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    Home > Lunch/Dinner > Lemon Pepper Chicken

    Lemon Pepper Chicken

    Last updated January 15, 2021. Originally posted September 30, 2019 By Jyothi Rajesh 21 Comments

    Recipe Print
    lemon pepper chicken with text overlay
    lemon pepper chicken in skillet with text overlay
    lemon pepper chicken in skillet with text overlay
    spicy lemon pepper chicken cooked in skillet with text overlay
    lemon pepper chicken cooked in skillet

    This lemon pepper chicken is here to transform chicken into a dish full of flavors, even if you are using chicken breasts! No more bland and boring chicken breasts!

    lemon pepper chicken cooked in skillet

    Are you a fan of one skillet recipes? Do you love easy and fast dinner recipe ideas? You got a treat for yourself with this easy skillet chicken recipe.  Dinner would be ready in just 20 minutes.  Isn’t that the perfect busy day dinner?

    A simple and easy to make homemade lemon pepper seasoning brings this chicken dinner to life with its flavors.  The zest from lemons and peppery taste of peppercorns makes this dish full of flavors.

    Lemon Pepper Chicken Recipe

    Seasoned with simple but amazing flavors of lemon zest and freshly ground pepper gives flavorful and juicy chicken breasts. With minimum ingredients and minutes of preparation work, you got an easy and delicious dinner that is fit for any day, perfect for busy mid-week dinner!

    garlic pepper lemon chicken breasts cookes in skillet

    You don’t have to have readymade lemon-pepper-salt bottle. Make fresh homemade spice mix at home with minimum effort and it’s fuss free too. Nothing, I repeat, nothing beats freshness of real lemons as compared to any ready-made seasoning. 

    We are taking about fresh lemon zest flavors. Lemon zest is what we use to marinade chicken breasts instead of lemon juice along with freshly ground pepper. You can expect fresh lemon flavors with it are a perfect zing taste without being over powdered with tangy taste.

    This recipe promises BRIGHT and VIBRANT flavors! Lemon pepper chicken breasts is first marinated in lemon zest, pepper and salt along with garlic and onion powder (optional) for extra flavors. The longer chicken get marinated, more flavor it would absorb.

    lemon pepper chicken with caramelized lemons

    Chicken has light breading on it to give it a golden crust when cooked in skillet. If you want to add richness, cook breaded chicken in butter instead of olive oil.

    You can serve chicken just that once cooked, or have a lemon pepper chicken sauce that goes on top of the golden crusted chicken which will give it that extra zing flavor.

    Lemon Pepper Chicken Marinade

    Let’s talk about the marinade used in this chicken recipe. It’s fresh, it’s home and most importantly it’s super simple to make. You need very basic pantry ingredients. Lemons are available all round the year, that makes it easier for your guys to try this chicken for dinner any day of the year.

    We highly recommend you to make your own chicken marinade instead of using store bought lemon pepper salt mix. Some of the brands are just salt mixed with citric acid for the tang.

    It sure give the chicken the tang flavor, but does it give the real fresh amazing flavor of lemons?! That’s a big question! And according to me, it doesn’t!  So brands even use yellow food coloring!

    So nothing like the real fresh lemons!

    chicken breasts marinated in lemon zest pepper and salt

    To make the simplest lemon pepper chicken marinade, you need freshly peeled (or grated lemon zest) mixed with freshly ground pepper and salt. For extra flavors you can add garlic powder or freshly minced garlic and onion powder.

    Ingredients for Lemon Pepper Chicken Recipe

    Basic pantry ingredients is what you need for this recipe. Chicken first gets marinated in lemon zest-pepper-salt-garlic. Longer chicken fillets sits in the marinade, better flavors it absorbs.

    Once chicken is marinaded for longer, it get it’s breading with flour. Then cook it olive oil or butter until it’s golden brown.

    Finally make a sauce with fresh lemon juice, butter and seasoning salt and pepper.

    Really simple, isn’t it!? This is what you need –

    ingredients for lemon pepper chicken

    How To Make Lemon Pepper Chicken – Step-By-Step Instructions

    Start with fresh organic chicken breasts. Cut chicken breasts horizontally to make 2 fillets.

    chicken breasts cut into thin fillets

    Zest lemons. You need about 2 tablespoon lemon zest.

    To chicken fillets add fresh lemon zest, fresh ground pepper, salt, minced garlic and onion powder (optional).

    chicken fillets with lemon pepper marinade

    Rub chicken well to allow it to take in all the marinade and coat the marinade evenly.

    chicken fillets with lemon pepper marinade

    Take plain flour in a wide bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add onion powder is using now.

    flour seasoned with salt and pepper

    Dip chicken fillets in flour to get even coating on both sides. Shake off excess flour.

    chicken coated in flour

    Heat olive oil (or butter) in a skillet.

    olive oil heated in skillet

    Place breaded chicken in the skillet and cook on medium flame. Press the skillets with back of a flat spatula a couple of times to cook and brown evenly.

    chicken breaded in flour cooked in skillet

    Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown on both sides.

    Transfer chicken from the skillet onto a plate. Wrap the entire plate in aluminum foil to keep chicken warm.

    golden lemon pepper chicken cooked in skillet

    Into the same skillet add butter and stir until butter melts. Turn off heat. Add lemon juice a pinch of salt and pepper to taste.

    lemon butter sauce for lemon pepper chicken

    Sprinkle chopped parsley over chicken breasts. Pour lemon pepper chicken sauce over crispy breaded chicken breasts just before serving.

    Serve it over bed of rice or mix it up with pasta.

    Tips To Make BEST Lemon Pepper Chicken Recipe

    1. You can cut chicken breasts horizontally into two fillets or pound a chicken breasts to make it thin.
    2. Use fresh grated lemon zest. Do not grate the white part below the yellow skin. It’s too bitter and will change the taste of chicken.
    3. Use fresh ground pepper. Freshly ground pepper always has much more flavors and peppery taste to it.
    4. If you like to pack in extra flavors, add minced garlic and onion powder. I like to add it to the chicken fillets. But you could add to flour for breading chicken.

    MORE CHICKEN DINNER RECIPES THE YOU SHOULD TRY –

    Bruschetta Chicken Pasta

    Spicy Cajun Chicken And Rice

    Instant pot Chicken Marsala

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    garlic pepper lemon chicken breasts cookes in skillet

    Lemon Pepper Chicken

    This lemon pepper chicken is here to transform chicken into a dish full of flavors, even if you are using chicken breasts! No more bland and boring chicken breasts!
    5 from 10 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 276kcal
    Author: Jyothi Rajesh

    Ingredients

    • 2 chicken breasts cut horizontally
    • 2 tablespoon lemon zest freshly grated
    • 2 to 3 teaspoon pepper freshly ground (use more if you like peppery heat)
    • Salt to taste
    • 4 cloves garlic minced (can use garlic powder instead)
    • 1 ½ teaspoon onion powder optional – I skipped
    • ¾ cup plain flour
    • 2 tablespoon butter
    • 2 teaspoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
    • 1 tablespoon parsley fresh and finely chopped
    • Few lemon slices for garnish

    Instructions

    • Start with fresh organic chicken breasts. Cut chicken breasts horizontally to make 2 fillets.
    • Zest lemons. You need about 2 tablespoon lemon zest.
    • To chicken fillets add fresh lemon zest, fresh ground pepper, salt, minced garlic and onion powder (optional).
    • Rub chicken well to allow it to take in all the marinade and coat the marinade evenly.
    • Take plain flour in a wide bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
    • Dip chicken fillets in flour to get even coating on both sides. Shake off excess flour.
    • Heat olive oil (or buttein a skillet. Place breaded chicken in the skillet and cook on medium flame. Press the skillets with back of a flat spatula a couple of times to cook and brown evenly.
    • Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown on both sides.
    • Transfer chicken from the skillet onto a plate. Wrap the entire plate in aluminum foil to keep chicken warm.
    • Into the same skillet add butter and stir until butter melts. Turn off heat. Add lemon juice a pinch of salt and pepper to taste.
    • Sprinkle chopped parsley over chicken breasts. Pour lemon pepper chicken sauce over crispy breaded chicken breasts just before serving.
    • Serve it over bed of rice or mix it up with pasta.

    Notes

    1. You can cut chicken breasts horizontally into two fillets or pound a chicken breasts to make it thin.
    2. Use fresh grated lemon zest. Do not grate the white part below the yellow skin. It’s too bitter and will change the taste of chicken.
    3. Use fresh ground pepper. Freshly ground pepper always has much more flavors and peppery taste to it.
    4. If you like to pack in extra flavors, add minced garlic and onion powder. I like to add it to the chicken fillets. But you could add to flour for breading chicken.
     
    Nutritional Info – Please keep in mind that nutritional information provided is only a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 276kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 184mg | Potassium: 468mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 293IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 2mg
    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?I love to see your creations. Tag me on instagram @CurryTrail or tag #CurryTrail!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Natalie

      October 08, 2019 at 6:19 pm

      5 stars
      I absolutely love the flavors in this chicken recipe. I bet my family will be so delighted when I make them this. I saved the recipe to my to try list for next week. Can’t wait to give it a try!

      Reply
      • jyothirajesh

        October 08, 2019 at 6:30 pm

        Thank you Natalie

        Reply
    2. SHANIKA

      October 08, 2019 at 10:40 am

      5 stars
      This Chicken recipe looks so amazing! I definitely want to make this, especially for upcoming Holiday season! That Lemon Pepper Marinade looks super easy but super flavorful!

      Reply
      • jyothirajesh

        October 08, 2019 at 6:29 pm

        Thank you Shanika

        Reply
    3. Aline

      October 07, 2019 at 10:44 am

      5 stars
      OMG! This chicken recipe looks INCREDIBLE!!! I’m saving it to make it this week – I can’t wait!! Thank you!

      Reply
      • jyothirajesh

        October 07, 2019 at 1:14 pm

        Glad you liked it Aline

        Reply
    4. GUNJAN C Dudani

      October 07, 2019 at 7:44 am

      5 stars
      I am sharing this recipe with my brother. He will love it since he is an excellent cook himself.

      Reply
    5. Veronika

      October 06, 2019 at 11:35 pm

      5 stars
      I love simple yet tasty chicken recipes! They are so good for a busy week or a lazy weekend) Saving this one for later)

      Reply
      • jyothirajesh

        October 06, 2019 at 11:55 pm

        Thank you

        Reply
    6. Paula Montenegro

      October 06, 2019 at 3:07 am

      5 stars
      You had me at having flavorful chicken breasts. They look so delicious! And truly easy to make. A perfect recipe to add to my weeknight plan!

      Reply
      • jyothirajesh

        October 06, 2019 at 2:46 pm

        Thank you

        Reply
    7. Leslie

      October 04, 2019 at 9:12 pm

      Yay for no more boring chicken! You can tell this chicken recipe is packed with flavor just by looking at the pictures! YUM!!!

      Reply
      • jyothirajesh

        October 06, 2019 at 2:46 pm

        Thanks Leslie

        Reply
    8. Jessica Kirk

      October 04, 2019 at 8:38 am

      I’ll be adding this quick, light chicken recipe to the weekly menu.

      Reply
      • jyothirajesh

        October 06, 2019 at 2:47 pm

        Thank you

        Reply
    9. Kelly Anthony

      October 04, 2019 at 4:39 am

      5 stars
      I grew up eating bland over cooked chicken breast so I know exactly what you are talking about. Your lemon pepper chicken looks perfectly cooked and seasoned.

      Reply
      • jyothirajesh

        October 06, 2019 at 2:47 pm

        Thank you Kelly

        Reply
    10. Jess

      October 03, 2019 at 10:49 pm

      5 stars
      Well I definitely know what I want to make for dinner tonight! This looks and sounds so amazing!

      Reply
      • jyothirajesh

        October 06, 2019 at 2:47 pm

        Thank you

        Reply
    11. Chef Dennis

      October 01, 2019 at 1:00 pm

      5 stars
      I love chicken breasts so much. I always use this part of chicken when cooking, Your lemon pepper chicken recipe looks really delicious. I must try making this in the coming days!

      Reply
      • jyothirajesh

        October 01, 2019 at 6:11 pm

        Hope you like it as much as we do. Thank you Dennis

        Reply

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    I'm Jyothi. This is my creative space where I share my stories on my culinary adventures. You will find a variety of recipes from across the world. Read more...
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