Published 9/28/2023 • Updated 8/1/2024 Sometimes simple is better. We love this baked lemon chicken recipe because it is made with a simple lemon chicken marinade and baked to juicy perfection. We are a little obsessed with all things chicken. Chicken is easy to find, and easy to prepare. We love that it is versatile and packed with protein (extra bonus!). It really is one of our favorite proteins to make for our families.
What is in Lemon Chicken Marinade
Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice is key to this recipe. Once you juice your lemons, save the rinds and bake it with the chicken breast. Broth: Chicken broth not only adds a little bit of salt but a bit of savoriness to this dish. Thyme: Fresh or dried thyme adds the perfect hint of flavor. Butter: Don’t skimp on the butter in this recipe. It adds a little bit of fat and a lot of flavor. Garlic: We love roasting full cloves are garlic because it adds flavor but doesn’t overdo it. Option to get a more intense flavor with minced garlic.
Substitutions + Cooking Variations
Is it summer and you want to use your grill? Or, is your oven packed with other things? Try another cooking method below! Stove: Marinate your chicken and then follow this juicy pan seared chicken cooking method for juicy chicken, fast! Grill: Grill your chicken breasts at 400ºF for 14-16 minutes. You can follow a more in-depth method on how to grill chicken HERE. Air Fryer: Once you’re done marinading your chicken breast, cook them in the air fryer! Set your air fryer to 400ºF and cook chicken breast for 25 minutes, flipping every 10 minutes. Instant Pot: Easily turn this into shredded lemon chicken by pressure cooking the chicken breast + marinade on high in your Instant Pot for 12 minutes. Quick-release your Instant Pot and then use 2 forks to shred. Slow Cooker: Use our slow cooker chicken method to cook your lemon chicken on high for 2-3 hours or low for 6-8!
Can I use a different cut of chicken?
Want to switch things up a bit and use a different cut of meat? Be our guest! Here are a few other types of chicken to try! High-quality chicken tastes better: Furthermore, when in doubt, buy high-quality chicken breast (organic/free-range)! Yes, it’s a little bit more expensive, but it tastes so much better and is better for the environment. The key to moist lemon chicken: In addition to not overbaking, basting your chicken breast with the sauce will help prevent it from drying out. It will also help infuse your chicken breast with all that lemony flavor!
Chicken Thighs – boneless or bone-in would work! Chicken Legs – try marinading chicken legs and then grilling them instead! Full Chicken – Use this marinade with a full chicken.
How long do you cook baked lemon chicken?
At 400ºF, your chicken breast should be fully cooked after 25-30 minutes. This goes for chicken breasts that are around 1/3 lb. each. Anything larger will take longer to cook and anything smaller will take less time to cook. The goal is to get the internal temperature of your breasts to 165ºF for fully-cooked chicken.
Storage
Store baked lemon garlic chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.
6 Baked Chicken Breast Recipes
You are going to love these 6 oven baked chicken breast recipes. Check out how to bake chicken breast perfectly every time and get 6 delicious flavor variations!
Freezing Instructions
Chicken Breast Recipes
70+ Chicken Breast Recipes Easy Chicken Alfredo Chicken Piccata 6 Easy Chicken Marinades Pan Seared Chicken Breast Chicken Marsala
Grains: You can keep it simple and serve this chicken next to quinoa or brown rice, or jazz it up even more with a quinoa salad. Salads: From quinoa tabouli to a veggie-packed Brussels sprout salad to broccoli salad…pretty much any salad would be perfect next to this chicken.
Got leftovers?
Make a Bowl: Turn your lemon chicken into some kind of Buddha bowl by meal-prepping it along with your favorite veggie and grain. Add it to Soup: Shred your leftovers and add it to pretty much any soup recipe for added protein. Chicken Salad: Whip up a basic, Greek yogurt chicken salad with the leftovers. Pasta: Use the leftover sauce from baking to make a delicious lemon-butter pasta sauce! Toss your chicken with some noodles and you’re good to go!
