Description
Succulent baked lemon butter chicken brings Mediterranean flavors to your dinner table with minimal effort. Zesty herbs and creamy sauce create a delightful meal you’ll savor from first bite to last.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless) or 6 chicken thighs
- 4 tbsps (60 ml) unsalted butter, melted
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup (60 ml) chicken broth or water
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) honey
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh parsley or thyme
- Lemon slices
Instructions
- Prep Chicken: Pat chicken breasts dry and season comprehensively with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and Italian seasoning, ensuring full coverage for maximum flavor infusion.
- Create Lemon Butter Sauce: Whisk melted butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, honey, and chicken broth into a harmonious, aromatic liquid that will elevate the chicken’s taste profile.
- Assemble and Dress: Lightly grease a baking dish, arrange seasoned chicken breasts strategically, then cascade the prepared lemon butter sauce over each piece, guaranteeing complete and even coating with the vibrant mixture.
- Citrus Enhancement: Artfully scatter thin lemon slices around the chicken to intensify the zesty essence and create a visually appealing culinary canvas.
- Baking Process: Slide the baking dish into a preheated 375F (190C) oven, allowing the chicken to roast uncovered for 25-30 minutes until the internal temperature reaches a safe 165F (75C), ensuring tender, juicy meat.
- Finishing Touches: Retrieve the dish from the oven, generously drizzle additional sauce over the chicken, then sprinkle freshly chopped parsley or thyme for a burst of color and herbaceous complexity, serving immediately with complementary side dishes.
Notes
- Patting Chicken Dry: Ensure chicken breasts are completely dry before seasoning to achieve a perfect golden-brown crust and prevent steaming instead of browning.
- Sauce Consistency Check: Whisk lemon butter sauce thoroughly to create a smooth, well-integrated blend that evenly coats the chicken and maximizes flavor absorption.
- Temperature Precision: Use a meat thermometer to accurately check internal chicken temperature, avoiding overcooking while ensuring food safety at 165F (75C).
- Herb Flexibility: Experiment with fresh herbs like thyme or basil instead of parsley, allowing personal taste preferences and seasonal availability to guide your garnish choice.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg