Description
Lemon garlic chicken brings zesty Mediterranean flavors right to your dinner table, making weeknight meals feel like a delightful culinary escape. Tender chicken breasts sing with tangy citrus and robust garlic, delivering a simple yet satisfying meal your family will request again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 Chicken thighs or breasts
- 6 Cloves fresh garlic
- Juice of 2 Large lemons
Liquid and Oil:
- ¼ Cup olive oil
- ¼ Cup fresh parsley
Seasonings:
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
- Optional: Paprika
- Optional: Thyme
- Optional: Rosemary
Instructions
- Create a flavorful marinade by whisking together 6 minced garlic cloves, juice from 2 large lemons, ¼ cup olive oil, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl.
- Submerge 4 chicken thighs or breasts completely in the marinade, ensuring each piece is thoroughly coated. Cover and refrigerate for 30-120 minutes.
- Heat your oven to exactly 400°F, preparing a clean baking dish for the marinated chicken.
- Transfer chicken pieces from marinade to the baking dish, pouring the remaining liquid over the top for extra moisture.
- Slide the baking dish into the preheated oven and roast for precisely 25-30 minutes, monitoring until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Remove chicken from oven and allow it to rest for 5 minutes, helping the juices redistribute throughout the meat.
- Sprinkle ¼ cup freshly chopped parsley over the chicken as a bright, fresh garnish before serving.
Notes
- Fresh garlic makes a big difference, so crush or mince it finely to release maximum flavor into the marinade.
- Letting the chicken marinate closer to 2 hours helps the meat absorb more lemon and garlic notes, creating deeper taste.
- Check chicken with a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches the safe internal temperature of 165°F without overcooking.
- For gluten-free diets, confirm all marinade ingredients are certified gluten-free and use alternative herbs like thyme or rosemary if needed.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 285 kcal
- Sugar: 0.3 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1.5 g
- Fiber: 0.4 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg