Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken

Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken

This baked lemon pepper chicken is one of those easy dinners that tastes like you did way more work than you actually did. Juicy, seasoned chicken thighs bake with fresh lemon, garlic, onion, butter, and chicken broth to create a flavorful pan sauce that’s perfect spooned over rice or potatoes.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: About 8

Ingredients

  • 4 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 8 pieces)
  • 3 tablespoons avocado oil
  • 1½ teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • ½ tablespoon adobo seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning
  • ½ tablespoon Cajun seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 small lemons
  • 1 small white onion, sliced
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons butter, sliced

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. Place the chicken thighs in a baking dish and drizzle with avocado oil.
  3. Season generously with garlic powder, onion powder, adobo, lemon pepper, Cajun seasoning, oregano, salt, and freshly cracked black pepper.
  4. Zest both lemons over the chicken. Juice one lemon over the chicken and slice the remaining lemon.
  5. Add the minced garlic, sliced onion, and lemon slices around and over the chicken.
  6. Pour the chicken broth into the baking dish around the chicken, then place the sliced butter over the top.
  7. Bake uncovered for approximately 50 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of at least 165°F.
  8. After about 25 minutes, spoon some of the broth from the bottom of the pan over the chicken. Baste again once or twice while it finishes baking.
  9. Serve over rice or mashed potatoes and spoon plenty of the lemony pan sauce over the top.

Notes

Bone-in chicken thighs can vary in size, so cooking time may vary slightly. Check the thickest part of the chicken for doneness without touching the bone.

The broth, butter, lemon, and chicken juices create a delicious light pan gravy as everything bakes—definitely don’t leave it behind!

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