353 lemon chicken recipes

Lemon-thyme pesto skips the basil for a brighter, herbal twist on the classic. Parsley, pine nuts, fresh lemon, and thyme blend into a sauce ready in 15 minutes for pasta, fish, or chicken.

Lemon sage red snapper bakes mild fillets with butter, scallions, and crumbled sage in chicken broth, basted with pan juices for a delicate herb-and-citrus finish in 12 minutes.

Halibut piccata broiled with Parmesan and served with a white wine, lemon, and caper sauce. A lighter fish take on classic chicken piccata ready in 30 minutes.

White wine marinade with shallots, Dijon mustard, crushed peppercorns, and lemon juice. A refined, all-purpose marinade for chicken, fish, or grilled meats.

Sun-dried tomato tapenade blends rehydrated tomatoes with black olives, capers, garlic, and lemon zest. A bright Provençal spread for bread, crackers, or grilled chicken.

One-skillet braised chicken breasts with sweet leeks and mushrooms in a white wine pan sauce, finished bright with kalamata olives, capers, and a squeeze of lemon. A simple Mediterranean dinner from a single pan.

Aromatic Moroccan chicken tagine with toasted spices, tomatoes, and fresh cilantro, served over lemon-mint couscous for authentic North African dinners.

Ginger-soy marinade with fresh ginger root, low-sodium soy sauce, orange juice concentrate, apple cider vinegar, and lemon juice. Works on chicken, fish, or any cut of meat.

Vinaigrette marinade with garlic mashed into coarse salt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, olive oil, and red wine vinegar. Works on beef, chicken, pork, fish, or vegetables.

If you run out of preserved lemons, or decide on just a few day's notice to cook a chicken, lamb, or fish dish with lemons and olives and need preserved lemons in a hurry, you can use this quick five-day method taught to me by a Moroccan diplomat's wife. Lemons preserved this way will not keep, but are perfectly acceptable in an emergency.

Pineapple-walnut dip: creamed cottage cheese and sour cream blended with crushed pineapple, toasted walnuts, and lemon. A versatile sweet-savory dip for fruit, cookies, or chicken.

Serve this tangy lemon yogurt dill sauce with grilled chicken or salmon. It also goes well with steamed vegetables, such as green beans, carrots, or broccoli.

Saffron and turmeric-rubbed chicken marinates overnight, then simmers until tender in a thick, golden sauce with olives and pickled lemons. A Moroccan tagine-style feast that feeds a crowd.

Chicken in white wine: floured breasts pan-seared, then simmered in a bright white wine sauce with garlic, bay, and lemon zest, finished with scallions and butter. An elegant, fast 30-minute skillet dinner.

Portuguese piri-piri sauce: hot chili peppers, bay leaf, and lemon zest infused in olive oil. A 24-hour shake-and-wait condiment that keeps indefinitely. Drizzle on grilled chicken, fish, or pasta.

This is a tangy marinade, containing equal amounts of lemon juice and oil, and is good for rich meats like chicken thighs. It can be used for chicken breasts too, but their skin should be on for additional protection during grilling or broiling. Thyme gives this marinade a flavor loved in France, but you can substitute oregano for an Italian or Greek accent, or mint or cilantro for a Lebanese touch.