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    Home » What We're Eating » Dinner » "No Work" Citrus and Herb Baked Chicken

    "No Work" Citrus and Herb Baked Chicken

    Published: Dec 30, 2015 by Blair Lonergan

    Jump to Recipe
    A collage image for citrus and herb baked chicken

    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:

    • Dump and Bake Aloha Chicken & Rice
    • Slow Cooker Italian Chicken and Spaghetti
    • Parmesan Ranch Chicken Tenders
    • Dump and Bake Mushroom & Chicken Casserole
    Print Pin
    5 from 2 votes

    "No Work" Citrus and Herb Baked Chicken

    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!
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Keyword Citrus Chicken, Easy Baked Chicken, Herb Baked Chicken
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 35 minutes
    Total Time 45 minutes
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 439kcal
    Author The Seasoned Mom

    Ingredients

    • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (can substitute with about 8 chicken thighs)
    • ½ cup honey
    • ½ cup Dijon mustard
    • 2 tablespoons freshly-squeezed orange juice
    • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
    • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
    • 1 orange sliced into rounds
    • 1 lemon sliced into rounds
    • Salt and pepper to taste

    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: 439kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 50g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 144mg | Sodium: 617mg | Potassium: 1014mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 205IU | Vitamin C: 40.2mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 1.7mg
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice

      December 30, 2015 at 7:43 am

      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!

      Reply
      • Blair

        December 30, 2015 at 2:28 pm

        Thanks so much, Gayle! It's definitely fresh and flavorful! 🙂

        Reply
    2. cottercrunch

      December 30, 2015 at 7:43 am

      can i lick that glaze??? cause it looks so good. NO WORK for the win! pinning!

      Reply
      • Blair

        December 30, 2015 at 2:29 pm

        Isn't the glaze THE BEST? "No work" is definitely the way to go!

        Reply
    3. Robyn @ Simply Fresh Dinners

      December 30, 2015 at 8:47 am

      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!

      Reply
      • Blair

        December 30, 2015 at 2:29 pm

        Thanks so much, Robyn! I couldn't agree more -- quick, easy, and healthy is ALWAYS the best!

        Reply
    4. Kristine | Kristine's Kitchen

      December 30, 2015 at 11:09 am

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

      Reply
      • Blair

        December 30, 2015 at 2:30 pm

        Thanks, Kristine!! The citrus and herbs bring out such a great flavor in the chicken!

        Reply
    5. Karen

      April 26, 2017 at 10:03 pm

      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.

      Reply
      • Blair

        April 27, 2017 at 6:55 pm

        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! 🙂

        Reply
    6. Becca

      June 16, 2017 at 11:41 am

      Could you use halos instead of oranges? Just curious if that would make much of a difference:)

      Reply
      • Blair

        June 16, 2017 at 12:57 pm

        Yes, halos will work fine! 🙂

        Reply
    7. Sean Brown

      October 08, 2019 at 8:56 pm

      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.

      Reply
      • Blair

        October 09, 2019 at 8:14 am

        Yay! I'm so glad to hear that you enjoyed it, Sean! 🙂

        Reply

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    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!

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