Description
This Baked Lemon Butter Chicken recipe is a delightful combination of tender chicken breasts bathed in a flavorful lemon butter sauce and baked to perfection. It’s a simple yet elegant dish that’s perfect for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Lemon Butter Sauce:
- ¼ cup melted unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Additional:
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Prepare Chicken: Place the chicken breasts in the baking dish in a single layer.
- Make Lemon Butter Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together melted butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, paprika, and red pepper flakes. Pour over the chicken.
- Add Olive Oil and Lemon Slices: Drizzle olive oil over the chicken and arrange lemon slices on and around the chicken.
- Bake: Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Optional Broil: Broil for 2–3 minutes for a slightly browned top.
- Finish and Garnish: Spoon the lemon butter sauce over the chicken, garnish with parsley, and serve.
Notes
- Serve with rice, roasted vegetables, or a green salad.
- Enhance with heavy cream or Parmesan cheese before baking for added richness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast
- Calories: 340
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 540 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
