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Light and flavorful Lemon Chicken. This Lemon Chicken Recipe is naturally low carb, gluten free, keto friendly and also fits a low fat low calorie diet! But diet or not you’re going to love this amazing lemon sauce for chicken and make it again and again!
One of the most amazing things about this Lemon Chicken is how quick and easy it is to make. Unlike too many Lemon Chicken recipes, this recipe takes less than 5 minutes hands-on time and doesn’t require browning on the stove top over medium heat.
You can bake Lemon Chicken. In fact, that’s what makes it so juicy! It’s baked to perfection, sealing it the moisture without the effort. It’s super easy – even a novice cook can whip this chicken recipe up flawlessly!
This is a simplified version blending Ina Garten’s Lemon Chicken Breasts with my Baked Chicken Breast recipe that always receives rave reviews from friends, family and readers.
Table of Contents
Lemon Chicken
Why over-complicate it? It’s a true one dish wonder! No fuss, no mess!
From start to finish you need just one dish. Combine and bake in a baking dish, drain the excess lemon sauce, slice and serve! It’s perfect for a weeknight dinner.
There’s no need to brown them, in fact, skipping the step is the secret to making them so juicy!
It’s so light and flavorful almost anything pairs well. You can serve this Lemon Chicken on a bed of linguine with White Wine Sauce (one of my most popular recipes!), on an Arugula Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette, or on its own with a side of vegetables.
Our favorite side dishes to serve it with are Green Beans in Shallot Butter, Peas, or Baked Artichoke (Roasted Artichoke). It’s also delicious with Garlic Smashed Potatoes or Candied Carrots.
Don’t skip our complete guide to the BEST Lemon Desserts too.
Lemon Sauce for Chicken
This lemon sauce for chicken breasts (thighs work well, too) is so delicious. It’s made with olive oil, minced garlic, white wine, lemon zest, lemon juice, oregano, thyme and salt. It’s so light, yet flavorful, making it a healthy option you’ll actually crave!
With this method there is no need to marinate Lemon Chicken – it bakes right in! However you can use this Lemon Sauce for Chicken if you plan to grill it. Just marinate by sealing in a baking dish prior to grilling.
This Lemon Chicken recipe is only 375 calories per serving! It’s so good you’d never believe it! It fits into low carb, low calorie, low fat, keto, and if you eliminate the white wine, it’s Whole 30 as well!
Lemon Chicken has just 375 calories per serving with the baked chicken removed from the excess sauce!
Baked Lemon Chicken Ingredients
- Olive Oil – Good quality extra virgin olive oil seals in the moisture to create juicy chicken breasts.
- Minced Garlic – Mince fresh cloves or even easier, just purchase minced garlic in a jar from your grocer.
- White Wine – Any dry wine will do as it has the most acidity. Sauvignon Blanc is my favorite white wine to cook with, but Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and white cooking wine all work as well!
- Lemon Zest – Gives this simple recipe robust flavor.
- Lemon Juice – Fresh squeezed lemon juice offers bright, refreshing flavor and makes this lemon sauce light and delicious.
- Oregano – Fresh or dried. I use dried for ease.
- Thyme – Fresh or dried.
- Chicken Breasts – Boneless, skinless.
- Lemon – Adding sliced lemon as a garnish makes it so beautiful and adds a bit more flavor.
- Salt and Pepper – I love using salt and pepper in a grinder for thick flakes to add a little texture.
How to Make Lemon Chicken
- In a baking dish combine minced garlic, white wine, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
- Coat Chicken Breasts and sprinkle with oregano and thyme. Garnish with lemon slices for even more flavor!
- Bake 30 minutes.
- Pull your chicken out of the oven and drizzle the chicken broth on top.
- Allow it to rest 10 minutes. It will continue to cook, sealing in the moisture. Then slice and serve!
Want to cook your meat to the perfect temperature, every time? Don’t miss this printable Meat Temperature Chart with all the guidelines you’ll ever need!
This recipe from start to finish takes a total of 40 minutes, though just 5 minutes hands-on time. To see just how easy it is, watch the video in this post!
To Store
- Refrigerate – You can store it refrigerated for up to 3 days wrapped in plastic wrap or airtight container. It’s perfect to use in salads, chicken wraps and pastas!
- Freeze – and in the freezer for 3 months. Prepared frozen chicken is safe to eat indefinitely, but will lose flavor over time, so it’s best enjoyed within three months. To avoid freezer burn, seal well. You can even store the lemon sauce for chicken. Just pour it into a freezer friendly container or bag.
If you make this easy chicken recipe, don’t forget to leave a 5 star review in the comments below!
Serve it with an arugula salad, green beans or Broccoli Cheese Casserole!
Did you make this? Rate the recipe and tag me on social @julieblanner!
Lemon Chicken
Light and flavorful Lemon Chicken. This Lemon Chicken Recipe is naturally low carb, keto friendly and also fits a low fat low calorie diet! But diet or not you’re going to love this amazing lemon sauce for chicken and make it again and again!
Yield
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1/3 cup white wine
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest zest of 2 lemons
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 1/2 teaspoon oregano dried
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme dried
- 3 chicken breasts
- 1 lemon
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- In a baking dish combine olive oil, minced garlic, white wine, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
- Place chicken breasts in baking dish, using a spoon drizzle the lemon sauce on top of the chicken and top breasts with oregano and thyme.
- Bake 30 minutes. Remove from oven and coat again with lemon sauce.
- Allow chicken to rest for 10 minutes to continue to cook. Slice or dice and season with salt and pepper.
Tips
This recipe specifies dried herbs, but you can also use fresh! If you use fresh herbs instead, use 3x the amount specified to add the correct seasoning.
Video
Nutrition Information
Calories: 465kcal (23%), Carbohydrates: 8g (3%), Protein: 49g (98%), Fat: 24g (37%), Saturated Fat: 3g (15%), Cholesterol: 144mg (48%), Sodium: 266mg (11%), Potassium: 936mg (27%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 1g (1%), Vitamin A: 70IU (1%), Vitamin C: 30.8mg (37%), Calcium: 43mg (4%), Iron: 1.5mg (8%)
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
Peyton Bryan says
The hubby loved it! Its fresh with tons of flavor!
Julie Blanner says
So easy and so delish! Thanks for sharing!
HC says
I love to make lemon chicken. It is so simple and tastes so good. I always make extra to have on salad for lunch. I’ll have to try your recipe next time though. I usually just kind throw it together willy nilly.
Becca says
This chicken is delicious! My chicken needed a little bit longer though because I added more chicken breasts. I also sautéed some sliced baby portobello mushrooms in the sauce in a frying pan then topped some of the chicken breasts. I served the meal and there were no leftovers! Fabulous! (I also used whatever white wine I found in a single serving size at the grocery store.)
Julie Blanner says
Sounds like a delicious twist! Thanks for sharing, Becca!