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Lemon and Garlic Chicken

4 servings
American Roasting, Grilling

This easy and delicious Lemon and Garlic Chicken uses natural ingredients you likely have on hand. In seconds, you can blend a zesty marinade that delivers extraordinary flavor for roasting or grilling. It's an effortless dish that's sure to become a new family favorite, perfect for any occasion.

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Chef Tom Chef Tom Founder
August 12, 2025
  • 30 min.
  • 30 min.
  • 1/5
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Ingredients:

Main

* I usually buy a whole chicken and cut it into chicken breasts, chicken thighs, chicken drumsticks, and chicken wings. This amount is perfect for this recipe and is also the most cost-efficient. You can also decide if you would like to leave the skin on some or all of the meat for the best flavor or remove the skin for a more diet-friendly option. However, feel free to opt for any part or combination of chicken portions you like, for example, all chicken breasts, all drumsticks, or all wings, as long as you have at least 2 LB of meat in total.

Tools:

Recipes

Best served with:

Baked Potato with Herb Sour Cream
Side Salad
Oven-Roasted Potato Wedges

Directions:

Lemon and Garlic Chicken-01

1. Marinade Preparation:

Let’s start the preparation of the Lemon and Garlic Chicken by preparing the marinade.

1.1. Place the following ingredients into the measuring pitcher or a small mixing bowl:

¼ cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Juice from 1 large lemon
6 cloves of garlic – peeled, whole
1 TSP of salt
½ TSP of pepper

Lemon and Garlic Chicken-03Lemon and Garlic Chicken-04

1.2.

Process with an immersion blender until smooth (usually about 30 seconds to 1 minute).

Lemon and Garlic Chicken-05Lemon and Garlic Chicken-07

1.3.

Set aside for the later steps.

2. Meat Preparation:

2.1.

If you purchase a whole chicken, as I often do, portion it into individual portions: two thighs, two drumsticks, two breasts, two bottom wings, and two top wings.

2.2.

Optionally, remove unwanted skin and fat to best match your requirements.

2.3.

Make sure that the meat is properly rinsed under cold water to remove surface bacteria.

2.4.

Place the meat in a large mixing bowl.

Lemon and Garlic Chicken-08

2.5.

Pour the marinade prepared in step 1 over it.

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2.6.

Then, stir thoroughly with a spatula until all of the meat is coated.

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2.7.

Optionally, cover with food wrap or a plate and let it marinate at room temperature for about 30 minutes or overnight in the refrigerator, with the last 30 – 60 minutes at room temperature for the best result (or skip if you are in a rush).

Lemon and Garlic Chicken-13

3. Oven Roast or Grill:

A.

Oven Roast:

1.

Place the chicken on the baking sheet.

2.

Place it in the preheated oven.

3. Roast for 7 – 10 minutes, turn the chicken to the other side, brush it with the remaining marinade, and cook until done. *

Important: If you are cooking chicken pieces of different kinds or sizes, you may have to adjust the cooking time for smaller portions (i.e., remove them sooner) to prevent them from overcooking.

B.

Grill:

1. Place the chicken on the grill over indirect heat (meaning on the grates with no direct heat source or flame underneath) and close the lid or on the lower heat if your grill does not have a lid.

Note:

  • Since bone-in meat takes more time to prepare, it is best to use an indirect or low flame. This will not only prevent the chicken from cooking too quickly on the outside and potentially burning, but it will also prevent the burning caused by a dripping marinade, which can ignite more easily over a stronger flame and burn the chicken as well.
  • However, if the meat is close to being fully cooked in the following step 2 and has a color that does not match your expectations, you can place it over high, direct heat for the last couple of minutes of grilling.
Lemon and Garlic Chicken-14Lemon and Garlic Chicken-15

2. Grill for about 7 to 10 minutes, turn the chicken to the other side, brush it with the remaining marinade, and cook until done. *

Important: If you are cooking chicken pieces of different kinds or sizes, you may have to adjust the cooking time for smaller portions (i.e., remove them sooner) to prevent them from overcooking.

Lemon and Garlic Chicken - steps-17Lemon and Garlic Chicken - steps-18Lemon and Garlic Chicken - steps-19Lemon and Garlic Chicken - steps-20Lemon and Garlic Chicken - steps-21Lemon and Garlic Chicken - steps-22

4. Rest and Serve Lemon and Garlic Chicken:

4.1.

Let the meat rest on a cutting board for about 2 minutes before serving to lock in the juices.

4.2.

Then, serve it with your favorite side dish or with your favorite dipping sauce as an appetizer.

* Check with a food thermometer to make sure that you have reached the minimum recommended safe serving temperature for poultry of 165°F.
Kitchen Guide

Poultry

The USDA minimum safe internal temperature is 165°F.

The popular serving temperature is the same as the minimum serving temperature.

Read More
Food & Ingredients

Types of Chicken Meat

January 20, 2025

Chicken is a global culinary superstar, renowned for its versatility, affordability, and mild flavor that adapts to countless cuisines. While many home cooks gravitate towards familiar cuts like the breast, the world of chicken meat extends far beyond this popular choice. Understanding the different types of chicken meat available unlocks a wider range of culinary possibilities, allowing you to choose the perfect cut for your desired dish and cooking method. From succulent dark meat to lean white meat, each part of the chicken offers a unique texture and flavor profile waiting to be explored. This guide will navigate the diverse landscape of chicken meat, providing you with the knowledge to make informed decisions at the butcher counter and elevate your chicken cookery to new heights.

Read More
Chef Tom Chef Tom Founder
About the Author:
Chef TomFounder
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