Juicy lemon herb chicken breasts are the perfect easy protein and perfect for quick cooking. The lemon herb marinade is easy and is delicious with chicken.
Chicken breast recipes are a dime a dozen on the internet but if you’re looking for an easy, simple and drop-dead-delicious way to cook chicken breasts quickly, you’ve found it! These lemon herb chicken breasts are a regular in our house because they are so good and they are so versatile. Serve them as is with sides of your choice, slice them and serve on salads or sandwiches or use them in tacos and quesidillas.
Ingredients
Full recipe with amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
- Chicken breasts. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
- Olive oil.
- Lemon juice.
- Garlic.
- Paprika.
- Herbs – Oregano, thyme, parsley, sage and rosemary are all great with chicken.
How to cook chicken breast
- Make the marinade: To make sure chicken breast is juicy and delicious, make sure to marinade them in a punchy, herb-filled marinade for at least 20 minutes but up to a few hours. Be careful with marinades containing citrus as they can break down the proteins too much and make the chicken gummy. You can also freeze them in the marinade to speed up meal prep. Combine olive oil, lemon juice, paprika, mixed dried herbs, fresh thyme, lemon zest and garlic.
- Marinate the chicken: Place the skinless, boneless chicken breasts in between two layers of parchment/baking paper and flatten them out slightly with a meat mallet or rolling pin. By doing this you are making sure the chicken is all one thickness and you’re also tenderizing the meat slightly. Place the chicken in a glass container and pour over the marinade. Cover and marinate for at least 20 minutes.
- Cook the chicken: Cook the chicken in a skillet, pan or griddle pan set over high heat for 3-5 minutes per side (depending on thickness) until cooked through. Allow the chicken to rest for at least 5 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute in the meat before slicing and serving.
How long to cook chicken breasts
Chicken breasts are cooked when the interior temperature is 75ºC/165ºF. I prefer to remove chicken breasts from the heat when it is around 68ºC/154ºF as it will continue cooking as it rests. If you don’t have a meat thermometer, slice into the thickest part of the chicken breast, if the meat is opaque and white throughout, the breasts are cooked.
What to make with chicken breast
- Pea and feta quinoa salad
- Easy oven baked fries
- Summer grilled corn salad
- Easy side salad with lemon dressing
- Easy spicy garlic baked potato wedges
Chicken breast recipes
- Easy herby lemon chicken skewers
- Caprese stuffed chicken breasts
- Easy creamy mushroom chicken
- Chicken breasts with olive, tomato and caper dressing
Lemon herb chicken breasts
Ingredients
- 4 large chicken breasts (skinless + boneless)
For the lemon herb marinade
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- zest of 1 lemon
- 3 garlic cloves crushed
- 1 tsp oregano
- 2 tsp dried mixed herbs
- 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp chilli/red pepper flakes
- 2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Place the chicken breasts between two layers of parchment/baking paper and flatten out slightly with a meat mallet/rolling pin.
- Whisk together the marinade ingredients.
- Place the chicken in a glass container and pour over the marinade. Mix to make sure the chicken is well-coated then cover and allow to marinade for at least 20 minutes but up to 24 hours, refrigerated.
- To cook the chicken breasts, heat a skillet, pan or grill then add the chicken and cook for 3-5 minutes per side (depending on thickness) until cooked through but still juicy.
- Remove from the heat and cover with foil, allowing the chicken to rest for at 5-10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Are the calories correct? 257kcals is 257000 calories which seems very high.
A kilocalorie is another word for what’s commonly called a calorie, so 1,000 calories will be written as 1,000kcals.
My family loved them. They were so juicy.
I am giving it a try today. It looks so delicious just looking at it . I love to make changes in my cooking and baking and they love it . Will send feedback after they had dinner tonight .
Not tried your recipe yet.
But seriously I love chicken, I love lemon, so what’s not to like.
Instead of some of the herbs, I’m going to use fresh lemon grass.
I’ll probably serve it with couscous, use some of the marinade, and create a sauce for it.
This is so easy and so good! I make regularly now! I grill lemons to serve with it
Amazing flavor I added chicken broth to give it a bit of gravy. So delicious
I don’t understand these measurements at all…
What are you struggling with?
Very tasty and quick to prepare. I have saved a few of your other recipes to try including your peri peri sauce.
Many Thanks and Regards
I left Springs TVL in 1971 and been in Ireland ever since.
How long do you have to cook the chicken 4/5 minutes seems too short
Depending on their thickness you are cooking them 3-5 minutes per side so 6-10 minutes in total. If you have flattened them out they will cook much quicker.
Is there a way to make these in a crock pot or instant pot? These were fabulous, thanks!
The end result won’t be the same but you could. I haven’t tried it so can’t say with certainty how long it would take though.
Just curious what the “dried herb mix” is? Thanks!
Any dried herb mix you have or love. Herbs de Provence, Italian herbs, etc.
My new go-to. I bulk prepped a whole lot of chicken breasts on Sunday and my lunches have never been this good!
So smart! And super thrilled you like this recipe.
The juiciest most delicious chicken breasts I’ve ever made. Great recipe!!!
Wow, thanks for your feedback Carol! 🙂
Love how easy and versatile these chicken breasts are Alida. Perfect plain, in a salad or as a sandwich. Delicious!
Thanks Mary Ann! It’s one of my favs.