Description
Baked Lemon Butter Chicken is a zesty, buttery oven-baked dish with juicy chicken pieces smothered in a rich garlic lemon sauce. It’s a simple yet flavorful recipe perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 4 bone-in or boneless chicken thighs or drumsticks
- 3 tbsp butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1/3 cup chicken broth
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- In a pan, melt butter and sauté garlic until fragrant.
- Add lemon juice, zest, and chicken broth to the pan and stir to combine.
- Place chicken in a baking dish and pour the lemon butter sauce over it.
- Bake uncovered for 35–40 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Optional: broil for 2–3 minutes to brown the skin.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and serve hot.
Notes
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked through without drying out.
- Double the sauce for serving over rice, pasta, or vegetables.
- Can be made ahead and baked when ready.
- Olive oil can substitute butter for a lighter flavor.
- Freeze leftovers with sauce for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken piece with sauce
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 21g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 105mg