Lemon-Tahini Chicken is an easy one-pan meal that packs a punch of flavor. It can be ready in 30 minutes for a quick no-mess dinner.
Jump to RecipeTahini is an ingredient most commonly used when making hummus. In fact, that’s the reason I purchased a large container a while ago. But I wanted to try other ways to use it, too. Lemon and chicken are key ingredients in Mediterranean dishes, so I decided to put them all together.
Lemon-Tahini Chicken was originally made as a meal in my one-pan 30 minutes cookbook. So, knowing that, it’s a simple recipe. It doesn’t take long to put together and doesn’t dirty a lot of dishes. That’s my kind of meal!
The tahini adds a very distinct taste, and can be a bit strong. Although it has the consistency of peanut butter, it doesn’t taste sweet like most nut butters do. That’s also why it pairs so well with the lemon. This is a slightly bitter sauce, but we really enjoyed it.

Step by Step
In a small mixing bowl, whisk the cumin, thyme, and paprika.

Coat the chicken breasts with the seasoning mixture.

Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat and add the chicken, cooking 5-7 minutes, until the outside is brown and crispy (the inside may not be cooked through yet).

Remove the chicken from the pan and reduce the heat to medium. Add the green beans, yellow onion, and 1/2 tsp of salt. Cook for about 3-5 minutes, until the onions start to soften.

Return the chicken to the pan and add 1 cup of chicken broth. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat. Simmer, uncovered, for about 6-8 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.

Use tongs or a slotted spoon to transfer the chicken and green beans to a plate and cover to keep warm. Whisk the remaining 1/4 cup of chicken broth, tahini, and lemon juice into the skillet. Add 1/2 tsp of salt and pepper to the pan, stirring to combine.

Return the chicken and vegetables to the pan and turn to coat in the liquid. Serve warm with lemon wedges.

Leftovers
I stored leftover Lemon-Tahini Chicken in the refrigerator in an airtight container. To reheat, cook either in a skillet again or in the microwave until everything is warmed through. If the sauce is too thick, you can add a bit of chicken broth to it as you warm the meal.

Recipe
Originally Published On: February 24, 2021

Lemon-Tahini Chicken with Green Beans
Ingredients
- 1/2 tbsp cumin
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 lb chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 8 oz green beans (trimmed)
- 1/2 yellow onion (diced)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup tahini
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 lemon (wedged)
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk the cumin, thyme, and paprika
- Coat the chicken breasts with the seasoning mixture
- Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat and add the chicken, cooking 5-7 minutes, until the outside is brown and crispy (the inside may not be cooked through yet)
- Remove the chicken from the pan and reduce the heat to medium
- Add the green beans, yellow onion, and 1/2 tsp of salt
- Cook for about 3-5 minutes, until the onions start to soften
- Return the chicken to the pan and add 1 cup of chicken broth
- Bring to a boil then reduce the heat
- Simmer, uncovered, for about 6-8 minutes until the chicken is cooked through
- Use tongs or a slotted spoon to transfer the chicken and green beans to a plate and cover to keep warm
- Whisk the remaining 1/4 cup of chicken broth, tahini, and lemon juice into the skillet
- Add 1/2 tsp of salt and pepper to the pan, stirring to combine
- Return the chicken and vegetables to the pan and turn to coat in the liquid
- Serve warm with lemon wedges
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
Tahini-Lemon Chicken FAQs
Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds. It originates from Mediterranean cuisines.
While the texture is similar to nut butters, the taste is very different. It has a seedy, earthy taste that can sometimes be bitter.
I tend to purchase it on Amazon. Once opened, it will last about 1-2 months in the pantry or 6 months in the refrigerator. With a long enough shelf life, I can buy a decent-sized container. If you are searching your favorite grocery store, check with other condiments or canned nuts.
Related Recipes
Other Uses for Tahini
Once you purchase a container of tahini for your Tahini-Lemon Chicken, you may be wondering what else you can make with tahini. I gathered recipes from other food websites (with their permission of course) of unique ways to use the tahini.
- Baba Ganoush Eggplant Dip from Happy Kitchen Rocks
- Easy Gluten-Free Paleo Tahini Chicken Salad (Keto) from Strength and Sunshine
- 15 Minute Recipe for Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies with Tahini (Gluten-Free) from Jules Buono
- Vegan Fruit & Oat Bars (Dairy, Nut, Gluten, Egg, and Sugar-Free) from Food Meanderings
- Spicy Creamy Instant Pot Ramen from Home-Cooked Roots
- Winter Salad with Baked Sweet Potato from The Daring Kitchen
- Lemon Tahini Dressing from My Therapist Cooks
- Best Tahini Sauce from The Banana Diaries
- Chickpea and Spinach Vegan Burger from Drugstore Divas
Same!! We have a large tub of tahini but we really only have 1 recipe to use it for lol. This tahini chicken looks delicious. Can’t wait to check out the other recipes on here as well.
I’m still trying to find other uses, but at least it’s more than just hummus now!
It looks yummy and we had chicken just got it but didn’t know what to cook. This seems perfect. Thank you for sharing!
Awesome, I hope you enjoy it!
I am definitely gonna try your recipe, looks so so good!! Thank you so much for sharing.
You’re so welcome! I hope the taste lives up to the photos for you 🙂
This looks amazing! I’m going to add it to my list of things I want to cook soon!
Oh, I hope you do! It’s delicious 🙂
I love how simple this dish is to prepare. This is a great alternative to packet seasonings that are high in sodium.
I love lemon chicken, I have not tried tahini though! I will certainly be giving this a try it sounds delicious!
Interesting recipe
We always have tahini in the fridge but I do feel like we don’t use it enough. Adding this recipe to the list of things to try!
This looks so so good!!! I love sesame paste with chicken, so good!!!
I’ve had something a bit similar and it was great. This loos even better and you made it so I know it’s delicious. Thanks for sharing!
Wow, that looks really yummy. I always want to try new recipes. Thank you for sharing, now I know what to make when my mom arrives on weekend.
Such a great recipe! I’ve been looking for healthy recipes to enjoy with my family.
I don’t know if I’ve ever had tahini before, but lemon mixed with chicken is always a great combination x
Love that this is a one pot meal – it looks so good.
Looks like an amazing dinner! I can’t wait to recreate this!
This sounds yummy! Adding it to next weeks meal plan!