Tender Chicken Quarters in Lemon Butter Sauce
Experience the magic of tender chicken quarters baked to perfection in a rich lemon butter sauce. This recipe combines simple ingredients like fresh lemon juice, garlic, and parsley to create a dish that’s bursting with flavor and perfect for any weeknight dinner.
One of my most memorable dinners involved making Baked Lemon Butter Chicken Quarters for a festive gathering. I had always used chicken breasts for this recipe, but switching to chicken quarters took it to a new level. The quarters turned out incredibly moist and flavorful, thanks to their higher fat content and the tangy, rich lemon butter sauce.
Why is this the best recipe?
- Flavor Explosion: The combination of lemon, butter, and garlic creates a deliciously bright and rich flavor that’s hard to resist.
- Easy to Make: This recipe is straightforward, with simple steps that even a beginner can follow.
- Versatile: You can serve it with a variety of side dishes like rice, potatoes, or vegetables, making it perfect for any meal.
- Family-Friendly: Kids and adults alike will love the juicy, flavorful chicken, making it a great option for family dinners.
Ingredients and substitutes
- Chicken Quarters: The star of the dish. You can also use chicken thighs or breasts.
- Lemon Juice: Adds acidity and brightness. Fresh is best, but bottled works too.
- Butter: Provides richness and moisture. You can also use olive oil as a lighter option.
- Garlic: Enhances flavor with its aromatic, savory taste.
- Salt and Pepper: Basic seasonings to enhance the overall taste.
- Flour: Helps to thicken the sauce.
- Parsley: Adds a fresh, herby note. You can substitute with cilantro or thyme.
- Olive Oil: Helps to sear the chicken and add flavor.
- Chicken Broth: Creates a base for the sauce. You can also use white wine for a deeper flavor.
- Lemon Zest: Intensifies the lemon flavor.
- Paprika: Adds a subtle smokiness and color.
Step-by-step: Lemon Butter Chicken Recipe
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Prepare the Chicken: Pat the chicken quarters dry with paper towels. Season generously with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the chicken quarters, skin side down, and sear until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side. Remove the chicken and set it aside.
- Make the Lemon Butter Sauce: Melt the butter in the same skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant. Add the flour and cook for about a minute.
- Add the Liquid: Gradually whisk in the White wine or chicken broth and lemon juice, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook until slightly reduced, about 3-4 minutes.
- Bake the Chicken: Return the seared chicken quarters to the skillet, skin side up. Spoon some of the sauce over the top. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Finish the Dish: Once baked, remove the skillet from the oven. Sprinkle the lemon zest over the chicken and garnish with fresh parsley.
- Serve: Serve the baked lemon butter chicken quarters with your choice of side dishes.
Tips for Success
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Fresh lemon juice and garlic make a huge difference in flavor. Bottled lemon juice can work in a pinch, but fresh gives a brighter, more vibrant taste. Fresh parsley adds a beautiful color and fresh, herby flavor that dried just can’t match.
- Pat the Chicken Dry: Before searing, make sure to pat the chicken quarters dry with paper towels. This step is crucial for achieving a crispy, golden brown skin. Moisture on the chicken will create steam and prevent browning.
- Don’t Skip the Sear: Searing the chicken quarters in a hot skillet before baking locks in the juices and adds a layer of flavor through the caramelization process. This step ensures your chicken has a beautiful, golden brown exterior.
- Use an Oven-Safe Skillet: Using an oven-safe skillet allows you to move seamlessly from the stovetop to the oven without transferring the chicken and sauce to another dish. This reduces cleanup and helps retain all those delicious browned bits in the sauce.
- Adjust the Seasoning: After making the lemon butter sauce, taste it before adding the chicken back in. Adjust the salt and pepper as needed. The right amount of seasoning is crucial for bringing out all the flavors in the dish.
- Let It Rest: Once the chicken quarters are done baking, let them rest in the skillet for a few minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring each bite is juicy and flavorful.
- Garnish Generously: A sprinkle of fresh parsley and a bit of lemon zest before serving adds a burst of freshness and a pop of color. This final touch enhances the visual appeal and adds an extra layer of flavor.
- Check Temperature: Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C). This ensures the chicken is fully cooked and safe to eat while also preventing it from drying out.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can definitely use chicken breasts in this recipe. However, remember that chicken breasts cook faster than quarters, so you must adjust the baking time accordingly. Start checking the internal temperature after about 20 minutes in the oven. Chicken breasts are done when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Using breasts will also result in a slightly leaner dish, but you might miss out on some of the richness and juiciness provided by the extra fat in the quarters.
Yes, chicken thighs are a great alternative to quarters and are just as flavorful. They tend to be more uniform in size, which can make cooking times more consistent. Like quarters, thighs are also rich in flavor and stay moist during baking. You can follow the recipe as is, just adjust the cooking time if needed to ensure the thighs reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
If you don’t have chicken broth on hand, you have a few good substitutes. Vegetable broth is a great alternative and will keep the dish flavorful. Another excellent option is white wine, which adds a rich, nuanced flavor to the lemon butter sauce. Just ensure you use a wine that you enjoy drinking, as its flavor will concentrate during cooking. You can also use a mixture of water and a bouillon cube or concentrate as a last resort.
Yes, adding vegetables can make this a complete one-pan meal. You can add chopped asparagus, broccoli florets, or green beans to the skillet before baking. These vegetables will roast in the lemon butter sauce, becoming tender and flavorful. Just ensure they are cut into pieces that will cook at the same rate as the chicken, or add them partway through the baking time if needed.
The best way to sear chicken quarters is to use a heavy-bottomed skillet, like a cast-iron pan, over medium-high heat. Ensure the skillet is hot before adding the chicken to get a nice, golden brown crust. Don’t overcrowd the pan; sear the chicken in batches if necessary to maintain high heat and ensure even browning.
Baked Lemon Butter Chicken Quarters
Experience the magic of tender chicken quarters baked to perfection in a rich lemon butter sauce. This recipe combines simple ingredients like fresh lemon juice, garlic, and parsley to create a dish that’s bursting with flavor and perfect for any weeknight dinner.
Video
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- 4 med (1½ lb) Chicken quarters
- ½ tsp Salt to taste
- ½ tsp Black pepper powder
- 4 tbsp (60 g) Butter
- 4 large Garlic cloves minced
- 2 tbsp (15 g) All-purpose flour
- ½ cup (120 ml) Broth chicken or vegetble
- 1 cup (240 ml) White wine or Chicken broth
- 1 tbsp Lemon zest
- 3 – 4 tbsp (40 ml) Lemon juice
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Method
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Prepare the Chicken: Pat the chicken quarters dry with paper towels. Season generously with salt and pepper on both sides.4 med Chicken quarters, ½ tsp Salt, ½ tsp Black pepper powder
- Sear the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the chicken quarters, skin side down, and sear until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side. Remove the chicken and set aside.
- Lemon Butter Sauce: Melt the butter in the same skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant. Add the flour and cook for about a minute.4 tbsp Butter, 2 tbsp All-purpose flour, 2 tbsp Olive oil, 4 large Garlic cloves
- Add the Liquid: Gradually whisk in the chicken broth and lemon juice, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook until slightly reduced, about 3-4 minutes.3 – 4 tbsp Lemon juice, 1 cup White wine or Chicken broth, 1 tbsp Lemon zest
- Bake the Chicken: Return the seared chicken quarters to the skillet, skin side up. Spoon some of the sauce over the top. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Finish the Dish: Once baked, remove the skillet from the oven. Sprinkle the lemon zest over the chicken and garnish with fresh parsley.Fresh parsley for garnish
- Serve: Serve the baked lemon butter chicken quarters with your choice of side dishes.
Notes
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Fresh lemon juice and garlic make a huge difference in flavor. Bottled lemon juice can work in a pinch, but fresh gives a brighter, more vibrant taste. Fresh parsley adds a beautiful color and fresh, herby flavor that dried just can’t match.
- Pat the Chicken Dry: Before searing, make sure to pat the chicken quarters dry with paper towels. This step is crucial for achieving a crispy, golden brown skin. Moisture on the chicken will create steam and prevent browning.
- Don’t Skip the Sear: Searing the chicken quarters in a hot skillet before baking locks in the juices and adds a layer of flavor through the caramelization process. This step ensures your chicken has a beautiful, golden brown exterior.
- Use an Oven-Safe Skillet: Using an oven-safe skillet allows you to move seamlessly from the stovetop to the oven without transferring the chicken and sauce to another dish. This reduces cleanup and helps retain all those delicious browned bits in the sauce.
- Adjust the Seasoning: After making the lemon butter sauce, taste it before adding the chicken back in. Adjust the salt and pepper as needed. The right amount of seasoning is crucial for bringing out all the flavors in the dish.
- Let It Rest: Once the chicken quarters are done baking, let them rest in the skillet for a few minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring each bite is juicy and flavorful.
- Garnish Generously: A sprinkle of fresh parsley and a bit of lemon zest before serving adds a burst of freshness and a pop of color. This final touch enhances the visual appeal and adds an extra layer of flavor.
- Check Temperature: Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C). This ensures the chicken is fully cooked and safe to eat while also preventing it from drying out.
Equipment you will need
Nutrition
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This looks like a really tasty option for a family meal!
Thanks Sara. Happy you think so.
I love roasted chicken dinners! And you are absolutely right… the pan drippings make the best sauce.
Thanks Meredith. Yeah I love pan drippings to make my sauce.
This looks amazing! I just printed this out so I can make it for dinner this week! Looking forward to making this!! YUM! And I’m like you -I’m fine with the time as long as the oven does all the work!!
Absolutely Amanda. Most of my meals are either in the oven or slow cooker cooking themselves on busy cake order days. That’s how I manage to function lol Let me know how it was. Thanks
This is one of my favorite chicken dishes, I tend to serve it with aromatic clove rice. That’s when it turns into an addiction. Lemon, garlic and chicken are best friends. 🙂
I know what you mean Helene I love the combination of Lemon, garlic and Chicken – I hope you try it.
Love the idea of putting all the ingredients together and roasting to get the maximum amount of flavor. Your kids must know a good thing when they taste it. Lemon and garlic are naturals together. A perfect team in every sense of the word. And using paprika on the chicken gives it that nice color!! Great recipe.
There is no comfort like cooking all in one especially on busy days Marisa. On busy cake days this is a blessing and the kids love it.