Marion’s Best Lemon Chicken recipe | Marion's Kitchen (2024)

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Ditch the Chinese takeout imposter for real-deal deliciousness with my version of the classic. Crispy fried chicken that can resist that sweet, sticky lemon sauce without going soggy? You heard me – this is my best lemon chicken recipe ever.

PREP TIME

20 minutes

COOK TIME

10 minutes

SERVES

4

Ingredients

600g (1 lb 5 oz) chicken breast, cut into 1cm (⅜ inch) thick slice

1 egg white, beaten well

2 tsp Chinese Shaoxing wine*

3 tsp soy sauce

1 tsp sesame oil

1½ tsp cornflour (cornstarch)

sea salt

1 lemon, thinly sliced

2 spring onions (scallions), trimmed and very finely sliced on the diagonal

Coating

¾ cup plain (all purpose) flour

½ cup cornflour (cornstarch)

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

Lemon sauce

½ cup chicken stock

¼ cup lemon juice

⅓ cup caster (superfine) sugar

2 tsp rice vinegar

1 tbsp Chinese Shaoxing wine*

2 tsp finely grated lemon zest

1 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch), mixed with 1½ tbsp water

Steps

  • Marion’s Best Lemon Chicken recipe | Marion's Kitchen (8)

    Add the chicken, egg white, Shaoxing wine, soy sauce, sesame oil and cornflour to a large bowl and mix well to combine. Set aside to marinate for 10 minutes.

  • Marion’s Best Lemon Chicken recipe | Marion's Kitchen (9)

    Meanwhile, for the coating, whisk the flour, cornflour, salt and baking power in a bowl. Fill a saucepan or wok to about one-third capacity with vegetable oil and place over medium-high heat. Heat oil to 180°C (350°F), or until a wooden spoon dipped into the oil produces lots of bubbles.

  • Marion’s Best Lemon Chicken recipe | Marion's Kitchen (10)

    While the oil heats, let’s make the lemon sauce. Combine the stock, lemon juice, sugar, rice vinegar, Shadowing wine and lemon zest in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the cornflour mixture to the sauce and simmer for 1 minute or until thickened. Keep warm.

  • Marion’s Best Lemon Chicken recipe | Marion's Kitchen (11)

    Working in two batches, add the chicken to the coating mixture, tossing it well to coat each piece. Cook half the chicken in the oil and cook for 4-5 minutes until crisp, golden and cooked through. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to a tray lined with baking paper, and sprinkle with salt. Repeat with the remaining chicken.

  • Marion’s Best Lemon Chicken recipe | Marion's Kitchen (12)

    Arrange the lemon slices on a serving platter, then pile the chicken on top. Drizzle with the hot lemon sauce, scatter with the spring onion, then serve.

  • Marion’s Best Lemon Chicken recipe | Marion's Kitchen (13)

    Notes:

    – Chinese Shaoxing wine is a type of cooking rice wine. It’s available in the Asian aisle of some major supermarkets or from an Asian grocery store. If you’d rather leave it out, simply replace with chicken stock.

What does lemon chicken taste like?

Lemon chicken is a highly popular Chinese recipe that you’ll find on many restaurant and takeaway menus. Our version of Chinese lemon chicken features boneless and skinless chicken breast that’s dredged in a coating, then fried until it’s golden and crispy. Lemon sauce gets drizzled on top, which is a tangy mix of sweet and sour.

30-minute mealsBest-ever chicken recipesChickenChinese cuisineDinnerLunchStir-friesTakeaway classicsWeekend meals

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  • 30-minute meals
    • Best-ever chicken recipes
      • Chicken
        • Chicken stir-fry recipes
      • Chinese cuisine
        • Dinner
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          • Easy Dinner
        • Lunch
          • Chicken Lunch
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          • Takeaway classics
            • Weekend meals

              Marion’s Best Lemon Chicken recipe | Marion's Kitchen (16)Marion’s Best Lemon Chicken recipe | Marion's Kitchen (17)

              What our customers say

              5.0

              Rated 5.0 out of 5

              5.0 out of 5 stars (based on 11 reviews)

              Excellent100%

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              RATE AND REVIEW

              Deb

              November 16, 2023

              Simply the best 🥰

              Thank you Marion . I am now a Marion’s kitchen convert. I have made this twice and both times delicious. This is by far the tastiest and easiest, repeat, tastiest and easiest lemon chicken I’ve ever made. Definitely a keeper.

              Jasper

              August 28, 2023

              Just superb

              Easy to cook, and definitely better than any I’ve had in a Chinese restaurant. And even heats up again ok the next day.

              Kathy

              August 2, 2023

              Amazing Lemon Chicken

              My husband always orders this when we get takeout and I never eat it. After seeing this recipe and watching the video, I loved it and so did the husband. Really easy to make.

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              Marion’s Best Lemon Chicken recipe | Marion's Kitchen (18)

              Ditch the Chinese takeout imposter for real-deal deliciousness with my version of the classic. Crispy fried chicken that can resist that sweet, sticky lemon sauce without going soggy? You heard me – this is my best lemon chicken recipe ever.

              PREP TIME20 minutes
              COOK TIME10 minutes
              SERVES4

              Ingredients

              600g (1 lb 5 oz) chicken breast, cut into 1cm (⅜ inch) thick slice

              1 egg white, beaten well

              2 tsp Chinese Shaoxing wine*

              3 tsp soy sauce

              1 tsp sesame oil

              1½ tsp cornflour (cornstarch)

              sea salt

              1 lemon, thinly sliced

              2 spring onions (scallions), trimmed and very finely sliced on the diagonal

              Coating

              ¾ cup plain (all purpose) flour

              ½ cup cornflour (cornstarch)

              1 tsp salt

              1 tsp baking powder

              Lemon sauce

              ½ cup chicken stock

              ¼ cup lemon juice

              ⅓ cup caster (superfine) sugar

              2 tsp rice vinegar

              1 tbsp Chinese Shaoxing wine*

              2 tsp finely grated lemon zest

              1 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch), mixed with 1½ tbsp water

              Steps

              • Marion’s Best Lemon Chicken recipe | Marion's Kitchen (19)

                Add the chicken, egg white, Shaoxing wine, soy sauce, sesame oil and cornflour to a large bowl and mix well to combine. Set aside to marinate for 10 minutes.

              • Marion’s Best Lemon Chicken recipe | Marion's Kitchen (20)

                Meanwhile, for the coating, whisk the flour, cornflour, salt and baking power in a bowl. Fill a saucepan or wok to about one-third capacity with vegetable oil and place over medium-high heat. Heat oil to 180°C (350°F), or until a wooden spoon dipped into the oil produces lots of bubbles.

              • Marion’s Best Lemon Chicken recipe | Marion's Kitchen (21)

                While the oil heats, let’s make the lemon sauce. Combine the stock, lemon juice, sugar, rice vinegar, Shadowing wine and lemon zest in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the cornflour mixture to the sauce and simmer for 1 minute or until thickened. Keep warm.

              • Marion’s Best Lemon Chicken recipe | Marion's Kitchen (22)

                Working in two batches, add the chicken to the coating mixture, tossing it well to coat each piece. Cook half the chicken in the oil and cook for 4-5 minutes until crisp, golden and cooked through. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to a tray lined with baking paper, and sprinkle with salt. Repeat with the remaining chicken.

              • Marion’s Best Lemon Chicken recipe | Marion's Kitchen (23)

                Arrange the lemon slices on a serving platter, then pile the chicken on top. Drizzle with the hot lemon sauce, scatter with the spring onion, then serve.

              • Marion’s Best Lemon Chicken recipe | Marion's Kitchen (24)

                Notes:

                – Chinese Shaoxing wine is a type of cooking rice wine. It’s available in the Asian aisle of some major supermarkets or from an Asian grocery store. If you’d rather leave it out, simply replace with chicken stock.

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              FOOD PRODUCTS

              EXPLORE

              WORK WITH US

              GET HELP

              Curry Paste

              Recipes

              Media Partnerships

              Contact Us

              Meal Kits

              MK Daily

              Content Production

              Shipping and Delivery

              Chilli Sauces

              About Us

              Returns and Exchanges

              Marion's Original Marinades

              Shop

              Marion's Original Salad Dressings

              Where to Buy

              @2021 Marion's Kitchen

              Terms

              Privacy Policy Terms of Service

              Accessibility

              Stay in touch with my latest recipes and updates!

              FOOD PRODUCTS

              Curry Paste

              Meal Kits

              Chilli Sauces

              Marion's Original Marinades

              Marion's Original Salad Dressings

              Where to Buy

              EXPLORE

              Recipes

              MK Daily

              About Us

              Shop

              WORK WITH US

              Media Partnerships

              Content Production

              GET HELP

              Contact Us

              Shipping and Delivery

              Returns and Exchanges

              @2021 Marion's Kitchen

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