🍳DailyRecipes
Dinner

Chinese Lemon Chicken

Tender pieces of chicken are lightly fried and baked in a sticky homemade lemon sauce for a delicious dinner that beats any takeout.

By Daily Recipes Book· 🌍 Chinese· August 10, 2026
Chinese Lemon Chicken
dailyrecipesbook.com
Prep
15 minutes
Cook
45 minutes
Total
1 hour
Serves
4

There is something so satisfying about making your favorite takeout dishes right in your own kitchen. This Chinese lemon chicken is a total crowd pleaser because it features crispy golden chicken coated in a bright, sticky sauce that hits every note of sweet and tangy.

I love this recipe because it uses simple pantry staples that you likely already have on hand. It takes a little extra effort to brown the chicken first, but the result is a perfect coating that soaks up all that wonderful lemony flavor during the bake.

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 lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons white vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch

Instructions

  1. 1

    Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.

  2. 2

    Season the bite sized chicken pieces with salt and black pepper.

  3. 3

    Place the cornstarch in one bowl and the beaten eggs in a second bowl. Dip each piece of chicken into the cornstarch, then dip it into the beaten eggs to coat.

  4. 4

    Heat the canola oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Brown the chicken in batches until golden, then transfer the pieces to your prepared baking dish.

  5. 5

    In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugar, lemon juice, soy sauce, white vinegar, lemon zest, garlic salt, and the one teaspoon of cornstarch until smooth.

  6. 6

    Pour the sauce over the chicken in the baking dish. Bake for 45 minutes, making sure to stir the chicken every 15 minutes so every piece stays nicely coated in the sticky sauce.

  7. 7

    Serve warm over fluffy rice and enjoy.

💡 Tips

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. When you are ready to eat again, warm the chicken in a skillet over low heat or in the oven until heated through to help keep the texture nice.

#Dinner#Chinese#Chicken#Lemon Chicken

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