Tangy Lemon Chicken
Tangy Lemon Chicken features tender chicken breasts coated in a flavorful lemon and herb sauce, perfect for a zesty, family-friendly meal with bright citrus notes. Suitable for casual dinners.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt ⓘ
- 1 teaspoon paprika ⓘ
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice ⓘ
- 3/4 cup boiling water ⓘ
- 3/4 teaspoon instant chicken bouillon granules ⓘ
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar ⓘ
- 1/4 cup sliced green onions and tops ⓘ
- 1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon peel ⓘ
- 2 tablespoons snipped fresh parsley ⓘ
Instructions
- Combine flour, salt, and paprika in a paper or plastic bag.
- Brush chicken breasts with lemon juice.
- Place a few pieces at a time in the bag.
- Shake to coat the chicken evenly.
- Heat oil to 365°F in an electric skillet or large heavy skillet.
- Add chicken breasts to the skillet.
- Brown the chicken on all sides.
- Combine boiling water and chicken bouillon granules, stirring until dissolved.
- Add brown sugar and remaining lemon juice to the mixture.
- Pour the lemon sauce into the skillet with the chicken.
- Cover the skillet and reduce heat to 250°F; simmer for 5 minutes.
- Turn the chicken pieces over.
- Sprinkle with sliced green onions and grated lemon peel.
- Recover and simmer for an additional 10 minutes.
- Serve garnished with lemon slices and additional parsley.
Tips & Substitutions
For a gluten-free option, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend. If you prefer a less tangy flavor, reduce the lemon juice and increase the brown sugar slightly. To ensure even cooking, pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness before breading. Consider using bone-in chicken for added flavor, but adjust cooking times accordingly.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Tangy Lemon Chicken over a bed of rice or alongside roasted vegetables for a complete meal. It pairs beautifully with Mixed Squash Casserole for a delightful combination of flavors. For a refreshing touch, garnish with lemon slices and additional parsley, and serve with a light salad on the side.
Storage & Reheating
Leftover Tangy Lemon Chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, place the chicken in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of water or chicken broth to prevent drying out. Cover to steam for a few minutes until heated through.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Tangy Lemon Chicken contains roughly 243 calories, with 7g protein, 52g carbohydrates, and 2g fat. It is an excellent source of iron (25% of the Daily Value) and vitamin A (21% of the Daily Value), and a good source of dietary fiber and protein. Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 1787mg per serving (78% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I make this dish spicier?
To add some heat, consider incorporating crushed red pepper flakes or a dash of cayenne pepper into the flour mixture. You can also serve the chicken with a spicy sauce or hot sauce on the side to give diners the option to spice it up.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).