With just four ingredients you will have Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs bursting with citrus flavor on your dinner table in about 30 minutes.
Looking for an easy dinner that’s bursting with flavor? This lemon pepper chicken thighs recipe forms a buttery lemon sauce as it roasts in the oven.
Chicken thighs, butter, lemon pepper seasoning and a lemon are all it takes to make this chicken dinner.
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Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
Bone-in chicken thighs are more flavorful than boneless chicken thighs but you can also make this recipe with boneless chicken thighs and take about 5 minutes off of the cooking time in the oven.
Although I must warn you that boneless thighs are typically sold without the skin on so, which is why they're not as flavorful, so you won't get a crispy skin, which is a delicious part of this recipe.
Boneless chicken breasts will also work in this recipe, but again, you won't get that crispy skin.
I also put a lemon slice under each chicken thigh which adds lots of lemon flavor.
I love making my own spice blends and I make the best lemon pepper seasoning, I kid you not.
Of course, if you’re in a hurry or don’t have any homemade seasoning on hand, you can certainly use a storebought one.
As these Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs roast in the oven a buttery lemon sauce forms and tastes delicious drizzled over the chicken when you serve it.
Be sure to baste the chicken several times with the buttery sauce that forms as it cooks to ensure a crispy skin.
Serve with lemon wedges because a drizzle of fresh lemon juice after cooking will add a bright note of fresh citrus.
It is my humble opinion that this easy chicken dinner will become a family favorite and gain a spot in your menu rotation.
Check out all the easy chicken recipes here at Swirls too!
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How to roast chicken thighs
Scroll down for the full recipe instructions and ingredient amounts in the recipe card below
- Preheat oven to 425F.
- Cut the lemon in half crosswise. Cut one half of the lemon into slices and place on the bottom of a baking dish.
- Cut the other half of the lemon into wedges and set aside.
- In a small bowl combine the butter and lemon pepper seasoning.
- Season chicken thighs on both sides with the butter mixture and place chicken thighs in a single layer on top of the lemon slices.
- Roast for 30 minutes or until the internal temperature of your chicken reads 165F on a meat thermometer, basting occasionally with the buttery sauce.
- Let the chicken rest for about 5 minutes and serve with the reserved lemon wedges.
Swirls of Flavor Recipe Tips
- If you prefer a very subtle lemon flavor, you can omit the lemon slices under the chicken.
- Sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving
- Be sure to baste the chicken several times with the buttery sauce that forms as it cooks to ensure a crispy skin.
Substitutions
- You can substitute boneless chicken thighs for the bone-in chicken thighs. Just check your timing when cooking because boneless chicken will take less time to cook than bone-in chicken.
- You can substitute store bought lemon pepper seasoning for the homemade lemon pepper seasoning
Storage
- Store any leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Chicken will stay fresh for 3-4 days when refrigerated.
- As always, I find it helpful to visit the FDA website for food storage guidelines
Equipment
Chicken recipes
- Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken
- Balsamic Chicken Thighs
- Indian Butter Chicken
- Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders
What to serve with chicken thighs
Ingredients
- bone-in chicken thighs
- butter
- lemon pepper seasoning
- lemon
Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 bone-in chicken thighs
- 4 Tablespoons butter at room temperature
- 1 Tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning
- 1 lemon
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425F.
- Cut the lemon in half crosswise. Cut one half of the lemon into 4 slices and place the slices on the bottom of a 2 quart baking dish.
- Cut the other half of the lemon into 4 wedges and set aside.
- In a small bowl combine the butter and lemon pepper seasoning, stirring until blended.
- Spread the butter mixture on both sides of the chicken thighs and arrange the chicken in a single layer on top of the lemon slices.
- Roast for 30 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 165F, basting occasionally with the buttery sauce that forms on the bottom of the baking dish as it cooks.
- Let the chicken rest for about 5 minutes. Season with salt, if desired, and serve with the reserved lemon wedges.
I love lemon pepper seasoning! I find myself putting it on chicken and fish so often! I need to make this recipe soon!
I like this recipe because the seasonings were simple it doesn't take the spotlight from the chicken and it enhances it's flavors, The chicken itself is juicy and tender and that is aweosme!