Lemon Garlic Chicken (with an easy marinade!)

March 31, 2023

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it’s easy Lemon Garlic Chicken Recipe The perfect dish for any occasion, whether dining at home or entertaining guests on a busy night. With this quick and easy Lemon Garlic Chicken Marinade, you can turn simple ingredients into something extraordinary.I included two methods of making it – stovetop (based on the regular Grilled Chicken Breast) or oven (method based on Pan-fried Chicken Breast) — so you can use whichever works best for your schedule.

Why You’ll Love This Lemon Garlic Chicken Recipe

tender and juicy chicken
Tangy Lemon Garlic Marinade
Just 6 Simple Ingredients (Add Salt and Pepper)
fast preparation time
very suitable Meal preparationor easy weeknight dinners and date nights!

Lemon Garlic Chicken with lemon slices in a skillet.

Ingredients and Substitutes

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for your Lemon Garlic Chicken Marinade, what each ingredient does in the recipe, and substitution options.For measurements, see recipe card below.

chicken – I used boneless skinless chicken breasts (white meat), but if you prefer dark meat, you can easily make lemon garlic chicken thighs with boneless skinless chicken thighs.You can also use the same marinade Seared Bone-in Chicken Thighsa whole chicken (using my baking instructions chicken or crispy Air Fryer Whole Chicken), or chicken wings (or try my Lemon Pepper Wings instead).
olive oil – Any other neutral cooking oil, such as avocado oil, will do.
lemon – You will need a fresh lemon to make the lemon zest and lemon juice. Reserve extra lemon slices for garnish!
garlic – I use 4 cloves of fresh minced garlic for the best flavor, but you can use 2 tsp canned minced garlic For convenience. You can substitute 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder in a pinch, but it tastes much better with real garlic cloves.
fresh parsley – You can use other fresh herbs such as fresh thyme, basil or rosemary if you prefer.
italian seasoning – do it yourself Homemade Italian Seasoningor use Prepared Seasonings For convenience. If you don’t have all the ingredients on hand, simple dried oregano is a great substitute.
sea salt and black pepper

Tip: Make the Lemon Garlic Chicken Marinade a little sweeter!

You can add 1-2 tablespoons of honey (or unsweetened honey) can be added to the marinade if you like a subtle sweetness.

Lemon Garlic Chicken recipe ingredients measured out.

How to Make Lemon Garlic Chicken

This section shows how to marinate chicken in a lemon garlic sauce, with step-by-step photos and technical details to help you visualize the process.For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see recipe card below.

Lemon Garlic Chicken Marinade:

The marinade is the same whether you’re making this lemon garlic chicken recipe on the stovetop or in the oven:

Make the marinade. in a large bowl, Stir together the lemon garlic chicken marinade (olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, parsley, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper).

Marinate the chicken. Add the chicken breasts to the marinade, and coat to coat. (You can also marinate chicken in a ziploc bag. Just remove excess air, seal, and move chicken around to cover.) Refrigerate for at least 1 hour but no longer than 24 hours.

Lemon Garlic Chicken Marinade Mix in a bowl.

Stovetop method:

The stovetop method is my favorite method for this garlic lemon chicken recipe because it leaves beautiful char marks on the chicken. The steps are simple:

Heat the oil. Heat olive oil in a large pot cast iron skillet Heat over medium heat until shimmering.
Cook the chicken. Add chicken breasts in a single layer. Sear each side until browned and cooked through.

Chicken breasts are searing in a frying pan.

Oven method:

The oven method won’t get the nice browning that a stovetop provides, but it’s a great alternative:

arrange. put the chicken in a bakeware There is no overlap. Top each piece of chicken with a thin slice of lemon, if desired.
bake. Lemon Garlic Chicken is baked in the oven until cooked through.

Tip: Use a meat thermometer for best results.

With both cooking methods, the internal temperature should reach 162-165°F (72-74°C) meat thermometer. (The internal temperature will rise a few more degrees while resting.)

Finish:

For both cooking methods, finish it off by resting and garnishing:

rest. Remove chicken from pan, cover with foil, and let rest before serving or slicing. (This will make it juicy.)
decorate. Sprinkle fresh parsley and lemon garlic over chicken breasts, if desired, and serve with lemon slices or wedges. Drizzle the sauce from the bottom of the pan when serving.

Lemon Garlic Chicken with Parsley and Lemon Slices.

storage instructions

shop: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Meal Prep: You can make a marinade and marinate the chicken overnight for the best flavor.
Reheat: Heat leftovers in an oven preheated to 350°F for 15-20 minutes, or microwave in 30-second intervals until warm.
freeze: Transfer leftovers to freezer bags and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Thinly sliced lemon garlic chicken breasts served on a platter with lemon slices.

What to Serve with Lemon Garlic Chicken

Need a tasty side dish? Complete your meal with these delicious recipes:

Noodle – Serve the chicken over your favorite cooked pasta, or for a lighter option, try zoooven Roasted Spaghetti Squashor simple Shirataki noodles.
rice – Add chicken over plain rice, or try lighter options such as Cauliflower Fried Rice or low calorie Shirataki rice.
vegetable – You can pair lemon garlic chicken with just about any vegetable.try Roasted Romanesco Cauliflowerbid Instant Broccolicrisp Air Fryer Green Beans (or radish). For a comfortable touch, use with Cheesy Asparagus Casserole.
Potato – Oven Baked Potatoes or softer Instant Pot Baked Potatoes Makes for a great pairing.If you want more lemon flavor, try Greek Lemon Potatoes. I usually serve this chicken with less starch Mashed Cauliflower or gold Roasted Kohlrabi.
salad – served with Greek Peanut Saladbright and fresh Pickled Artichoke Salador cream Avocado Salad.

More Easy Chicken Breast Recipes

need some new ones chicken recipes Liven up your dinner rotation? I have dozens of recipes that you can use to transform your routine! Try some of these reader favorites:

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