Lemon Basil Chicken

Name: Lemon Basil Chicken
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 300 g chicken breasts; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 lemon ((juice and zest only)); 3 garlic cloves (crushed); 8 tbsp fresh basil (chopped); 1 Pinch sea salt and black pepper; 1 tsp dried oregano

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This quick and easy Lemon Basil Chicken is super juicy, and that all comes from the simple marinade of olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper and basil. It's fresh and light and can be served it with pasta, rice, in a sandwich or on a classic green salad. Chicken breasts never have to be dry or boring again! Naturally gluten free and a protein packed meal.

Sliced chicken breast on a bed of spaghetti. A lemon half and some garlic cloves are next to it.

You are going to want to batch cook this chicken. It's so easy and convenient. Just keep it in your fridge to add to meals over the next couple of days. It is made with such a simple marinade, but it keeps the chicken super juicy and delicious.

Lemon and basil are both such light and fresh flavours, and this recipe has the perfect balance of them both - it keeps the chicken beautifully moist. Just a few minutes of prep time for this simple chicken dish.

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Why should you try it?
Step by step
Is it healthy?
What cut of chicken to use?
The marinade
How to cook it
What to serve it with
Extra tips
More chicken recipes
Recipe
Feedback

Why should you try it?

Under 300 calories per serving
Really easy to make
A light and fresh marinade
Tender and juicy
Really versatile and can be used so many different ways

Step by step

One: Put the chicken into a dish and cover with the rest of the ingredients.

Two raw chicken breasts in a round dish with, lemon juice, zest, oil and chopped basil.

Two: Mix well, cover and marinade overnight (or for at least 4 hours).

Two raw chicken breasts in a round dish with, lemon juice, zest, oil and chopped basil all mixed together.

Three: Put the marinated chicken in an oven proof dish in a preheated oven at 200°C/400°F/Gas6 and cook for 30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Serve on pasta, rice or mashed potato.

Lemon Basil Chicken and spaghetti on a blue plate.

Is it healthy?

Yes, this is a really healthy chicken dish. It is protein packed, and the marinade doesn't have any honey or added sugar like most chicken marinades do. The main flavour comes from lemon and basil, which is low in calories.

What cut of chicken to use?

We wanted to keep this dish as lean as possible, so we used skinless and boneless chicken breasts. If you want an even juicier chicken dish, then I recommend using chicken thighs instead. These will also reheat better. Cooking time will very though, depending on the thickness of the thighs.

If you fancy trying something different with this lemon and basil marinade, then you could use it for prawns, salmon or even steak.

The marinade

This is such an easy marinade, but quality is key. Firstly, you want to use the best quality olive oil that you can get - it will be more expensive but you can taste the difference.

Make sure it is well seasoned with salt and pepper and then you have the perfect balance of garlic, oregano and fresh basil. Make sure you use a juicy lemon, otherwise you might need to use a second lemon.

Sliced cooked chicken breast on top of spaghetti.

How to cook it

You have a few options here when it come to cooking the chicken. You can put it all in a baking dish (including the marinade) and cook in a preheated oven at 200°C for 30 minutes (or until it is cooked through).

However, you can also cook this under the grill, as it gets the chicken nice and crispy. This would also be great cooked on the BBQ if you wanted something easy to feed a crowd. You could even cook this in a hot pan on the hob.

What to serve it with

There are so many different ways that you can serve lemon basil chicken, which is why we usually batch cook it and then keep it in the fridge to use on meals over the next couple of days.

We serve it with spaghetti, on rice or mashed potato and we chop up leftovers to have a on a big green salad or in sandwiches and wraps. It also goes really well with our Italian Roasted Vegetables.

A plate of spaghetti and lemon basil chicken.

FAQs

How long should chicken marinate for?

You don't have to marinate the chicken, but you will really taste a difference, Marinating it not only allows the flavours to really infuse, but the lemon also tenderises the chicken.
For best results, marinate the chicken overnight (around 12 hours), however try for a minimum of 4 hours.

Can this be prepared in advance?

Yes, this is recommended so that it has plenty of time to marinade. You could even make the marinade ahead of time and then just add it to the chicken when you are ready to marinade it.

How to store and reheat

You can freeze this chicken once it is cooked. Store in freezer bags for up to 2 months and then make sure it is fully defrosted before reheating. It will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days.
To reheat, add to a pan with a little oil and heat through. Make sure you don't heat it for too long, otherwise it will become dry.

Extra tips

Pound the chicken before marinating it. This will help it all be an even size and then it will cook at the same rate.
To marinate the chicken, put it in a zip-lock bag, or a bowl with clingfilm on it.
After the chicken has marinated, discard the marinade and then cook the chicken.

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