Baked Lemon-Pepper Chicken

Looking for a quick, easy dinner? This baked lemon-pepper chicken recipe is it. Chicken breasts are cooked in a skillet, then finished in the oven with lemon slices that soften and become part of the sauce, with a touch of maple syrup and butter to carry the flavor. It's so simple and delicious, you'll be making this healthy dinner again and again.

IngredientsIngredient Checklist

4 (6 ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts

½ teaspoon salt, plus 1/8 teaspoon, divided

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium lemon, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon pure maple syrup

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces

1 teaspoon cracked pepper
DirectionsInstructions Checklist
Step 1
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Step 2
Sprinkle chicken evenly with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Heat oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken; cook, undisturbed, until the underside is golden brown, about 4 minutes. Flip the chicken; arrange lemon slices around the chicken in the pan.

Step 3
Transfer the skillet to the oven; bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest portion of meat registers 165 degrees F, about 10 minutes.

Step 4
Transfer the chicken to a platter. Add lemon juice and maple syrup to the pan. Add butter, 1 piece at a time, stirring until it melts into the sauce. Stir in pepper and the remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt. Drizzle the sauce over the chicken.

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 Chicken Breast & 2 Tbsp. Sauce Each
Per Serving:
286 calories; protein 34.8g; carbohydrates 7.1g; dietary fiber 1.4g; sugars 3.2g; fat 13.3g; saturated fat 5.2g; cholesterol 109.2mg; vitamin a iu 212.4IU; vitamin c 23.7mg; folate 8.1mcg; calcium 43.1mg; iron 1.4mg; magnesium 38mg; potassium 350.1mg; sodium 447.6mg; thiamin 0.1mg; added sugar 3g.
Exchanges:
4 1/2 Lean Protein, 2 Fat