Baked Lemon Chicken Thighs
This baked lemon chicken thighs recipe is moist and delightful. Lemon is the perfect pairing with chicken. But that’s not all. Add plump mushrooms with my mix of seasonings and this recipe is especially delicious!
The mixture of tarragon, oregano, garlic, lemon and wine makes this chicken dish so delicious. I love using lemon when I cook chicken as they go together so nicely and lemon makes the meat so tender. Pair all the ingredients with an abundance of mushrooms and you have one delicious meal!!
Do I have to make this dish with bone in chicken thighs?
No. You can use boneless and skinless chicken thighs. You will just have to bake them for 35 minutes instead of 45 – 50 minutes.
Do I have to marinate this chicken long?
No, that’s another beautiful thing about this recipe: you don’t have to take the time to marinate the chicken. You just throw the ingredients together, bake it and you have a fabulous and flavorful meal for your family.
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Helpful tips
- I alternate between using bone-in chicken and boneless chicken to make this dish. I like it both ways. You will have to adjust the cooking time, depending on your choice.
- My chicken thighs were large so they took the whole 50 minutes to cook. If your chicken thighs are on the smaller size, check after 45 minutes.
- If you prefer chicken breasts, you can use them instead of the thighs. The cooking time should be the same.
- You don’t have to marinate the chicken but if you want to, don’t let it marinate for more than 30 minutes.
How to make chicken thighs with lemon
Pre-step
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and get out a large baking dish, mixing bowl and whisk.
Step one
Gather the ingredients – herbs, chicken, lemons, mushrooms, garlic paste and wine. (A)
Step two
Slice the mushrooms, dribble olive oil in the bottom of the baking dish and set it aside.
Step three
Heat a large skillet on medium, add a scant amount of olive oil and once that heats up, add the chicken thighs, skin-side down.
Sauté for 3 minutes. Flip the thighs and sauté for 2 minutes. (B)
Step four
Remove thighs from the pan and place them on top of the mushrooms in the baking dish.
In a mixing bowl, add the juice and zest of one lemon, wine, garlic, herbs, salt and pepper. (C) Whisk the ingredients until combined. (D)
Step five
Pour the lemon mixture over the chicken. (E)
Step six
Cover with foil and bake for 45 – 50 minutes. Mine took 50 minutes as they were big thighs. (F)
Here is a photo of this dish made with boneless and skinless thighs. I plate them with a baked potato, peas and a side of black beans!
Don’t forget to ladle the sauce and mushrooms on the chicken.
Let’s take a bite.
Moist and delicious.
I hope you enjoyed this chicken thighs with lemon recipe.
Other popular chicken recipes
And as always, may all your dishes be delish!
If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog, I’d love the hear what you thought about it in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!
Baked Lemon Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
Sauce
- 1 medium lemon (juiced)
- 1 lemon zest
- 1/2 cup white wine (dry)
- 3 teaspoons garlic paste (or 3 cloves of garlic, crushed)
- 1 teaspoon tarragon
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
Meat and extras
- 5 chicken thighs
- 10 ounces mushrooms (sliced in chunks)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 F
- In a mixing bowl, add lemon juice, zest, wine, garlic, tarragon, oregano, salt and pepper – whisk until all the ingredients are combined1 medium lemon, 1 lemon zest, 1/2 cup white wine, 3 teaspoons garlic paste, 1 teaspoon tarragon, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- Dribble some olive oil on the bottom of the baking dish and add the mushrooms2 tablespoons olive oil, 10 ounces mushrooms
- Lay chicken in the baking dish and dribble a little oil on top5 chicken thighs
- Pour lemon/wine mixture all over the chicken
- Cover with foil and bake for 45 – 50 minutes
- Plate chicken with some vegetable. Ladle lemon sauce on chicken along with some mushrooms
- Eat
- Smile
- Enjoy
Equipment
See all my favorite tools and gift ideas at my Amazon Store page!Check out Elaine’s Amazon Store!Notes
- I alternate between using bone-in chicken and boneless chicken to make this dish. I like it both ways. You will have to adjust the cooking time, depending on your choice.
- My chicken thighs were large so they took the whole 50 minutes to cook. If your chicken thighs are on the smaller size, check after 45 minutes.
- If you prefer chicken breasts, you can use them instead of the thighs. The cooking time should be the same.
- You don’t have to marinate the chicken but if you want to, don’t let it marinate for more than 30 minutes.
Nutrition
From lighting up stages with her BA in theater to food journalist, Elaine Benoit's journey is a testament to passion's transformative power. As the CEO of Dishes Delish, she offers a blend of healthy, comforting recipes and exquisitely crafted cocktails. Beyond the kitchen, Elaine voiced her culinary adventures on her podcast, "Dishing," and co-owns Food Blogger Help, extending her expertise to guide budding food bloggers to success. Whether it's for a heartwarming dish or insights into food blogging, Elaine's diverse experiences make her a beacon in the culinary digital landscape.
love the flavor lemon gives to dishes over the summer
I so agree Al!! Thank you!
Love the sliced mushrooms on the casserole. that classic lemon and wine mixture sounds so delicious. I Think I’d use chardonnay.
Thanks Ginny. Mushrooms make this dish for me! Chardonnay would be great but I usually find it a bit too sweet for my palate, but my sister loves it that way!
Lemon chicken is my most favorite recipes of all time. That is some amazing photos there. Looks sooo delicious!
Thanks so much Jo! 🙂
Elaine, do you think I can get away with making this amazing recipe with potatoes instead of chicken??? This is just so delicious and I want to eat, smile and enjoy it! 🙂 <3
I bet you could! Or even tofu, but I would marinate them for at least an hour as you know tofu needs time to absorb the flavors!
I don’t eat chicken much anymore, but when I did chicken thighs were my favorite. Literally impossible to overcook lol!
So true Denisse! Thank you for commenting even though you don’t partake. I do appreciate it!
I don’t cook with wine often enough! Wow! I’d lick the pan clean! The combo of tarragon, oregano, garlic, lemon and wine has me drooling – this must have had your kitchen smelling so so good!
It really does! Talk about aromatic and delicious! When hubby looks at me with puppy eyes, I realize that he wants me to make this dish!
This is a lovely, flavorful dish that has all my favorites, mushrooms, lemon and chicken.
Thanks so much Janette! We are kindred spirits! Do you see me when you look in the mirror? 😉
I happen to think “thighs” are the best!! Love the simple flavours in this flavourful dish. Perfect for any night of the week, and as a great dinner to serve to guests too. You can never go wrong with a great tasting chicken dish.
Thanks Gloria. I’m partial to thighs too! Sometimes the simple dishes are the best!
It’s crazy what a quick marinade, and what using thighs over breasts, can do to a chicken dish. That Oregano-garlic-lemon combo is to-die-for!
Thanks so much Abby! I appreciate it!
White wine, lemon, and mushrooms sound like the perfect accompaniment for chicken! I like how simple the preparation sounds! Thanks for including instructions for bone-in, too!
We love chicken thighs at our house. They’re a weekly staple on our menu, so easy to cook and also affordable! They easily feed my house full of hungry teenagers!
I’m sure Jennifer! I always prefer the thighs myself!
I love chicken and lemon together, but have never added tarragon, and am just absolutely loving the sound of it in this dish! Plus I agree with everyone else, once you start cooking with chicken thighs, it’s hard not to prefer them over white meat! 🙂 Great recipe, Elaine!
Thanks so much Monica!! And I agree, thigh meat is hard to beat in moistness!
I love chicken thighs with lemon and make them quite often. But now I have to try your recipe with adding mushrooms, my hubby will love it!)
Thanks so much Veronika!!
Tasty, healthful goodness!
Thanks Chris!
This recipe reminds me that I should cook chicken thighs more often. They are always so flavorful and these look great!
Thank you Kathryn!! 🙂
Chicken and lemon go so well together, as well with wine, and spices and mushrooms. The whole dish screams yummy and you can see how juicy and tender the thighs are!
Thanks Nicoletta! You are so right!
This looks gorgeous and sounds so tasty. My family love these kind of meals and would devour this!
Thanks Stacy!! It is so delicious, you won’t be disappointed!
Your chicken thighs with lemon look so moist and inviting! Would love to try this, not with thighs though but with legs since I have a big tray of legs languishing in the freezer at the moment. Love the flavours in the recipe! With chicken, lemon and the herbs you use, it’s going to be terrific, I already know that!
Thanks so much Saima! It’s scrumptious with legs as well! Hubby and I have this dish a lot and alternate between the thighs and legs!
Chicken thighs are one of our favourite things to cook and I’m so happy I found this recipe! Bookmarking!
Mine too Wanda. Thanks so much for your comment.
So good! I love using chicken thighs as I think they have so much more flavor and stay so moist! Thank you!
I agree Ashley. I’m a big fan of chicken thighs! Thank you for your comment.
A delicious chicken recipe! The lemon adds a refreshing taste!
Thank you Rika. I appreciate it.
I love lemon chicken and these chicken thighs with lemon look amazing and perfect for winter!
Thanks Genevieve. I appreciate it.
I made these Lemon Chicken Thighs over the weekend and It was a hit! So easy too!
I’m so glad to hear that Jo. Thanks so much for telling me!