This easy lemon chicken recipe is delightfully pungent and tasty. You might like to use a mixture of chicken pieces, such as leg, thigh, and breast. If you are using just breast meat only, the cooking time will be less. Chicken and lemon go very well together and this recipe also uses thyme, parsley, and garlic to further enhance the flavor. There are many different baked chicken recipes but this is possibly one of the most flavorful, as well as the easiest to prepare. The good thing about baked chicken recipes is that the cooking times are pretty accurate. Pan frying chicken means a lot of guesswork but following a baked chicken recipe will always give good results.
The marinating is important for the lemon flavor to really soak into the chicken but don't leave it marinating overnight because the lemon juice will start to break down the protein fibers in the chicken, making it mushy. This tasty lemon chicken recipe is great served with rice or noodles and you can easily make those while the chicken is in the oven.version.
Whoever thought that combining chicken with lemon and herbs would result in such a mouthwatering dish? This tangy and sweet lemon chicken recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight because you can marinate the chicken in advance and then bake it when you are ready. The whole family will enjoy this easy lemon chicken recipe because the citrus is so nice with the mild flavor of the chicken. Whether you opt for rice, potatoes or noodles as a side dish, this lemon pepper chicken is sure to satisfy everybody.
Ingredients -
5 lbs boneless chicken pieces
2 tablespoons grated lemon peel
2 thinly sliced lemons
½ cup lemon juice
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 cloves crushed garlic
½ cup chopped fresh parsley
¼ cup melted butter
Preparation:
Wash the chicken pieces and pat them dry. Arrange them in a single layer in a large, shallow dish. Whisk the lemon peel, lemon juice, thyme, salt, pepper, and garlic in a bowl and pour this mixture over the chicken. Refrigerate for 3 or 4 hours, turning a few times to coat the chicken well.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Remove the chicken from the lemon marinade and drain it well. Keep the marinade. Arrange the chicken pieces in a 2-quart baking dish and brush with the butter. Bake for 25 minutes. Brush half of the reserved marinade over the chicken and bake for another 30 minutes. Baste it several times. The chicken is ready when it is cooked through and browned.
Serve on a bed of wild long grain rice or brown rice. Garnish the chicken with the lemon slices and sprinkle over the chopped parsley. Boil the rest of the lemon marinade for a minute and spoon it over the chicken. Alternatively, serve the marinade separately.
(Serves 8)
Photo Description:
This photo of our tangy and sweet lemon chicken recipe shows that with a little creativity and imagination you can transform even the simplest ingredients in to a fast and easy chicken recipe that even the kids will love. The tangy lemon flavor combines beautifully with the thyme and other ingredients to add maximum flavor to your chicken and the marinating means the boneless chicken breast will absorb wonderful flavors and come out juicy and succulent. This is a great lemon chicken recipe and it is ideal for any occasion.