Description
Creamy baked lemon butter chicken promises a Mediterranean-inspired culinary journey with tender, juicy meat. Rich, zesty flavors and simple ingredients combine to deliver a delightful meal you’ll savor from first bite to last.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, freshly ground, to taste
Herbs and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped rosemary
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
Sauce Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 3–4 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 lemon zest
Garnish:
- Lemon slices
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the culinary canvas by warming the oven to 400F (200C) and gently lubricating a spacious baking vessel to accommodate chicken pieces comfortably.
- Meticulously desiccate chicken surfaces using absorbent towels, then lavishly season with salt and pepper across both sides.
- Craft a vibrant sauce by amalgamating melted butter, zesty lemon essence, fragrant citrus zest, crushed garlic, aromatic thyme, robust rosemary, and optional fiery red pepper flakes in a compact mixing vessel.
- Strategically position chicken pieces within the prepared dish, ensuring comprehensive coverage by drizzling the luminous lemon butter concoction uniformly.
- Artfully distribute delicate lemon medallions atop the seasoned protein for enhanced aromatic infusion.
- Transport the culinary creation into the preheated oven, allowing 35-40 minutes of transformative roasting until chicken reaches a succulent 165F internal temperature, developing a tantalizingly golden, crisp exterior.
- Extract from thermal environment, permit a brief 5-minute restoration period, then elegantly crown with freshly chopped parsley before presenting this gastronomic masterpiece.
Notes
- Ensure chicken is patted completely dry to achieve crispy, golden skin that seals in delicious flavors.
- Customize heat levels by adjusting red pepper flakes or omitting them for a milder version suitable for kids or sensitive palates.
- Create a low-carb, gluten-free meal by using fresh herbs and high-quality butter, making this recipe diet-friendly and adaptable.
- Add extra depth by marinating chicken in lemon butter sauce for 30 minutes before baking, intensifying the citrusy, herbal notes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg