My Lemon chicken is perfect for busy weeknights when I don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen but crave something flavorful. It’s become a go-to recipe all year round in my house!
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, please read my disclaimer.
I love this Recipe for Lemon Chicken!
I created this simple lemon chicken recipe on one of those nights when I couldn’t decide what to make. Both my kids love citrus, and I can get my husband to eat anything as long as there’s butter involved.
I tried to make it as simple as possible without lacking on the flavor so I can make it when I’m too lazy to make something more involved.
Chicken has always been a go-to in my house because of its versatility and it’s the main protein I can make that my kids always love.
And, if you love a good chicken recipe, try my chicken cordon bleu, air fryer chicken thighs, chicken spaghetti, and air fryer chicken tenders recipes.
What is Lemon Chicken?
Not all lemon chicken recipes are the same, but most involve marinating or cooking chicken with lemon juice, zest, and slices. Different versions range from Asian-style fried chicken with a sweet lemon sauce to Mediterranean roasted chicken made with lemons, herbs, and white wine.
My recipe features baked chicken breasts with a simple lemon butter sauce!
Lemon Chicken Ingredients
- Chicken Breasts – boneless, skinless
- Butter – unsalted
- Garlic
- Lemon – juiced and extra for slices
- Salt — sea salt and/or kosher salt
- Pepper
How to Make Lemon Chicken
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F. Add 4 cups of room-temperature water to a large bowl with salt to create your brine. Add the chicken and let it soak for 10-15 minutes. Drain the water and rinse the chicken to remove any excess salt.
STEP TWO: Place the chicken in a 9×13-inch baking dish and add the lemon juice on top. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter and brush each side of the chicken breasts. Season with salt and pepper.
STEP THREE: Add the minced garlic to the pan. Cut the rest of the butter into cubes and place it around the chicken and garlic.
STEP FOUR: Bake the chicken for 20-25 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. For golden brown results, you can also turn your broiler on High for the last 2-3 minutes of cooking time.
STEP FIVE: Remove the lemon butter from the pan, serve it on the side, or turn it into a sauce. Enjoy!
Easy Lemon Chicken Recipe Tips
- Take the chicken out of the fridge about 30 minutes before baking so it’s as close to room temperature as possible. It will help the meat cook more evenly!
- Before adding the chicken to the brine, make sure that most of the salt has dissolved in the water. If there is any undissolved salt at the bottom, the chicken won’t brine properly.
- Add some lemon zest for even more citrus flavor. After you add the minced garlic to the pan, use a zester and scrape off the outer layer of the lemon peel directly alongside it. I do this when I have fresh lemon and it’s amazing!
- Don’t overbake! Keep a close eye on your lemon butter chicken and check the internal temperature after about 15 minutes in the oven just to be sure. I find the most tender chicken is cooked to just 165 degrees F.
What to Serve with this Lemon Chicken Recipe
On a typical weeknight, I love to pair this recipe with air fryer asparagus, green beans with bacon, or garlic cheese bread.
If I’m making this in the summer, my go-tos are air fryer corn on the cob, watermelon feta salad, and a caprese salad.
How to Store Lemon Butter Chicken
Let the chicken cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
To reheat single servings, a minute or two in the microwave works well. For larger potions, heat in the oven at 350 degrees F for about 10-15 minutes or until warmed through.
Lemon Butter Chicken Recipe FAQs
Does lemon juice tenderize chicken?
Yes, lemon juice tenderizes the chicken, but it’s important not to let it sit for too long. I find if I leave it to marinate for more than a couple of hours, the chicken gets mushy.
I love the flavor of lemon and chicken, so I use a brine instead of a marinade to tenderize it before baking. Thanks to the juice, it still has the big lemon flavor!
What happens if you marinate chicken in lemon juice too long?
If you marinate chicken for too long, the muscle fibers will break down too much, causing it to go mushy. For best results, don’t leave chicken in lemon juice for longer than 2 hours.
How long can raw chicken sit in lemon juice?
Raw chicken shouldn’t sit in lemon juice for more than 2 hours. While the acidity will tenderize it initially, it will become tough and mushy over time! This isn’t to say that you can’t marinate chicken in lemon juice — you can, but no more than 2 hours.
More Easy Dinner Recipes
- Crockpot London Broil
- Velveeta Mac and Cheese
- Air Fryer Hot Dogs
- Smothered Pork Chops
- Buffalo Chicken Wrap
- Baked Tilapia
Lemon Butter Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 lemon juiced
- 1 lemon sliced, for garnish
Brine:
- ¼ cup sea salt or kosher salt
- 4 cups water room temperature
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
- In a large bowl combine the 4 cups of room temperature water and salt. Stir, until the majority of the salt is dissolved. Add the chicken and let it soak for 10-15 minutes.
- Drain the water. Rinse the chicken to remove the excess salt.
- Place the chicken breast in a 9×13 pan. Add the lemon juice over the chicken and into the pan.
- Melt 1 tablespoon of butter and brush each side of the chicken breasts. Season each side of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
- Mince the garlic cloves and add around the chicken breasts. Cut the remaining butter into cubes and place around the chicken breasts.
- Bake the chicken at 450 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Depending on the size of the chicken breast, check the chicken at the 15 minute mark. Use a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the largest chicken breast and cook until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
- If desired, broil the chicken breasts on high for the last 2-3 minutes to golden the tops of the chicken breasts.
- Serve with the lemon butter on the side.
Notes
- Brining the chicken breasts helps seal the moisture of the chicken breasts in and add additional flavor.
- Fresh garlic and fresh lemon make this dish. One fresh lemon produces 2-3 tablespoons of lemon juice. One garlic clove is about ½ a teaspoon minced.
