Perfect Baked Lemon Butter Chicken for Dinner Tonight
This Baked Lemon Butter Chicken is a delightful dish that combines juicy chicken with a bright, zesty lemon-butter sauce. It’s simple enough for a busy weeknight yet elegant enough to impress your guests.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- fresh lemons (zest and juice)
- unsalted butter
- freshly minced garlic (4-6 cloves)
- low-sodium chicken broth
- fresh parsley
- fresh thyme
- kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- optional: red pepper flakes
- optional: paprika or smoked paprika
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or a similar-sized oven-safe dish with a little olive oil or cooking spray.
- Pat the boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts) dry thoroughly with paper towels. Season both sides of the chicken generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- In a small microwave-safe bowl or a small saucepan, melt the unsalted butter. Once melted, stir in the freshly squeezed lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, and your chosen fresh herbs (parsley and thyme). Give it a good whisk to combine everything well.
- Place the seasoned chicken pieces in a single layer in your prepared baking dish. Pour the lemon butter sauce evenly over all the chicken. Then, carefully pour the chicken broth into the baking dish, around the chicken pieces.
- Transfer the baking dish to your preheated oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes for chicken thighs, or 20-25 minutes for chicken breasts, or until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Once baked, remove the dish from the oven. Tent it loosely with foil and let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes. Spoon the pan sauce generously over the chicken before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece of chicken with sauce
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg
Keywords: Patting the chicken dry before seasoning is crucial for better browning. You can marinate the chicken in half of the lemon butter sauce for extra flavor. Adding vegetables like potatoes or carrots can make this a one-pan meal.