40 mins
Lemon Chicken Portions
Recipe by Graham
This very simple recipe produces a delightfully light and tangy chicken when you want something just a little different. If there is one recipe that every home cook should know, it's this Lemon Chicken Portions recipe. All you need is chicken (whole or in portions), butter, salt, and pepper, lemon and garlic. We usually buy whole chickens and either cut them up ourselves or have the butcher do it for us. It's cheaper that way and we get giblets for gravy. You can do that or just use a package of whatever chicken parts you like - breasts for white meat, thighs and legs for dark.
This way of cooking chicken couldn't be more straightforward and is especially welcome on days when you're busy and just want to put good food on the table
Lamb Shanks in Deep Rich Gravy 
Lemon Curd Ingredients for Lemon Chicken Portions
Currently displaying quantities in US Imperial Measurements
How to Cook Lemon Chicken Portions
- Squeeze the juice from the lemons into a small bowl (or cup). Make small cuts in the skin and flesh of the chicken and rub or brush the joints with a little of the lemon juice. Place the chicken portions individually onto aluminium foil squares leaving enough to wrap around each piece. Finely grate (shred) the lemon rind and peel and crush (mince) the garlic. Add these to the lemon juice, plus the butter, salt and freshly-ground pepper to taste and then cream the whole mixture together. Spread this mixture over the chicken portions and then wrap them securely in the foil.
- Place the chicken packages in the middle of a preheated moderate oven (Mk 6 - 400ºF - 200ºC) for about 20-25 minutes. Remove briefly from the oven and carefully open each package making sure that none of the juice spills out. Form the aluminium into an open "dish" by turning down the sides. This should leave the chicken sitting in the 'sauce', but exposed at the top. Replace them in the oven for a further 10 minutes to give them a nice golden brown appearance.
GRAHAM'S HOT TIP:
The combination of chicken juices and lemon butter that remain in the foil after cooking makes an excellent delicate sauce to pour over the chicken portions. Alternatively, you can use our Sweet and Sour Sauce recipe and add an extra tang to the meal.
Reviews of Lemon Chicken Portions
| February 13 2024 Gloriously simple and fabulously tasty. What a good recipe for a simple meal. ronnie (2 reviews) |
October 06 2021 Very quick, very easy and very tasty. Goes great with just about any combination of vegetables. Definitely one you can repeat over and over. Rafeeda (5 reviews) |
May 13 2021 Excellent preparation full of tangy taste. Everyone was pleased by it and it was so simple to make. The only question I have is whether you need two lemons. I think one would have been enough. Otherwise, really good and highly recommended. jatin (2 reviews) |
||
| March 21 2015 This is a really, really nice little recipe. So very simple but very tasty. It's got to go into my keepers file for regular use because the whole family enjoyed it. Nice way to enjoy chicken with a bit of 'bite'. IsabellaW (3 reviews) |
What To Eat Tonight
Just because it's healthy doesn't mean it needs to be boring and tasteless! Take a look at out healthy recipes for some great ideas.
If you know what kids like, they're easy to please, even using 'healthy' foods that they normally avoid. It's all in the preparation!
The versatile egg just hides quietly in your kitchen waiting for the word of command, then transforms itself into a million different meals.
Other Chicken Recipes
This recipe for Chicken Satay is intended as a main dish. Another recipe will show how you can do this as a starter or as part of an aperitif
Chicken Curry is generally much lighter tasting than beef curry. You will discover your own preference regarding the taste, so this recipe is for you.
Chinese Chicken Salad is a truly delicious light meal or, using just half the amount of chicken, starter course.
