• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Hungry Healthy Happy
  • Chinese recipes
  • About
  • Recipes
  • FREE eBook
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Chinese recipes
  • About
  • Recipes
  • FREE eBook
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Let's get social!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Chinese recipes
    • About
    • Recipes
    • FREE eBook
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Let's get social!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Chicken

    Lemon Basil Chicken

    Published: Jan 30, 2020 · Modified: May 23, 2021 by Dannii · This post may contain affiliate links · 50 Comments

    699 shares
    • 318
    Jump to Recipe
    Diet: Gluten Free / Low Carb
    Lemon basil chicken on a bed of pasta with a text title overlay.

    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.

    Jump to:
    • Why you will love 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 you will love 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.

    heart icon

    Extra tips

    • Pound the chicken flat 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.

    More chicken recipes

    • Loaded Chicken Nachos
    • Tomato, Chilli and Basil Marinated Chicken
    • Creamy Chicken Spinach Pasta
    • Pizza Chicken Breasts

    If you’ve tried this lemon chicken recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    Recipe

    Lemon Basil Chicken and spaghetti on a blue plate.

    Lemon Basil Chicken

    This quick and easy Lemon Basil Chicken recipe is simple and delicious. Light and fresh flavours will impress both guests and family.
    A circular logo saying GF.
    Gluten Free
    The words low carb in a white circle.
    Low Carb
    4.96 from 43 votes
    Author: Dannii
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: British, Italian
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Allergens:
    An illustration of a cow's head.
    Meat
    Servings: 2 servings
    Calories: 292kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    UK Metric Measures - US Customary Measures
    • 300 g Chicken breast
    • 2 tablespoon Olive oil
    • 1 Lemon - (juice and zest only)
    • 3 Garlic clove - crushed
    • 8 tablespoon Fresh basil - chopped
    • 1 Pinch Sea salt and black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon Dried oregano

    Instructions

    • Put the chicken into a dish and cover with the rest of the ingredients.
    • Mix well and marinade overnight (or for at least 4 hours)
    • 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.

    Notes

    • 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.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1portion | Calories: 292kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 96mg | Sodium: 196mg | Potassium: 671mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 467IU | Vitamin C: 33mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 2mg
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

    You'll love these too...

    • Chicken Pesto Pasta
    • Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala
    • Christmas Chicken
    • Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Cocoa extracts

      February 13, 2020 at 8:08 am

      I tried this recipe.It came fabulous.Thanks for sharing.I loved that lemon flavor in that.

      Reply
    2. Olive Foster

      February 01, 2020 at 10:06 am

      5 stars
      Tried this recipe and it is going into my favourites, it was so easy and simple to make and is a very good addition to my healthy eating.

      Reply
      • Dannii

        February 05, 2020 at 8:06 am

        I'm so glad you enjoyed this.

        Reply
    3. Kerry @ Kerry Cooks

      May 18, 2015 at 2:08 pm

      5 stars
      This would be such a yummy summer supper eaten outside with a glass of white - I can dream!

      Reply
    4. Lucy @ BakingQueen74

      May 18, 2015 at 2:03 pm

      Mmm, this sounds delicious, just what I need. Going to try this this week. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
    5. sarah

      May 18, 2015 at 11:39 am

      love the sound of this! Perfect for summer time! :)

      Reply
    6. Tina

      May 18, 2015 at 10:35 am

      Is there a way to make this vegetarian? Would just roasted vegetables work well?

      Reply
    7. Sally Verner

      May 18, 2015 at 10:34 am

      I am reading this as it is raining outside and I am looking forward to warm summer evenings so I can eat something like this in the garden. It sounds wonderfully light.

      Reply
    8. Christophe

      May 18, 2015 at 9:15 am

      5 stars
      Great recipe, especially for people that are working out! I enjoyed it the next day too.

      Reply
    9. Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche

      May 18, 2015 at 8:28 am

      5 stars
      The lemon and basil mixture with the wine sounds like a fab combination. Will have to try a veggie version!

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Dannii in hat and glasses stood on a beach.
    heart icon

    Welcome!

    My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.
    Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

    About HHH»

    Chinese Recipes

    • Chilli Garlic Spicy Noodles
    • Asian Cucumber Salad
    • Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken
    • Soy Sauce Noodles
    • 10 Minute Sticky Ginger Beef
    • Soy Ginger Salmon Noodles

    Featured in

    Collage of media outlet logos.

    Popular Recipes

    • The Best Air Fryer Chips
    • 10 Minute Chickpea and Spinach Curry
    • Easy Tomato Pasta Sauce
    • 10 Minute Sticky Ginger Beef

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Advertising
    • Blog

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • See our Web Stories page

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with us
    • FAQ
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok

    Featured in

    A selection of publications that Hungry Healthy Happy has been featured in

    As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Hungry Healthy Happy • All Rights Reserved • Site Design by D Martin

    • 318
    699 shares