baked essentials: awesome spiced lemon chicken

25 Pinches 19 Photos
Wichita, KS
Updated on Dec 30, 2022

Put this together for last evening’s dinner. I made this using a half chicken; however, you could use any parts of the chicken you so choose. Actually, I made 2, 1/2 chickens, but the recipe is just designed for 1, 1/2 chicken. Easy/peasy to make, and the spices and simmer stock are just full of great yummy flavor. So, you ready… Let’s get into the kitchen.

prep time 20 Min
cook time 30 Min
method Bake
yield 2 serving(s)

Ingredients

  • PLAN/PURCHASE
  • 1/2 medium chicken, more on this later
  • THE RUB
  • 1 tablespoon smooth dijon mustard, i prefer grey poupon
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon lemon/pepper spice
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil, or other non-flavored variety
  • THE SIMMERING STOCK
  • 1/4 cup lemon, juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1 cup chicken stock, not broth
  • 1 tablespoon flour, all-purpose variety
  • ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR THE SIMMERING STOCK
  • 14 ounces diced tomatoes, 1 can, with juice
  • 2 cloves garlic, smashed

How To Make baked essentials: awesome spiced lemon chicken

  • Step 1
    PREP/PREPARE
  • Step 2
    What will you need? You will need a single ovenproof skillet, large enough to hold the chicken and sauce, and two bowls to mix the rub and the stock.
  • Step 3
    What to serve with it? Being baked chicken, you have a lot of options. You could serve it with rice, baked, or mashed potatoes. For veggies, pretty much anything goes from asparagus to zucchini. I like using the leftovers (if you have any) for making sandwiches.
  • Step 4
    How to store it? Although I have never frozen this recipe, there is nothing in the ingredients that would prevent you from doing it. So, freezing would give it a life of 4 – 6 months. Vacuum sealing would extend that life to a year or more. If you are just keeping it in the fridge, it would probably last 5 – 7 days.
  • Step 5
    Variations I am using a half chicken; however, you could use thighs, breasts, legs, or wings. Pretty much up to you.
  • Step 6
    How to Spatchcock a Chicken In this recipe I am using a spatchcocked chicken. Since you can use regular chicken parts, I am not going to get into “why” you want to do it, just simply “how” you accomplish this feat of splitting the bird in two. You will need a good pair of kitchen shears to make this happen. Step 1: Cut out the backbone. You will have to cut on either side to remove it. This is the hardest part of the process. As for the backbone, freeze it and use it when making soups or stocks. Step 2: Spread the chicken apart and flip it, skin-side-up. Step 3: Push down on the breastbone until you hear a crack. That will be the wishbone breaking. Now it is lying flat, and you have just spatchcocked a chicken… Time for a tall cold one. I went a step further and cut thru the breastbone giving me two halves. FYI: Spatchcocking is also referred to as butterflying.
  • Step 7
    Additional Items The two additional items that I suggest are a can of diced tomatoes, and a couple of smashed cloves of garlic. They are optional, but I think that they really make the simmering stock rich and flavorful.
  • Step 8
    Gather your ingredients (mise en place).
  • Step 9
    Place a rack in the lower position and preheat the oven to 400f/205c.
  • Step 10
    Add the rub ingredients to a small bowl and combine.
  • Step 11
    Add the simmering stock ingredients to another bowl and combine.
  • Step 12
    Rub the chicken with the reserved rub.
  • Step 13
    Add the simmer stock to an ovenproof skillet.
  • Step 14
    Add the chicken.
  • Step 15
    Place in the preheated oven and bake until the skin is golden and crispy, and the internal temperature of the chicken is 165f/75c, about 30 – 40 minutes.
  • Step 16
    PLATE/PRESENT
  • So yummy
    Step 17
    Serve the chicken with the sauce, and your favorite sides. Enjoy.
  • Stud Muffin
    Step 18
    Keep the faith, and keep cooking.
  • Step 19
    Namasté

Discover More

Category: Chicken
Ingredient: Chicken
Method: Bake
Culture: American

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