nutrition
A Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed. Erythritol carbs (sugar substitutes) are not included in the carbohydrate counts as they have been shown not to impact blood sugar, and they have zero calories and zero carbs. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
More Easy Keto Recipes to Love
Need more keto goodness? Check out this hearty minestrone soup or more keto soups and chowders. Or, this keto Corned Beef Hash might be a tasty pick for you and your family.
I made this recipe last weekend and it was incredible! Thanks so much for sharing.
So glad you enjoyed it!
Only 30 minutes to all this deliciousness? Yes please! My busy week needs more fabulous recipes like this one!
This sounds amazing and it’s done in under 30 minutes? Yes, please!
I’ve only ever tried shrimp scampi, but this looks amazing! Can’t wait to try it!!
Such a great way to serve chicken, so easy, and really delicious. I’m adding this to our meal rotation. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
This is one of my favorite weeknight dinners – it’s on the table so fast, and everyone loves it!
We made this last week and it was delish! Super quick for a weeknight meal.
I was all ready to make shrimp scampi and realized I defrosted the wrong thing. So viola – found your recipe for chicken scampi and so happy I tried this instead. My kids do not eat keto but sure wanted more bites of my meal – it was that good.
Oh is this a perfect meal for a weeknight. Simple to make and delicious!
The bright lemon flavor paired with green beans is a delicious accompaniment to the pan-fried chicken.
Oh, I just love easy and quick recipes with simple ingredients, and plus it is so delicious, too! Thank you for this lovely recipe!