Baked Lemon Chicken

Total Time

Prep: 25 min. Bake: 25 min.

Makes

4 servings

Updated: Jun. 30, 2023
I found this baked lemon chicken recipe many years ago when my children were toddlers. I've changed it a little over the years to make it my own. Everyone in my family just loves it!

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1-1/2 pounds)
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 4 lemon slices
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
  • Hot cooked rice, optional

Directions

  1. In a shallow bowl, combine flour and pepper; dredge the chicken. Set remaining flour mixture aside. In a skillet, brown chicken in oil; transfer to an ungreased 9-in. square baking dish.
  2. In a saucepan, saute onion in butter. Add reserved flour mixture; stir to form a thick paste. Gradually add broth, lemon juice, basil and thyme; mix well. Bring to boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Pour over the chicken. Top each half with a lemon slice. Sprinkle with parsley. Cover and bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until the juices run clear. Serve over rice if desired.
Baked Lemon Chicken Tips

Is it better to bake lemon chicken covered or uncovered?

It’s better to bake this chicken recipe covered. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts can dry out when baked, so be careful how you cook them. Covering the baking dish captures moisture that would otherwise evaporate. The food in a covered dish will also cook more evenly, preventing top bits from getting brown and dry while the bottom isn’t quite done. If your baking dish doesn’t have a lid, use aluminum foil.

Can you use chicken thighs in this baked lemon chicken recipe?

Yes, you can use chicken thighs instead of breasts for this recipe! Lots of great recipes call for either chicken breasts or chicken thighs, but the two can usually be swapped out. Figure two thighs for each breast to get the same amount of meat. Dark meat can take a just a little longer to cook than white meat, especially if you use bone-in thighs, so be sure you check for doneness.

How do you store baked lemon chicken?

Let the chicken cool to room temperature (but no longer than 2 hours), wrap tightly and store in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Love the combination of lemon and chicken? Try more of our lemon chicken recipes!

—Hazel Wheaton, Taste of Home Books Editor

Nutrition Facts

1 chicken breast half: 312 calories, 14g fat (4g saturated fat), 103mg cholesterol, 353mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 36g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 5 lean meat, 1/2 starch.