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In only 10 minutes you can dress up your boring weeknight chicken with a fresh citrus and herb pan sauce! This “No Work” baked chicken recipe is a healthy, clean eating dinner that takes advantage of seasonal ingredients for a nutritious and FAST family meal!

A close up of citrus and herb baked chicken in a white casserole dish

Winter in Virginia is just so darn cold, damp, and GRAY. During a recent week with 3 straight days of 40 degree rainy weather, I was in need of an easy dinner and I was craving bright and colorful flavors.

At this time of year, there’s nothing better than a fresh, sweet burst of citrus to wake up any dish…including herb baked chicken!

An overhead shot of citrus fruits in a bowl with herbs

As a base, I started with one of our favorites — the “original” No Work Baked Chicken recipe. I wasn’t sure if I could even improve upon the classic, but I’m here to say that I DID. This is a true WINNER!

A close up of citrus and herb baked chicken

I love that it’s so simple (hence the name), but it’s so pretty to look at that your family (or guests) will swear that you spent hours in the kitchen.

Here’s What You Need

  • Chicken – boneless and skinless breasts
  • Honey – helps create a sweet and sticky flavor
  • Dijon – for a spicy kick
  • Orange juice – freshly squeezed for a delicious citrus kick
  • Fresh herbs – rosemary and thyme
  • Orange & lemon – fresh slices

An overhead shot of citrus and herb baked chicken in a casserole dish

Add this tasty dish to your New Year of healthy living. It’s the perfect way to balance out the indulgent holiday goodies that we have all been consuming over the past few weeks, and it will keep your tastebuds and your waistline very happy!

A close up of citrus and herb baked chicken in dish getting picked up with a serving spoon

How to Make No Work Citrus and Herb Baked Chicken in 4 Easy Steps

  1. In a bowl, whisk together honey, mustard, and orange juice.
  2. Place chicken in a large baking dish. Sprinkle chicken with a little bit of salt and pepper, to taste.
  3. Pour sauce over chicken and toss to make sure that each piece of chicken is well coated. Place citrus slices and sprigs of fresh herbs in the dish (tucked among the chicken).
  4. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until meat thermometer reads 165 degrees F. Be sure to spoon plenty of the delicious pan sauce over the chicken before serving!

A close up of citrus and herb baked chicken in a white casserole dish

Top Tips and Variations – Citrus & Herb Baked Chicken

  • Make sure to use boneless chicken to speed up the cooking time and go for good quality for best flavor
  • Make sure to use freshly squeezed orange juice
  • Don’t use dried herbs as they won’t have the same fragrant flavors
  • Check the chicken is cooked all the way through with a meat thermometer it should read 165F
  • Make sure to spoon the sauce over the chicken when serving you don’t want to lose that delicious flavor
  • Serve with veggies or rice

More Easy Chicken Recipes You Might Like:

"No Work" Citrus and Herb Baked Chicken

5 from 3 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 439 kcal
This Citrus and Herb Baked Chicken requires only 10 minutes prep and uses simple seasonal ingredients to give you a delicious, healthy and flavorful dinner on busy weeknights!

Ingredients
  

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
  • In a bowl, whisk together honey, mustard, and orange juice.
  • Place chicken in a large baking dish (about 9-inch by 13-inch) that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Sprinkle chicken with a little bit of salt and pepper, to taste.
  • Pour sauce over chicken and toss to make sure that each piece of chicken is well coated. Place citrus slices and sprigs of fresh herbs in the dish (tucked among the chicken).
  • Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until meat thermometer reads 165 degrees F. Be sure to spoon plenty of the delicious pan sauce over the chicken before serving!

Notes

  • Make sure to use boneless chicken to speed up the cooking time and go for good quality for best flavor
  • Make sure to use freshly squeezed orange juice
  • Don't use dried herbs as they won't have the same fragrant flavors
  • Check the chicken is cooked all the way through with a meat thermometer it should read 165F
  • Make sure to spoon the sauce over the chicken when serving you don't want to lose that delicious flavor
  • Serve with veggies or rice

Nutrition

Calories: 439kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 50gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 144mgSodium: 617mgPotassium: 1014mgFiber: 2gSugar: 39gVitamin A: 205IUVitamin C: 40.2mgCalcium: 52mgIron: 1.7mg
Keyword: Citrus Chicken, Easy Baked Chicken, Herb Baked Chicken
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Author: The Seasoned Mom
blair

Hey, I’m Blair!

Welcome to my farmhouse kitchen in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Inspired by local traditions and seasonal fare, you’ll find plenty of easy, comforting recipes that bring your family together around the table. It’s down-home, country-style cooking!

Read More

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Comments

  1. Oh this chicken looks fantastic, Blair! I’m always looking for new ways to make chicken, so this sounds perfect. I love the citrus flavors in here. So fresh and flavorful!

      1. 5 stars
        Absolutely wonderful dish! It has become a regular at my house. Everyone who tries it, loves it! Thank you so much for sharing!

  2. 5 stars
    There’s nothing I like more than a quick, easy, healthy recipe and this goes to the top of the list. The flavors are amazing and just what is needed in January after all that heavy holiday food. Beautiful recipe, Blair. Just looking at it brightens your day!

  3. Mmmm, this looks absolutely delicious, Blair! I love how you brightened up the flavors of this easy dinner with citrus!

  4. I just wanted to let you know how successful this recipe was for me! I saw it on Pinterest, took a chance and served it to company (10 of us) before testing it first. I made it exactly as you stated and it was perfect! In fact, a few people wanted to eat the citrus pieces too. We served the “sauce” on the side in addition to spooning it over the chicken before plating. Excellent spring recipe! Thanks for sharing it. It’s my new “company” chicken dish.

    1. Hi, Karen! I’m so happy to hear that the dinner was a success, and I really appreciate the fact that you came back here to let me know. You totally made my day! 🙂

  5. 5 stars
    This was amazing and very easy. I’m not a food connoisseur so I can’t describe the notes of orange married with the Dijon, etc but what I can say is it’s freaking delicious.