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Roasted lemon herb chicken with asparagus spears, cooked to perfection.

Zesty One-Pan Lemon Herb Chicken with Asparagus

This vibrant one-pan meal features tender, herb-roasted chicken and crisp-tender asparagus, all brought together with bright lemon flavor. It’s an easy and delicious weeknight dinner that requires minimal cleanup.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 350
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken
  • 1.5 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs or drumsticks (or boneless, skinless breasts, adjusted cooking time)
Vegetables
  • 1 lb medium-thick asparagus spears woody ends snapped off
Aromatics & Herbs
  • large lemon (zest and juice)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
  • 1 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (divided: 1 tbsp for chicken, 1 tbsp for garnish)
Pantry
  • 2 tbsp olive oil (divided: 1 tbsp for chicken, 1 tbsp for asparagus)
  • Salt to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Equipment

  • Oven
  • Large baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Small bowl
  • Paper towels

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
Cooking
  1. Combine lemon zest, minced garlic, rosemary, thyme, 1 tbsp parsley, 1 tbsp olive oil, salt, and pepper in a bowl, then rub this mixture all over the patted-dry chicken.
  2. Toss asparagus with 1 tbsp olive oil, a squeeze of lemon juice, salt, and pepper on the baking sheet, arranging it in a single layer.
  3. Place chicken among the asparagus on the baking sheet and roast for 25-35 minutes, or until the chicken is golden, cooked through (165°F/74°C), and asparagus is tender-crisp.
Serving
  1. Remove from oven and let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes.
Garnish & Serve
  1. Garnish with the remaining 1 tbsp of fresh parsley and serve immediately.

Notes

Cooking time may vary based on chicken piece size; boneless breasts will cook faster. For extra flavor, marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes, or even overnight, before roasting.