Lemon-tahini chicken in a cast-iron skillet next to a brown and white cloth on a wooden surface (with logo overlay)

Lemon-Tahini Chicken with Green Beans

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.

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Tahini 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Lemon-Tahini Chicken was originally made as a meal in my one-pan 30 minutes cookbook.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.

Seasonings in a small stainless steel bowl on a wooden surface

Coat the chicken breasts with the seasoning mixture.

Raw chicken covered in seasonings in a stainless steel bowl on a wooden surface

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).

Browned chicken in a cast-iron skillet on a wooden surface

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.

Green beans and onions in a cast-iron skillet on a wooden surface

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.

Chicken and vegetables with broth in a cast-iron skillet on a wooden surface

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.

Tahini and broth sauce in a cast-iron skillet on a wooden surface

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

Lemon-tahini chicken in a cast-iron skillet next to a brown and white cloth on a wooden surface (vertical)

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 in a cast-iron skillet next to a brown and white cloth on a wooden surface

Lemon-Tahini Chicken with Green Beans

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.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course:
Main Dish
Cuisine:
American
|
Mediterranean
Keyword:
chicken
|
lemons
|
tahini sauce
Dietary Needs:
Dairy-Free
|
Egg-Free
|
Gluten-Free
|
Paleo
|
Whole30
Meat:
Chicken/Turkey
Cooking Method:
One-Pan Meals
Servings: 4
5 from 2 votes

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)

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
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Nutrition Facts
Lemon-Tahini Chicken with Green Beans
Amount Per Serving (1 each)
Calories 413 Calories from Fat 243
% Daily Value*
Fat 27g42%
Saturated Fat 4g20%
Trans Fat 1g
Cholesterol 73mg24%
Sodium 999mg42%
Potassium 843mg24%
Carbohydrates 17g6%
Fiber 4g16%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 31g62%
Vitamin A 736IU15%
Vitamin C 37mg45%
Calcium 97mg10%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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

What is Tahini?

Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds. It originates from Mediterranean cuisines.

What does Tahini taste like?

While the texture is similar to nut butters, the taste is very different. It has a seedy, earthy taste that can sometimes be bitter.

Where do I find Tahini?

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.

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.

20 thoughts on “Lemon-Tahini Chicken with Green Beans”

  1. 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.

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