Fresh and fragrant these crispy skinned lemon chicken thighs are a delicious entrée with lots of flavor. We love baked chicken thighs and this citrusy version is an easy weeknight meal. 

Made from scratch with just minutes of prep, baked lemon chicken is a simple recipe to impress family or friends without a lot of fuss. Pair it with roasted green beans and potatoes for a hearty and delicious meal!

top view of plated Roasted Chicken Thighs

Why You’ll Love This Chicken

  • Extra fast prep, just minutes!
  • Fresh and flavorful, doesn’t need many ingredients but packs great flavor.
  • Super juicy chicken with crispy skin.
  • Pairs well with almost any side from scalloped potatoes to garlic butter rice.

adding seasonings to Roasted Chicken Thighs in a bowl

 

How to Make Lemon Chicken

These fresh chicken thighs come together quickly and easily.

  1. Combine all ingredients and marinate the chicken.
  2. Roast until cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F, broil to crisp up the skin if desired.
  3. Garnish with parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice if desired and serve.

Roasted Chicken Thighs on a baking sheet

Quick Tips

  • The rack is optional but helps the chicken crisp on the bottom.
  • Be sure to season the chicken generously with salt.
  • If you have lemon pepper seasoning in the pantry, use it in place of (or along with) the salt for extra flavor.
  • Split chicken breasts will work in this recipe, roast at 425°F for 40-50 minutes.
  • Boneless chicken breasts (5-6 oz each) will need to roast at 400°F for 24-27 minutes.

What to Serve with Lemon Chicken

Lemon chicken casserole tastes terrific served over pasta or rice to soak up the delicious sauce. Fondant potatoes and roasted asparagus would be elegant and taste excellent paired with this entrée.

close up of Roasted Chicken Thighs

Got Leftovers?

You won’t want to waste one bite of this delicious dish! For any leftovers, store them in an airtight container or zippered bag and either pop in the fridge or freezer to save for later!

  • If Refrigerated, the leftovers will last for up to four days.
  • If Frozen, leftovers should last up to four months, if you can resist them that long!

When ready to enjoy, thaw in the refrigerator before reheating. Then bake in a 350°F oven for ½ hour or until it reaches the poultry safe temperature of 165°F.

Chicken for Dinner?

Did your family love this Lemon Roasted Chicken? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below! 

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top view of plated Roasted Chicken Thighs
5 from 23 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Crispy Lemon Chicken Thighs

A delicious entrée with a hint of sophistication.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4 servings
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Ingredients  

  • 1 ½ lbs bone-in skin-on chicken thighs approx. 5-6 ounces each
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 lemon juiced and zested, extra for serving if desired
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a pan with foil and place a baking rack on top (the rack is optional but helps the bottom crisp).
  • Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Toss well to combine and refrigerate at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours.
  • Place the chicken thighs on the rack and roast 35-40 minutes or until chicken reaches 165°F.
  • Broil 2-3 minutes to crisp if desired. Serve with additional lemon wedges.

Notes

The rack is optional but helps the chicken crisp on the bottom.
Be sure to season the chicken generously with salt.
If you have lemon pepper seasoning in the pantry, use it in place of (or along with) the salt for extra flavor. 
Split chicken breasts will work in this recipe, roast at 425°F for 40-50 minutes.
Boneless chicken breasts (6 oz each) will need to roast at 400°F for 24-27 minutes. 
5 from 23 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 351 | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 142mg | Sodium: 112mg | Potassium: 296mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 113IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Main Course
Cuisine American
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plated Roasted Chicken Thighs with writing
top view of plated Roasted Chicken Thighs with a title
Roasted Chicken Thighs on a cooking rack and plated with a title

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. With a passion for nostalgic flavors and simplified techniques, Holly helps busy home cooks create delicious meals that always work. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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Comments

  1. I made this for dinner tonight. The only change I made was using fresh rosemary.
    Turned out way delicious! Will definitely make again!5 stars

  2. Excellent! Doubled the quantity. They were well roasted at 45 min. and even slightly charred. Didn’t need to broil them. Really delicious! Thank you for a really easy, delicious recipe!! Chicken Winner!

  3. Excellent! Doubled the quantity. They were well roasted at 45 min. and even slightly charred. Didn’t need to boil them. Really delicious! Thank you for a really easy, delicious recipe!! Chicken Winner!5 stars

  4. There is no place in the instructions to coat the chicken. Are the pieces dumped in with “all ingredients” before refrigeration? And does the chicken need to be turned over either while baking or while broiling? Thanks.

    1. Hi Cynthia, the chicken is added with all the ingredients in step 2. I do not flip the chicken in this recipe. I hope this helps!

  5. I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO TRY LEMON CHICKEN, SO THIS WAS MY FIRST TIME.
    I MADE IT FOR A RETIREMENT LUNCHEON AT WORK & “EVERYONE” LOVED IT. !!!!!
    IT WAS SUPER GOOD, FULL OF FLAVOR……………MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM :) :)
    WISH I HAD SOME NOW !!
    THEY COULD NOT STOP TALKING ABOUT IT. THIS RECIPE IS A DEFINITE KEEPER!!!!!
    ONE GUYS WIFE SAID IF HE WANTS LEMON CHICKEN FOR DINNER, CALL ME………LOL.
    THANK YOU SO VERY VERY MUCH FOR ALLLLLLLLLL YOU DO HOLLY. GOD BLESS YOU :)

  6. Tried this last night it was so good… the only thing I didn’t do is use the rack. I also use my air fryer, use regular bake then I broiled it for 2 mins it’s was still delicious.. the skin was nice and crispy…. Husband said you need to make this gain ☺️ We also had it cilantro lime rice…
    Thank you for sharing your recipe….5 stars