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Lemon Chicken Portions

Ready in 40 mins

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

Preparation Time

10 Minutes

Cooking Time

30 Minutes

Ingredients for Lemon Chicken Portions

If you are not familiar with any ingredients, please check our International Cooking Terms page.

Currently displaying quantities in US Imperial Measurements

To serve 4:

4 chicken portions (thigh or breast)
3 tablespoons butter
2 lemons
  salt and pepper
2 cloves garlic

How to Cook Lemon Chicken Portions

  1. 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.
  2. 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.