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Whole cooked chicken breasts with lemon and parsley garnishes. Lemon butter served in a small bowl on the side.

Lemon Butter Chicken Recipe

Samantha Erb
My lemon chicken features tender chicken breasts, zesty lemon, and punchy garlic, all in a rich butter-based sauce. Full of flavor yet so easy to make, it’s ideal for weeknight dinner!
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Dinner Recipes, Main Course, Meat
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 225 kcal

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 9x13 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.

Nutrition

Calories: 225kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 25gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 95mgSodium: 7800mgPotassium: 512mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 310IUVitamin C: 31mgCalcium: 41mgIron: 1mg

This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.

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