Easy Lemon Rosemary Chicken

• servings: 4 servings
• total time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts ( 1 1/4 pounds total)

1 ¼ teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning

3 tablespoons EACH: butter AND lemon juice

5 cloves garlic minced

⅓ cup chicken broth

1 ¼ teaspoon EACH: freshly chopped rosemary AND parsley

¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (more/less to taste)

2 teaspoons honey (or maple syrup)

additional lemon slices, for garnish

Directions

PREP: Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 425ºF.

SAUCE: In a 1-cup measuring cup, combine 2 tablespoons of butter, lemon juice, minced garlic, chicken broth, freshly chopped rosemary, parsley, red pepper, and honey and microwave in 30-second increments until the butter melts. Keep a close eye on it so it doesn’t boil over!

CHICKEN: Season the chicken breasts with lemon pepper seasoning on both sides and a big pinch of salt. Add the remaining tablespoon of butter to an ovenproof skillet placed over medium-high heat and when it's hot, sear the chicken breasts. Do not overcrowd the pan or your chicken won’t brown. You may want to do this in two batches. Cook the chicken for 2-3 minutes per side. If you don’t have an ovenproof skillet, transfer the chicken to a 9x13 baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.

BAKE: Pour the prepared sauce over the chicken. Bake for 13-17 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165ºF. Feel for firmness on the thickest part of the breast if you don’t have a thermometer. Spoon the sauce over the chicken breasts a couple of times during the baking process to keep the chicken moist! The amount of time required for the chicken to bake just depends on the thickness.