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Sliced baked lemon chicken served over rice with steamed broccoli and lemon wedges.
4.81 from 67 votes

Baked Lemon Chicken

This easy Baked Lemon Chicken is made with fresh lemon juice, butter, garlic, and herbs for tender, juicy chicken every time. It's a simple, flavorful, and healthy dinner that pairs perfectly with rice, potatoes, or roasted vegetables.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 440kcal
Chef: Jessica Randhawa

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoon olive oil - divided
  • 4 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 teaspoon paprika
  • 4 tablespoon butter - melted
  • 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

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a large baking dish with olive oil or non-stick cooking spray.
  • Arrange the chicken breasts in the prepared baking dish and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Season with salt, pepper, and paprika (optional).
  • In a bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil, melted butter, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, thyme, salt, and black pepper.
  • 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.
  • Bake for 25-35 minutes, or until the internal temperature registers 160℉ as measured with a digital meat thermometer.
  • Remove from the oven and allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before serving.

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.
For more details about ingredients, FAQs, and serving ideas, visit the full post at The Forked Spoon.

Nutrition

Calories: 440kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 49g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 175mg | Sodium: 936mg | Potassium: 932mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1001IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 2mg
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