Homemade Chinese Lemon Chicken

Name: Homemade Chinese Lemon Chicken
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch pieces; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; 1 1/2 cups cornstarch; 3 large eggs, beaten; 1/2 cup canola oil; 2/3 cup granulated sugar; 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice; 2 tablespoons soy sauce; 3 tablespoons white vinegar; 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt; 1 tablespoon lemon zest; 1 teaspoon cornstarch

This easy baked chicken features a bright, sticky lemon glaze that tastes much better than your local takeout spot.

By Recipes By Nani· 🌍 Chinese· August 10, 2026

recipesbynani.com

Prep

15 minutes

Cook

45 minutes

Total

1 hour

Serves

There is something so comforting about a big plate of crispy chicken tossed in a sweet and tangy sauce. This Chinese lemon chicken has become a favorite in my kitchen because it uses simple pantry staples to create a professional result that the whole family loves.

I always recommend using fresh lemon juice and zest if you can, as it really makes the citrus flavor pop. This dish is perfect served over a bed of fluffy white rice with some steamed veggies on the side.

🧺 Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch pieces
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 cups cornstarch
3 large eggs, beaten
1/2 cup canola oil
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons white vinegar
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon cornstarch

👩‍🍳Instructions

1
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 9x13 baking dish.
2
Season your bite sized chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
3
Place the cornstarch in one shallow bowl and the beaten eggs in another.
4
Dip each piece of chicken into the cornstarch, shake off the excess, and then dip it into the egg mixture.
5
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat and brown the chicken on all sides, then transfer the browned pieces to your prepared baking dish.
6
In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar, lemon juice, soy sauce, white vinegar, garlic salt, lemon zest, and the remaining teaspoon of cornstarch.
7
Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken and bake for 45 minutes, making sure to stir the chicken every 15 minutes to keep it coated in that sticky glaze.
8
Serve warm over rice and garnish with fresh green onions if you like.

💡 Tips

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. To keep the chicken crispy, you can reheat it in an oven or air fryer instead of the microwave.

#chicken #dinner #easy dinner #lemon chicken

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