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Easy Baked Lemon Chicken is the perfect healthy chicken recipe! Tangy, savory and juicy, this marinated lemon chicken is baked and ready in just 30 minutes and comes out moist and bursting with lemon flavor every time.
When it comes to easy, healthy chicken recipes, this recipe for baked lemon chicken is my favorite!
Are you like me and have tried lemon chicken recipe after lemon chicken recipe just to be disappointed every time???
THIS Easy Baked Lemon Chicken is not like that!
This is a baked lemon and herb chicken recipe that will knock your flip flops off!!
… let’s just hope you don’t spill your margarita, too 🙂
Looking for more healthy recipes? Some of my favorites are Turkey Meatloaf, Baked Chicken Meatballs, Easy Baked Fish Tacos and Pasta Primavera.
easy baked lemon chicken
So what makes this lemon herb chicken so special?
Three things make this the best healthy chicken served up on your plate:
- Super easy marinade of lemon, oil and herbs to infuse so much lemon flavor in your plain old chicken breast.
- Fresh herbs bring .. well .. freshness to you dish that cannot be replicated with dried herbs.
- High heat cooking keeps your lemon and herb chicken moist (.. ugg.. sorry but the word fits!) and juicy!!
Let’s face it, eating healthier and making better food choices can be .. HARD!
Let’s take a minute to weigh those imaginary moral compass scales … do you want pizza?? … or baked chicken??
This easy chicken recipe is the perfect healthy chicken dish to help keep you on the healthy eating path.
It’s quick to assemble, easy to make and baking the chicken at a higher heat is the secret to perfect baked lemon chicken every time.
why this is the BEST lemon herb chicken
- Thanks to an easy lemon marinade, this baked chicken is bursting with lemon flavor!
- Super easy to make with ingredients you probably already have on hand.
- Cooking at a higher heat for a shorter time seals in flavor and juiciness. No dry chicken here!!!
- The perfect meal prep healthy protein, this lemon and herb chicken is great for salads, zoodle recipes or simply served with a side of veggies.
- Healthy proteins don’t have to be boring. This chicken is tangy, savory and perfect!
- Easy chicken recipe that anyone can make, even if you are new to the kitchen!
To make this easy lemon baked chicken, you will need:
- Boneless chicken breasts
- Lemons
- Olive oil
- Lemon pepper
- Italian seasoning
- Fresh parsley
- Salt
- Minced garlic
how do you make lemon and herb chicken?
To make this healthy chicken recipe, start with the marinade.
Place the chicken breasts in a large zip top bag. Pour in the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon pepper, Italian seasoning, salt, minced garlic and most of the parsley.
Seal the bag tightly then using your hands, massage the chicken and marinade together until it’s all well combined and your chicken is coated.
Move to the refrigerator and let marinate for 4 to 8 hours.
When you are ready to bake, preheat oven to 450 degrees and spray a 9 x 13 baking pan or tray with non-stick spray.
Remove chicken from the marinade and lay chicken out in baking tray or a large sheet pan.
Top chicken with sliced lemon and remaining fresh parsley.
Bake for 20-23 minutes or until your chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
Sprinkle with a bit more fresh parsley and serve immediately.
pro tips for perfect baked chicken
- Give your chicken plenty of time to marinate! Throw together your quick lemon marinade and your chicken in the morning and it’s ready for you by dinner!
- Serve this tangy chicken with a side of vegetables for the BEST healthy dinner idea.
- Super thick chicken breasts will need longer to cook. If your chicken breasts are HUGE, slice your chicken lengthwise and cook for 18-20 minutes instead.
- Substitute chicken thighs or chicken legs for the chicken breasts. Simply adjust your cooking time accordingly.
- I like to rotate my marinating bag of chicken every few hours while it is the refrigerator. Just pick it up, mush it around and place back in the fridge.
what do you serve with baked chicken?
- Enjoy a simple healthy side dish of salad or roasted vegetables.
- Brown rice, jasmine rice or quinoa.
- Mashed potatoes or scalloped potatoes.
- Pasta, any shape!
more chicken recipes
- Tequila Lime Chicken with Tomato Corn Salad
- Pesto Chicken Ravioli and Veggies
- Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Skillet
- One Pan Keto Cheesy Jalapeno Chicken
- Mexican Street Corn Chicken Tacos
Enjoy ♥ Heather
If you’ve tried this Easy Baked Lemon Chicken recipe, please don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you it came out in the comments below.
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Easy Baked Lemon Chicken
Ingredients
- 4- 5 boneless chicken breasts
- 2 large lemons, juiced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon pepper
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped and divided
Instructions
- To make this healthy chicken recipe, start with the marinade. Place the chicken breasts in a large zip top bag. Pour in the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon pepper, Italian seasoning, salt, minced garlic and most of the fresh parsley.
- Seal the bag tightly then using your hands, massage the chicken and marinade together until it's all well combined and your chicken is coated. Move to the refrigerator and let marinate for 4 to 8 hours.
- When ready to bake, preheat oven to 450 degrees and spray a 9 x 13 baking pan or tray with non-stick spray. Remove chicken from the marinade and lay chicken out in baking tray or a large sheet pan.
- Top chicken with sliced lemon and remaining fresh parsley. Bake for 20-23 minutes or until your chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.Sprinkle with a bit more fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
- Give your chicken plenty of time to marinate! Throw together your quick lemon marinade and your chicken in the morning and it's ready for you by dinner!
- Serve this tangy lemon chicken with a side of vegetables for the BEST healthy dinner idea.
- Super thick chicken breasts will need longer to cook. If your chicken breasts are HUGE, slice your chicken lengthwise and cook for 18-20 minutes instead.
- Substitute chicken thighs or chicken legs for the chicken breasts. Simply adjust your cooking time accordingly.
- I like to rotate my marinating bag of chicken every few hours while it is the refrigerator. Just pick it up, mush it around and place back in the fridge.
Can you use dried parsley, instead of fresh. I never have any fresh, but always have dried.
Hi Maxine.. Yes!! Use just a bit less than the recipe calls for since dried is usually a bit more potent than fresh.. enjoy!!