Description
This Baked Lemon Chicken recipe features tender boneless skinless chicken breasts seasoned with Italian herbs, pan-seared to golden perfection, then baked in a flavorful butter, garlic, and lemon sauce. It's an easy and delicious dinner option that is both satisfying and bright with fresh lemon flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 1/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Sauce
- 3 tablespoons butter (melted)
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- Lemon slices for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the chicken.
- Season chicken: Season the chicken breasts on both sides with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning to infuse flavor.
- Brown chicken: Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 5 minutes on each side until nicely browned.
- Prepare baking dish: Transfer the browned chicken breasts to a baking dish, arranging them evenly.
- Make sauce: In a small bowl, mix melted butter, minced garlic, chicken broth, and lemon juice to create a rich, zesty sauce.
- Pour sauce over chicken: Pour the butter and lemon sauce evenly over the chicken breasts in the baking dish.
- Bake chicken: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 25 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F).
- Serve: Spoon the sauce from the bottom of the dish over the chicken, sprinkle with chopped parsley, and garnish with lemon slices if desired before serving.
Notes
- For juicier chicken, let it rest for 5 minutes after baking before slicing.
- Use fresh lemon juice for the best brightness and flavor in the sauce.
- You can substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth for a lighter taste.
- The baking time can vary depending on the thickness of the chicken breasts; use a meat thermometer for accuracy.
- Serve with steamed vegetables or a simple salad for a complete meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 271 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 293 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 113 mg
