Lemon Basil Chicken Recipe

Lemon Basil Chicken Recipe photo by Taste of Home

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For Sunday dinner or any time, this tender, fragrant chicken is special. —;Marguerite Marshall, Carencro, Louisiana

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Lemon Basil Chicken Recipe

Prep: 15 min. Bake: 1-1/4 hours + standing

Yield: 6 Servings

15 75 90

Ingredients

1 medium lemon
2 garlic cloves, peeled divided
1/4 cup minced fresh basil, divided
1 broiler/fryer chicken (3 to 4 pounds)
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°. Finely grate enough peel from lemon to measure 2 teaspoons. Cut lemon in half; squeeze juice from one half. Set aside. Slice one garlic clove; place sliced garlic, 2 tablespoons basil and the remaining lemon half in the chicken cavity.
Place on a rack in a shallow roasting pan; rub with reserved lemon juice. Mince remaining garlic; combine with butter and reserved lemon peel. Rub mixture over chicken. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and remaining basil.
Bake, uncovered, 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours or until a thermometer inserted in thigh reads 180°. Let stand 15 minutes before carving. Yield: 6 servings.

Nutritional Facts 1 serving equals 282 calories, 18 g fat (6 g saturated fat), 98 mg cholesterol, 299 mg sodium, 1 g carbohydrate, trace fiber, 28 g protein.

Originally published as Lemon Basil Chicken in Taste of Home February/March 2009, p32