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Juicy baked lemon chicken breast served on top of white rice with a side of cooked broccoli.
4.80 from 63 votes

Baked Lemon Chicken Recipe

The BEST Baked Lemon Chicken Recipe. Super simple to make, all you need are a few simple ingredients including juicy chicken breasts, fresh lemons, and garlic, butter, and herbs. Loved by all ages, even the pickiest of eater will love this fresh and healthy dinner recipe. Gluten-free and keto-approved.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Servings: 4 chicken breasts
Calories: 344kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoon olive oil - divided
  • 4 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 teaspoon paprika
  • 6 cloves garlic - minced
  • 1 lemon - zest + juice (plus additional lemon slices)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 tablespoon butter - melted

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a large 11 x 8-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Add the chicken breasts to your baking dish and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Sprinkle both sides of your chicken breasts with salt and pepper, and 2 teaspoons of paprika. Turn to coat.
  • Add the minced garlic, lemon juice and lemon zest, fresh thyme, salt, and pepper to a medium mixing bowl. Whisk well to combine.
  • Add the butter to a small microwave-safe dish and microwave for 15-30 seconds, or until completely melted. Immediately add the melted butter to the garlic and lemon mixture, mixing well to combine.
  • Pour the prepared lemon butter sauce directly over your chicken breasts. Gently turn to coat and top each chicken breast with 1-2 lemon slices.
  • Transfer to the oven and bake for 25-35 minutes, or until the internal temperature registers 160 degrees F as measured with a digital meat thermometer.
  • Remove from the oven and allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

Notes

  • Keep leftovers stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
  • I did not feel the need to sear my chicken breasts before baking. If you decide to use bone-in skin-on chicken thighs, this is a step that I would recommend.
  • Poultry should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F and allowed to rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

Nutrition

Calories: 344kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 103mg | Sodium: 816mg | Potassium: 510mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1038IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1mg
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