Description
Getting lemon herb chicken on your table in 25 minutes means using quick-cooking chicken breasts that you season generously with fresh herbs, lemon juice, and garlic, then pan-sear until golden and juicy. Your dinner comes together faster than you’d think, giving you a bright, tangy dish that works perfectly over rice or with roasted vegetables on the side.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Aromatics and Fat:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
Seasonings and Flavor:
- 1 lemon (juiced and zested)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) so it reaches temperature while you prepare everything else.
- Whisk together 2 tbsp olive oil, the juice and zest from 1 lemon, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 tsp dried rosemary, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper in a bowl.
- Rub your 4 chicken breasts generously with the herb mixture, making sure each piece gets evenly coated.
- Place a skillet over medium-high heat and let it get hot before laying your chicken breasts inside, searing them for 3 minutes on each side until they develop a golden exterior.
- Carefully transfer your skillet to the preheated 375°F (190°C) oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, checking that your chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Let your chicken rest in the skillet for 5 minutes before serving, allowing the juices to redistribute throughout the meat.
Notes
- Pound your chicken breasts to an even thickness so they cook uniformly and don’t dry out in the oven.
- Searing the chicken in the skillet first creates a golden crust that locks in juices before finishing in the oven.
- Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer at the thickest part to guarantee your chicken reaches 165°F safely without overcooking.
- For a dairy-free or paleo version, this recipe works perfectly as written since the herb marinade relies on olive oil and citrus for flavor and moisture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 21-26 minutes
- Category: Baked Chicken
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 215 kcal
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 310 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8.6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1.5 g
- Fiber: 0.4 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg