Description
Zesty Lemon Baked Chicken Breasts deliver a simple weeknight dinner that brightens your plate with tangy flavor. Lean protein meets citrus punch, creating a fast meal your family will devour in minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
Citrus & Herbs:
- 2 large lemons
- ½ cup loosely packed fresh parsley
Seasonings & Oils:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 3 cloves garlic
Instructions
- Harvest ¼ cup fresh lemon juice from one lemon, adding juice from the second lemon if needed. Zest the yellow skin from the first lemon.
- Whisk 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, and ½ teaspoon black pepper until salt dissolves completely.
- Stir 3 crushed garlic cloves, lemon zest, and ½ cup chopped parsley into the marinade.
- Submerge 4 chicken breasts in the marinade. Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.
- Position oven rack in middle. Preheat to 400°F.
- Transfer chicken to a baking dish, removing excess garlic. Season with additional salt and pepper.
- Quarter the second lemon. Scatter lemon wedges around chicken.
- Cover dish with oiled parchment paper, tucking edges loosely.
- Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Allow chicken to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
- Drizzle chicken with cooking liquid or slice and return to baking dish with juices.
Notes
- Marinate chicken for maximum flavor by ensuring the marinade evenly coats every part of the meat and letting it sit for the full recommended time.
- Check chicken doneness with a meat thermometer to guarantee perfect, safe cooking without drying out the meat.
- Tucking parchment paper loosely around the chicken helps trap steam and keep the meat tender and juicy during baking.
- For a low-carb or keto version, replace olive oil with avocado oil and skip any sugary additions to the marinade.
- Prep Time: 1 to 2 hours (marinating)
- Cook Time: 35 to 40 minutes (baking)
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 200 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 280 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7.2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg