Description
This Delicious Lemon Pepper Chicken Recipe offers a flavorful, juicy, and easy-to-make main course featuring tender chicken breasts seasoned with a zesty lemon pepper blend and cooked to perfection in a buttery skillet. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a healthy meal option, it pairs wonderfully with vegetables, rice, or salad.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1½ teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
For Cooking
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Lemon and Garnish
- Juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Pound the Chicken: Use a meat mallet to pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness to ensure they cook evenly and remain juicy.
- Prepare Seasoning Mix: In a small bowl, combine lemon pepper seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and salt thoroughly.
- Season the Chicken: Rub the chicken breasts with olive oil on both sides, then coat each piece evenly with the seasoning blend to maximize flavor.
- Heat the Skillet: Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the unsalted butter. Allow it to melt and become sizzling hot.
- Cook the Chicken: Add the seasoned chicken to the skillet and cook for 5–6 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) is reached, ensuring thorough cooking.
- Add Lemon Flavor: During the last minute of cooking, squeeze the juice of one lemon over the chicken and sprinkle with lemon zest for a fresh, tangy finish.
- Rest the Chicken: Remove the chicken from the skillet and let it rest for 3–5 minutes to lock in juices before serving.
- Garnish and Serve: Optionally, sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the chicken for color and herbaceousness, then serve warm.
Notes
- Pairs excellently with roasted vegetables, steamed rice, or as a topping over fresh salad greens.
- For a smokier flavor, consider grilling the chicken instead of pan-frying.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
