Garlic, Lemon & Thyme Roasted Chicken Breasts

I’m obsessed with these juicy garlic roasted chicken breasts!  In fact, this appens to be my favorite way to prepare chicken breasts, for sauteing, roasting or even grilling. They have the perfect balance of flavors, and are so versatile, whether you’re serving them whole, or in a sandwich, salad, wrap or gyros!  Garlic, lemon, thyme and olive oil are blended together to make a delicious marinade that really penetrates the chicken and creates incredible flavor.  Make a ton of these chicken breasts, and chop them up for chicken salad, shred them for chicken sandwiches or chopped salads.  You can easily double or triple the marinade recipe to make a big batch of chicken.  Also, feel free to substitute other herbs, like rosemary, tarragon, parsley or oregano.

What Ingredients Are In The Marinade?

This marinade features olive oil, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, thyme and salt and pepper. It’s a bright and tangy marinade that gives plain chicken breasts a deliciously fresh flavor. Because the marinade has lemon juice, it’s important not to over marinate the chicken. Acidic marinades actually “cook” the chicken, like a ceviche does. The result can be a tough and stringy chicken breast, so don’t marinate for more than 2 hours.

How To Make Garlic Roasted Chicken Breasts?

Remove the chicken from the marinade and wipe off the excess.  Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and sear the chicken breasts for 2 minutes on each side, until they’re golden brown.

Place the chicken breasts on a baking sheet lined with a baking rack, and roast at 400 degrees F for 20-30 minutes depending on the thickness of the chicken breast, or until the internal temperature reads 165 degrees F.

Allow the chicken to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

What To Serve With Garlic, Lemon & Thyme Roasted Chicken Breasts?

This recipe would be perfect with rice or mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables. Try these side dishes from Delish D’Lites for the perfect pairing with this recipe.

• Delish and Fluffy Mashed Potatoes
• Hasselback Potatoes with Macadamia Nut Pesto
• Arroz Amarillo (Spanish Yellow Rice)
• Mustard Roasted Potatoes
• Summer Corn Salad
• Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes

5 from 2 votes

Print

Garlic, Lemon & Thyme Roasted Chicken Breasts

Prep Time 2 hours 15 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 2 hours 45 minutes

Servings 4 servings

Author Delish D'Lites

Ingredients

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• zest of 1 lemon
• juice of 1 lemon
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil for sauteing

Instructions

1. Create the marinade by mixing the lemon juice, zest, 1/2 cup of olive oil, garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper. Place the chicken breasts in a non-reactive glass dish, or plastic ziptop bag, and pour the marinade over the chicken. Make sure to evenly coat the chicken, then cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.

2. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Remove the chicken from the marinade and wipe off the excess. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and sear the chicken breasts for 2 minutes on each side, until they're golden brown.
3. Place the chicken breasts on a baking sheet lined with a baking rack, and roast at 400 degrees F for 20-30 minutes depending on the thickness of the chicken breast, or until the internal temperature reads 165 degrees F.