The Recipe Rebel / Dinner
written by Ashley Fehr
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 35 minutes mins
Servings 6 servings
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Last updated on May 25, 2020
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This Baked Honey Lemon Chicken is healthier than your favorite takeout joint but so easy and full of flavor!
So I love lemon desserts.I’m all for the sweet and tangy combination!
On the other hand, I’ve actually never really been a fan of lemon in savory dishes. I think that it’s really, really easy to do badly.
But I was browsing one of the cookbooks I got from my Grandma’s house after she passed away (the same cookbook that these amazing Fudge Puddles are from!) and I saw this Honey Lemon Chicken recipe.
I actually must have passed over the fact that there’s a whole pile of lemon juice in the recipe, because I put it on the menu plan.
When I realized there was lemon juice in the sauce I was a little nervous, but — you guys — I’m a total convert!
This is a recipe for those who think they don’t like savory lemon recipes. The lemon is not overpowering, but it is definitely there.
This Honey Lemon Chicken has an incredible, tangy flavor that is totally balanced out by the honey, soy sauce and garlic. It is awesome over some plain cooked rice with a side of steamed veggies (if that’s your thing!).
How to make Honey Lemon Chicken:
- Coat your chicken — to get that crispy coating like your favorite takeout joints, we use crushed Corn Flakes and season with salt and pepper. See my tips below for other variations.
- Bake your chicken just until done — a meat thermometer is the best way to get it just right! You’re looking for 165 degrees F in the thickest point.
- Make your sauce — this couldn’t be easier! Just whisk it up in a large glass measuring cup (or bowl), and microwave in 40-60 second intervals on high, whisking each time, until thickened. You do need to keep close to the microwave and watch that it doesn’t bubble over — be sure to leave a few extra inches of space in your dish!
- Combine the two! You can either put the chicken in a bowl and pour the sauce over, or you can serve the sauce on the side and dip the chicken in if you like it extra crispy.
Variations on this Honey Lemon Chicken:
- Want to add some veg? Throw some on the baking sheet with the chicken! Broccoli or green beans would work great with this meal.
- Don’t have Corn Flakes? Swap for Panko bread crumbs — they are my other choice for truly crispy coatings!
- Want a milder flavored sauce? Swap out some of the lemon juice for chicken broth.
- Want to use less butter? Swap out some of the butter for chicken broth.
- Want to use less sugar? Swap our some of the honey for chicken broth.
Updates from the original Honey Lemon Chicken recipe:
Originally, the recipe called for the sauce being added to the pan with the chicken after the chicken was crispy.
When I was retesting this recipe, I found that the chicken then became overcooked, and the coating was not crispy any longer.
For that reason, I switched up the recipe and now bake the chicken just until crispy but still juicy, and while that’s going down I microwave my sauce until thickened, stirring regularly. This way, I get the best of both worlds!
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Pin this recipe to your favorite boardBaked Honey Lemon Chicken
written by Ashley Fehr
5 from 1 vote
Baked Honey Lemon Chicken: Skip the takeout and go for this healthier baked Honey Lemon Chicken! So easy and such great flavor — We’re adding this to our regular rotation! www.thereciperebel.com
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ReviewPrep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 25 minutes mins
Total Time 35 minutes mins
Cuisine American
Course Main Course
Servings 6 servings
Calories 559cal
Ingredients
- 3 chicken breasts cut into 1.5" pieces (about 1 lb)
- 4 cups Corn Flakes crushed, or Panko crumbs
- 1 tsp salt
- pinch of pepper
- 1 egg lightly beaten
- 3/4 cup melted butter
- 3/4 cup honey
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 2 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tbsp corn starch
- 2 tsp minced garlic
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Place the Corn Flakes, salt and pepper in one large freezer bag. In another large freezer bag, place the chicken. Add the egg to the bag with the chicken, seal, and turn to coat the chicken in the egg. Transfer the chicken to the bag of Corn Flakes. Seal, and turn to coat completely.
Place chicken in a single layer on a greased rimmed baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine the butter, honey, lemon juice, soy sauce, corn starch, and garlic with a whisk until combined. Microwave on high in 45-60 second intervals, stirring each time, until thickened. (*Watch carefully at the microwave in case it starts to bubble up)
Pour over cooked chicken and serve with rice or noodles.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 559cal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 161mg | Sodium: 1205mg | Potassium: 529mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin A: 1115IU | Vitamin C: 13.9mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 6.3mg
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Meet Ashley
My name is Ashley Fehr and I love creating easy meals my family loves. I also like to do things my way, which means improvising and breaking the rules when necessary. Here you will find creative twists on old favorites and some of my favorite family recipes, passed down from generations!
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Jessica says
I didn’t have corn flakes at home but I had left over Panko crumbs and did that instead. Very good!
Reply
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Jessica!
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Morgan says
Recipe is fantastic! I tried it and everything went really well. Everyone liked it, even my overly critical foodie friends. I can’t wait to try out your other recipes.
PS. Since I don’t have cereals, I changed it with Lays Potato Chips. 🙂 Also goodReply
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Morgan! And thank you for coming back to leave a comment!
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Ashley says
Hi, I just pinned this and it looks good.
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Ashley Fehr says
Thank you!
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Ashley, I love this chicken!!! can’t wait to try this!!
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Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Alice! One of our new favorites for sure!
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This sounds so delicious and the chicken still looks so crispy! Since this is one of my favorite Chinese take out dishes – I am absolutely going to have to try it!
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Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Jessica! We love all kinds of homemade takeout!
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This chicken looks totally amazing Ashley! The pictures are gorgeous! Love the color of the bowl.
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Ashley, this looks fantastic! I love citrus with chicken so this dish totally needs to happen in my kitchen!
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Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Anna!
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Wow, this sounds so yummy! Personally I love any kind of lemon dish, sweet OR savory. I love that you coated the chicken with cornflakes, I bet it’s so crunchy and flavorful!
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Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Jess!
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This looks so good! I have been looking for recipes using Corn Flakes because I have too much of it in my house, and this looks perfect!
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Ashley Fehr says
Haha, I did too! I had a box sitting in my cupboard forever and then I found this recipe! Thanks Cathleen 🙂
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Homemade versions of Chinese take out are some of my favorites! Not as gloppy/greasy/unhealthy and I always feel super accomplished for pulling it off afterwards. I am SO adding this to our menu – I just know we’d love it!
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Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Alyssa! It’s one of our favorite things to eat too!
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Thick lemonade poured over chicken sounds terrible! Yours looks so much better and totally delicious!
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I’m all for homemade dinners that mimic take out because you actually know what your putting in your body.
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Mmm, this looks amazing and so much better and healthier than takeout!:) Lemon desserts are my favorite but I’m with you, I’m not a fan of strong and overpowering when it comes to savory lemon dishes either. Love love love the addition of honey and garlic – it sounds perfect!
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Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Kelly! We rarely get takeout so to make it at home is such a treat!
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Ahh! The thought of thickened lemonade over chicken eeks me out. This chicken, however, definitely does NOT. It looks sooo good! I actually am a fan of savory lemon dishes, so I know I’d love this! Yum!
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Ashley Fehr says
haha, thanks Michelle!
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WOW! This is my husband’s favourite take out dish – he is going to LOVE this! How you got photos of honey lemon chicken to look so good is beyond me – amazing!
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Ashley Fehr says
Haha, thanks Jess! I just make sure to give them a good dose of sauce first 😉
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marcie says
I have a thing for spicy orange chicken when I do takeout, but I’ve never had lemon — that sounds so good! I actually think homemade versions of takeout style dishes are so much better, not to mention healthier, so I’m going to try this. It looks delicious!
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Annie @ Annie's Noms says
Oh wow, lemon chicken is my absolute favourite; more so now I’m marrying a Chinese man who makes the most divine lemon chicken ever! Love the addition of honey in this recipe, it looks fabulous!
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Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Annie! And congrats!
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I love make at home chinese food recipes like this. And I bet this is way healthier than takeout since it’s baked not fried.
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Oh yummy!This baked chicken looks deliciously awesome, Ashley! Nothing can beat a nice combo of lemon and honey. So damn delicious.
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Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Anu! It’s definitely a new favorite!
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Oh this baked chicken looks fantastic, Ashley! I absolutely love the combination of lemon and honey. I wish I had a gorgeous bowl of this deliciousness for breakfast.Savory lemon dishes are my favorite!
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Ashley Fehr says
Haha, I’m definitely going to have to try some more now! Thanks Gayle!
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