Baked Lemon Butter Chicken
Baked Lemon Butter Chicken is a simple yet flavorful dish featuring tender, juicy chicken pieces baked with a bright lemony tang and rich buttery sauce. Perfect for weeknight dinners or impressing guests, this recipe emphasizes fresh ingredients and easy preparation to deliver a vibrant, comforting meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Total Time: 35-40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs or breasts
Butter Sauce
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 lemon (zested and juiced)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh herbs (thyme or rosemary), roughly chopped
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients: Pat the chicken dry with paper towels to help the butter and seasonings adhere better. Zest and juice the lemon, mince the garlic, and roughly chop the fresh herbs to have all ingredients ready for cooking.
- Season the Chicken: Generously season the chicken pieces with salt and black pepper, ensuring all sides are evenly coated to build a flavorful base.
- Make the Lemon Butter Sauce: In a small bowl, melt the butter then stir in fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, and chopped herbs, creating a vibrant and rich sauce to coat the chicken.
- Arrange and Coat: Place the seasoned chicken pieces skin side up in a baking dish. Pour the lemon butter sauce evenly over the chicken, making sure every piece is well coated for maximum flavor infusion.
- Bake Until Golden and Juicy: Bake in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the skin turns golden brown, locking in moisture and flavor.
Notes
- Use room temperature chicken for even cooking and juiciness.
- Don’t skip lemon zest; it adds brightness beyond lemon juice alone.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes after baking to seal in juices.
- Use a meat thermometer to avoid overcooking.
- Spoon pan juices over chicken halfway through baking to intensify flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh or breast
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: Baked lemon butter chicken, lemon chicken, easy baked chicken, juicy chicken recipe, gluten free chicken
Find it online: https://linacorner.com/baked-lemon-butter-chicken/