For a bright and zesty dinner that’s surprisingly simple, our Lemon Chicken Recipe is your go-to. This dish delivers a burst of citrusy goodness with tender chicken, making it a weeknight winner that’s both healthy and incredibly satisfying.
Key Ingredients for Lemon Chicken Recipe :
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large lemon, juiced (about 1/4 cup) and zested (reserve about 1 teaspoon zest)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup chicken broth (low sodium preferred)
- 1 tablespoon butter (optional, for richer sauce)
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
- Lemon slices, for garnish (optional)
How to Make Lemon Chicken Recipe
This Lemon Chicken Recipe is wonderfully easy to make, promising a delicious and satisfying meal in under 30 minutes. Its simplicity, coupled with a wonderfully bright and tangy sauce and tender chicken, makes it a standout dish. Preparation time: approximately 25 minutes.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prepare the Chicken: Pat your chicken pieces dry with paper towels. This helps to ensure a better sear. Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper. If you’re using chicken breasts, consider cutting them into uniform, bite-sized pieces so they cook evenly.
Marinate (Optional but Recommended): In a medium bowl, combine the chicken pieces with half of the lemon juice (about 2 tablespoons), half of the minced garlic (1 clove), half of the dried oregano, half of the dried thyme, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Let it marinate for at least 10-15 minutes while you prepare the other ingredients. For an even deeper flavor, you can marinate for up to 30 minutes.
Sear the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat. Once shimmering, add the chicken pieces in a single layer, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan. Sear for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown and mostly cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside on a plate.
Build the Sauce: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the remaining minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
Deglaze and Infuse Flavor: Pour in the chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. These bits are packed with flavor! Add the remaining lemon juice, reserved lemon zest, remaining oregano, and remaining thyme. Bring to a gentle simmer.
Combine and Finish: Return the seared chicken to the skillet. Stir to coat the chicken in the zesty sauce. Let the chicken simmer in the sauce for another 3-5 minutes, or until it’s cooked through and the sauce has slightly thickened. If you desire a richer, creamier sauce, stir in the tablespoon of butter at this stage until melted.
Taste and Adjust: Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. You might want to add a little more lemon juice for extra tang or a tiny pinch of sugar if the lemon is very tart.
Serve: Garnish the Lemon Chicken Recipe generously with fresh chopped parsley and optional thin lemon slices. Serve immediately with your favorite sides like rice, pasta, mashed potatoes, or a crisp green salad.
Why You’ll Love This Lemon Chicken Recipe
You’ll absolutely adore this Lemon Chicken Recipe for its incredible brightness and tender, succulent chicken. The star of the show is undoubtedly the vibrant, tangy lemon sauce that perfectly complements the savory chicken without being overpowering. What’s even better is the incredible value; making this Lemon Chicken Recipe at home saves you money compared to dining out, and it’s so much more satisfying knowing you’ve created such a delicious meal from scratch. Added touches like fresh parsley and a hint of lemon zest elevate this simple dish, making it taste gourmet.
If you’ve enjoyed dishes like our Garlic Butter Chicken, you’re going to fall in love with the refreshing citrus twist here. It’s a fantastic alternative that offers a lighter yet equally flavorful profile. Don’t wait—gather your ingredients and whip up this delightful Lemon Chicken Recipe for a meal that’s sure to become a staple!
Storing and Reheating Tips
Refrigeration: Allow the cooked Lemon Chicken Recipe to cool completely before storing. Transfer the chicken and any remaining sauce to an airtight container. It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Freezing: For longer storage, you can freeze the cooked Lemon Chicken Recipe. Place the cooled chicken and sauce in a freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag. Press out as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. Frozen lemon chicken is best consumed within 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Reheating: To reheat on the stovetop, place the chicken and sauce in a skillet over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through. You can add a splash of chicken broth or water if the sauce seems too thick. For quicker reheating, use the microwave on medium power, stirring every minute or so until hot. Avoid overheating, which can dry out the chicken.
Final Thoughts
Our Lemon Chicken Recipe is the perfect example of how simple ingredients can create something truly special. We hope you’ll give this bright, flavorful dish a try soon and experience its delightful taste and ease of preparation for yourself. Enjoy!
try also :
- Lentil and Sweet Potato Salad
- Cranberry Brie Bites
- Crispy Sweet Potato Bites
- Matcha Cake Recipe
- find more in Pinterest
Lemon Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Pat your chicken pieces dry with paper towels. This helps to ensure a better sear. Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper. If you’re using chicken breasts, consider cutting them into uniform, bite-sized pieces so they cook evenly.1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces, Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- In a medium bowl, combine the chicken pieces with half of the lemon juice (about 2 tablespoons), half of the minced garlic (1 clove), half of the dried oregano, half of the dried thyme, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Let it marinate for at least 10-15 minutes while you prepare the other ingredients. For an even deeper flavor, you can marinate for up to 30 minutes.1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces, 1 large lemon, juiced (about 1/4 cup) and zested (reserve about 1 teaspoon zest), 2 cloves garlic, minced, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat. Once shimmering, add the chicken pieces in a single layer, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan. Sear for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown and mostly cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside on a plate.2 tablespoons olive oil, 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the remaining minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.2 cloves garlic, minced
- Pour in the chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. These bits are packed with flavor! Add the remaining lemon juice, reserved lemon zest, remaining oregano, and remaining thyme. Bring to a gentle simmer.1/4 cup chicken broth, 1 large lemon, juiced (about 1/4 cup) and zested (reserve about 1 teaspoon zest), 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- Return the seared chicken to the skillet. Stir to coat the chicken in the zesty sauce. Let the chicken simmer in the sauce for another 3-5 minutes, or until it’s cooked through and the sauce has slightly thickened. If you desire a richer, creamier sauce, stir in the tablespoon of butter at this stage until melted.1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces, 1 tablespoon butter
- Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. You might want to add a little more lemon juice for extra tang or a tiny pinch of sugar if the lemon is very tart.Salt and freshly ground black pepper, 1 large lemon, juiced (about 1/4 cup) and zested (reserve about 1 teaspoon zest)
- Garnish the Lemon Chicken Recipe generously with fresh chopped parsley and optional thin lemon slices. Serve immediately with your favorite sides like rice, pasta, mashed potatoes, or a crisp green salad.Fresh parsley, chopped, Lemon slices