Lemon Garlic Chicken is a light and fresh dish that can be prepared ahead of time and great for a crowd. Serve with regular or cauliflower rice or orzo for a complete meal.
Why Lemon Garlic Chicken?
I remember the first time I made Lemon Garlic Chicken. It was Mother’s Day 2008. I was a 22-year-old, unemployed college student who was a few weeks away from leaving for a trip a summer in Italy. My favorite thing to do at the time was cook, and I’d also just started dating Huck.
That Mother’s Day, I volunteered to make lunch for my Mom and grandmother. I’d spent the night at Huck’s house and planned to get up early to head to my parents to cook. As I was getting ready to leave, Huck told me his Mom was coming over and asked if I’d like to meet her. Let me think… I’m a girl you met at a bar, it is 8 AM, and I’m at your house wearing the same outfit I came over in the day before… Hell no!! I quickly grabbed my stuff, hoping to make it out the door before she arrived. It was not the way I wanted to meet someone’s mother for the first time!
Unfortunately, as I started walking out the front door, she pulled into the driveway. There was no getting around it; I was meeting his Mom. I introduced myself, and we briefly chatted before I used the excuse, “Sorry to run, but I have to go cook lunch for my Grandmother”. I remember thinking how awkward our first meeting was on my drive home. Huck didn’t see anything wrong with it. I guess I should have been excited he wanted me to meet her instead of rushing me out the door?!
I haven’t thought about that day in years! It wasn’t until I started thinking about this recipe and blog post that it even came to mind.
My family loved this dish, by the way. I had to write the recipe down for my grandfather so that he could make it at home. This dish is a little different than the meal I made the day I met my future mother-in-law, but it still has the same basic ingredients.
Lemon Garlic Chicken Variations:
- Mushrooms can be excluded or replaced with green beans {Try my Grilled Green Beans for an easy side too}.
- Bone-in chicken can be used, but the cooking time will increase.
- If using skin-on chicken, place skin side up when cooking in the oven.
The marinated would also work great on my Spatchcock Chicken recipe.
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Lemon Garlic Chicken
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Diet: Low Calorie
Description
Lemon Garlic Chicken is a light and fresh dish that can be prepared ahead of time and great for a crowd. Serve with regular or cauliflower rice or orzo for a complete meal.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup Low Sodium Chicken Stock
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- ½ teaspoon Dry Thyme
- Juice from 1 Lemon
- 4 Large Cloves Garlic- Chopped
- Salt and Pepper to Taste
- 1.5 pounds Boneless and Skinless Chicken Thighs
- 8 oz. Mushrooms
- 1 Lemon Sliced
Instructions
- In a large Ziploc bag or bowl, whisk together the Chicken Broth, Oil, Thyme, Lemon Juice, Garlic, Salt, and Pepper. Add the chicken and marinate for 30 minutes to 1 hour in the refrigerator.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Preheat a large skillet over medium high heat. Removed the chicken from the marinated, and removing as much marinated as possible. Lightly coat the preheated pan with cooking spray, and add the chicken to sear on each side, about 1-2 minutes. Place the seared chicken in a baking dish {If you have a ovenproof pan, see note below}.
- Add the remaining marinated to the pan and cook 3-5 minutes, over medium heat, to slightly reduce and scrap up any pan drippings in the pan.
- Pour over the chicken, add mushrooms and top with sliced lemon. Place chicken in the preheated over for 20-25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
- Serve with a side of fresh green beans and orzo or rice for a complete meal.
Notes
If you have an oven-safe pan, you can sear the chicken on the stove, add all the ingredients to your pan, and place it directly in the oven to finish cooking. Remove the chicken from the pan and cook the marinate. Once reduced, add chicken and juice back to the pan.
Cooking time for bone in chicken thighs will be longer.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: lemon chicken, baked chicken
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