It’s time to spice up your kitchen with a little Saucy Baked Chicken! This recipe is a true winner, with juicy chicken breasts slathered in a tangy lemon and butter sauce, and baked to perfection with a crispy, golden-brown exterior. The lemon pepper seasoning adds just the right amount of zing to make your tastebuds sing. And the best part? This dish is quick and easy to make, so you can whip up a saucy, mouth-watering meal any night of the week. So go ahead: give this Saucy Baked Chicken recipe a try and watch your dinner table come to life!
Ingredients
- 4 (6-ounce) chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
- 1/2 teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium lemon, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 1 teaspoon cracked pepper
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Step 2 –Sprinkle the chicken breasts evenly with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt.
Step 3 –Heat the oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat.
Step 4 –Add the chicken to the oil and cook, undisturbed, until the underside is golden-brown, about 4 minutes.
Step 5 –Flip the chicken and cook until the other side is golden-brown, about 4 minutes.
Step 6 –Arrange the lemon slices around the chicken in the pan, then transfer the skillet to the oven.
Step 7 –Bake the chicken until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest portion of it registers 165 degrees F, about 10 minutes.
Step 8 –Transfer the chicken to a platter.
Step 9 –In the same skillet, add the lemon juice and the maple syrup.
Step 10 –Add the butter to the syrup mixture, 1 piece at a time, and cook, while stirring, until the butter melts into the sauce.
Step 11 –Stir the pepper and the remaining salt into the sauce.
Step 12 –Drizzle the sauce over the chicken.
Step 13 –Serve.
