Does juicy, tangy, full of flavor, and easy weeknight dinner sounds good to you? Then these Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs are perfect for you. Have a full dinner in under 1 hour!
These Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs are a whole meal made easy. You don’t need any special steps or equipment.
It is made with chicken thighs, lemon juice, homemade lemon pepper seasoning, oil, and garlic. As easy as season, bake and eat!
I like making this recipe on lazy days with a simple green salad or a cilantro creamy sauce to pour over it. It is the perfect recipe for meal prepping with yellow rice and corn.
If you have any lemons left from the recipe you can make a minty lemonade or a delicious lemon tres leches dessert!
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Why This Recipe Works
- Easy- No need to sear the chicken before putting it in the oven. Plus all your meal is cooked in only one pan. Less dirty dishes!
- Convenient- The leftovers are as good as when made fresh. Great to feed a big crowd when making a big batch.
- Versatile- You can change up the chicken used or add any veggies!
Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken – I use bone-in chicken thighs because they tend to be the juiciest part of the chicken and the most economical part to buy. You can use thighs with or without bone and skin.
- Lemon, juice & zest- I use 1 lemon to slice and add with the potatoes. 1 lemon juice to give the chicken a quick 5-minute marinade and the lemon zest to season the chicken for a deeper lemon flavor.
- Yellow potatoes- You can use any type of potato you like. I used yellow potatoes because they are very creamy and taste slightly sweet.
- Seasonings- A mix of salt, pepper, onion powder, and fresh oregano was used to make the seasoning. You can add cayenne pepper or red chili flakes for a touch of heat.
- Oil- I used vegetable oil first to mix in all the seasonings because It helps to season the chicken better. It also helps the chicken skin get crispy along with the high heat. You can also use olive or coconut oil.
- Garlic- I used 4 fresh garlic cloves that I minced.
Substitution & Variations
- Chicken- You can use other parts of the chicken. Use drumsticks just follow the recipe as is. Or use chicken breast and check for readiness after 30 minutes. It should have an internal temperature of 165°F or the juices should run clear when cut.
- Vegetables- Add cubed sweet potatoes, butternut squash, carrots, or broccoli. My favorite is to add red onions cut in 4 and whole garlic cloves.
How to Make Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
- Photo 1: Preheat your oven to 425°F. Put the thighs in a bowl and add the lemon juice. This is to marinate the chicken for 5 minutes while you prep the rest.
- Photo 2: While your chicken is marinating, cut the potatoes into about 2-inch size. This is to help the potatoes cook all the way through. Now cut the lemon into slices and set aside.
⭐️ Tip: Don’t leave the chicken too long in the lemon juice because it can become stringy and rubbery.
- Photo 3: In a large sheet pan add your potatoes and drizzle them with ½ teaspoon of oil and 1 teaspoon of salt. Mix them and spread them around the tray.
- Photo 4: In a small dish add your oil, lemon zest, seasonings, and garlic and mix.
- Photo 5: Pour the seasoning mix over the chicken. Make sure to rub the seasoning well in every crease.
- Photo 6: Place the chicken and lemon slices on the baking tray. Roast for 45 minutes and enjoy.
Recipe Tips
- Make sure you use a roasting pan without a rack. This is because you want everything to cook in the juices of the chicken. I like using a shallow pan big enough to put everything in without spilling.
- For easy cleaning, I like to use foil but I spray it with nonstick cooking spray. If you’re not worrying about the cleaning so much then parchment paper is your best bet.
- If you are adding more vegetables that cook quickly, add them in the last 10 minutes of cooking.
Recipe Questions
Lemons and limes are very similar in flavor. They are both tart and acidic. But limes tend to be more bitter than lemons. But for this recipe, it won’t make much of a difference with either one. So use what you have.
Lemons are a great way to add acidity. It gives it a nice tangy flavor. But leave it too long and it will make it tough and it can have a very strong unpleasant lemon flavor.
Cooking chicken at 425°F is the perfect temperature. This is because it will help it cook thoroughly on the inside. The outside will have a delicious golden crust. It will also take less time to make.
Let this sit at room temperature before reheating while you preheat your oven to 400°F. Then bake for 15 minutes and your skin will be nice and crispy again.
Store any leftovers on the pan you just used to make them, cover them with foil, and store them in your fridge. I like to leave it in the pan because of all the flavors and juices that are there. But you can also store the chicken with potatoes in an airtight container for no more than 3 days. Store for 3 months in the freezer.
More Chicken Recipes For You!
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Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 2 ½ tablespoons oil
- 3 pounds chicken thighs
- 1 ½ pounds yellow potatoes
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 4 garlic cloves 9g
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon crushed oregano
- 1 lemon
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 425°F.
- In a large bowl add your chicken thighs and the lemon juice. Mix and set aside.
- Wash and cut the potatoes into 2-inch pieces. Transfer to a tray. Pour ½ tablespoon of oil and 1 teaspoon of salt over the potatoes. Mix and set aside.
- In a small dish mix 2 tablespoons of oil, lemon zest, garlic, salt, pepper, onion powder, and oregano. Add this mix to the chicken and make sure to get the chicken well coated. Transfer the thighs to the baking tray. Cut the lemon into slices and place around the tray.
- Bake the chicken for 45 minutes. Serve and enjoy.
Recipe Notes
- Lemons- You can use limes if you don’t have any lemons. Substitute for the same quantity.
- Potatoes- You can use any type of potatoes you prefer.
- Chicken thighs- In this recipe, we use chicken thighs but you can also use chicken breast. Make sure to check your chicken after 30 minutes to see if they are fully cooked.
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