PF
Delicious Thai basil chicken with rice and fried egg, styled on marble.
Stovetop~35 minComplexity

Lemon Basil Chicken

Lemon Basil Chicken delivers 56g protein and 457 calories per serving—substantial macros in a lean preparation. This 4-serving stovetop recipe preps quickly, letting you batch cook and reduce the number of cooking sessions during your training week.

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Ingredients

4 servings
  • Olive oil(15g)

    Regular (not extra-virgin) olive oil for high-heat cooking. EVOO for dressings.

  • Yellow Onion(240g)
  • Garlic(240g)
  • Chicken Breast, Boneless Skinless(680g)

    Boneless skinless. Buy in bulk and freeze — Costco rotisserie packs work too.

  • Soy Sauce, Low Sodium(30g)
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Spinach(1200g)
  • Orange Zest(15g)
  • Lemon Juice, Fresh(30g)
  • Basil, Fresh(480g)
  • Kosher salt and pepper (to taste)
  • Rice, Brown, Long-Grain

Instructions

  1. 1Cook the brown rice according to package directions in a separate pot; set aside when finished.
  2. 2Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat for 1 minute until shimmering. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, for 4–5 minutes until softened and translucent.
  3. 3Add the fresh garlic to the skillet and cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. 4Increase heat to medium-high, add the chicken breast, and cook for 3–4 minutes per side, until golden brown on all surfaces.
  5. 5Stir in the low-sodium soy sauce, then continue cooking the chicken for 2–3 minutes more until the internal temperature reaches 165°F when checked with a meat thermometer.
  6. 6Add the fresh spinach in handfuls, stirring between additions until fully wilted, about 2 minutes total. Stir in the orange zest, lemon juice, and fresh basil, cooking for 1 minute until the basil is just wilted but still bright green.
  7. 7Divide the chicken mixture evenly into 4 airtight containers while hot, pairing each portion with an equal share of the cooked brown rice.
  8. 8Allow containers to cool to room temperature before sealing and refrigerating for up to 4 days.

Nutrition — Per Serving

457

calories

56g

protein

11g

fat

Carbohydrates
41g
Saturated fat
1.8g
Sodium
601 mg
Dietary fiber
11.3g

4 servings per batch · ~733g each

Macro data sourced from USDA FoodData Central

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Common questions

How much protein does Lemon Basil Chicken have per serving?

Each serving contains 56g of protein and 457 calories with only 11g fat and 41g carbs. The high protein and low fat make this one of the leanest protein options in the PrepForge library.

How long does Lemon Basil Chicken take to prep?

Quick prep time on the stovetop yields 4 servings, making this suitable for 4 individual meals or splitting across multiple days depending on your meal prep schedule.

Is Lemon Basil Chicken good for muscle gain?

At 56g protein and 457 calories per serving with reasonable carbs for glycogen support, this recipe is excellent for muscle gain. The lean macro profile allows you to hit high daily protein targets without excess calories or fat interfering with your surplus structure.

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