Easy Lemon Garlic Parmesan Chicken Recipe
This Easy Lemon Garlic Parmesan Chicken recipe offers a flavorful blend of zesty lemon, aromatic garlic, and savory parmesan, marinated and cooked to perfection in under 30 minutes. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, the tender chicken thighs are either baked or air fried, resulting in juicy, delicious chicken with a tangy and cheesy finish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 17-20 minutes (oven) or 12 minutes (air fryer)
- Total Time: 40 minutes (including minimum marinating time)
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
Marinade
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 large lemon, juiced (about 2 tablespoons)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon chili pepper flakes
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven or air fryer: Set your oven to 400°F (204°C) or your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it’s preheated and ready for cooking the chicken.
- Prepare the chicken: Rinse the chicken thighs under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels. Place the chicken pieces into a large ziplock bag for marinating.
- Make and apply the marinade: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, honey, minced garlic, paprika, onion powder, dried oregano, chili flakes, salt, pepper, and grated parmesan cheese. Pour three-quarters of this marinade into the ziplock bag with the chicken, seal it tightly, and massage to fully coat the chicken. Refrigerate the marinating chicken for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight. Set aside the remaining marinade, keeping it refrigerated and separate from the raw chicken for use as a topping and dip later.
- Cook the chicken: Remove the chicken from the marinade and place the pieces evenly on a baking sheet or air fryer basket. Bake in the preheated oven for 17-20 minutes or air fry for 12 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Finish and serve: Once cooked, transfer the chicken to serving plates and drizzle with the reserved marinade for extra flavor. Serve immediately, using the leftover marinade as a dip if desired.
Notes
- Marinating overnight will deepen the flavors and tenderize the chicken.
- Ensure the reserved marinade does not contact raw chicken to avoid contamination.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is fully cooked for safety.
- For less heat, reduce or omit chili pepper flakes.
- Parmesan cheese can be substituted with Pecorino Romano if desired.
