Lemon Pepper Chicken

Bored with your regular chicken fries and curries? Wanna try something new and delicious? Our lemon pepper chicken recipe is easy to make and delivers out-of-the-world flavors. Juicy and tender chicken breasts are made better with tangy lemon pepper seasoning, fresh lemon juice, and buttery lemon pepper sauce.

Make this with only 15 minutes of cooking time and minimal effort. Serve with steamed rice, fresh salad, and mashed potatoes. What could be a better weeknight dinner! Stay tuned for the detailed recipe.

Easy Lemon Pepper Chicken Ingredients:

For Lemon Pepper Chicken:

First we’ll know about the needed ingredients for lemon pepper chicken.

Chicken Breasts:

Chicken breasts are something we all have in our freezer, right? You’ll need 2 large boneless and skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced. (around 1.5 to 1.8 pounds).

Flour:

All-purpose flour is our regular wheat flour used in most baked items. Flour is used to coat the chicken breasts before frying. ¾ cup all-purpose flour would be enough for the recipe.

Kosher Salt:

Chicken stock and lemon pepper seasoning already contain salt. So, be careful while adding salt to the recipe. Use ½ teaspoon or more if needed.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil:

Extra virgin olive oil is the most flavorful of all edible oils. Use 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil to fry the chicken breasts.

Lemon Pepper Seasoning:

Lemon pepper seasoning is made with black peppercorns, dried lemon zest, garlic powder, salt, and other spices. Buy it from supermarkets or make it yourself at home. Put lemon peels on a baking sheet and dry them in a preheated oven for 2-3 hours. 

Grind this dried lemon peel, black peppercorns, and other spices in a grinder. Store it in an airtight container. 3 tablespoons of lemon pepper seasoning will add tons of flavor to our citrus chicken dish.

For Lemon Pepper Sauce:

To make lemon pepper sauce you’ll need six easily found ingredients.

Butter:

Butter is usually made from churned cream and used in baking, cooking, as a condiment, and whatnot! 2 tablespoons of salted butter gives creaminess to our lemon pepper sauce.

Chicken Stock:

Chicken stock is readily found in supermarkets. Also, you can make it at home with simple ingredients. Put chicken bones, skins, onion, garlic, carrots, celery, bay leaves, and parsley stems in a large pan. Add enough water and boil all the ingredients on low to medium heat for 3-4 hours. Strain the stock when cold. Use ½ cup chicken stock in our quick lemon chicken recipe.   

Garlic:

Fresh garlic gives a pungent kick to the spicy lemon pepper chicken recipe. It mellows while cooking. Use 2 cloves of garlic, minced.

Lemon Juice:

1 large-sized freshly squeezed lemon juice gives lemon pepper sauce a citrusy tang and brightness in flavor.

Honey:

Honey balances all the zesty and spicy flavors. Use 1 tablespoon of honey in the lemon chicken recipe.

Lemon Zest:

Try to use lemon juice and lemon zest for freshness in the flavors. ½ teaspoon of lemon zest gives zestiness to the chicken.

For Garnishing:

Garnishing is totally optional. Do it, only if you find it convenient.

Parsley: 

Use ½ cup of freshly chopped parsley to give the sauce that fresh herby vibe.

Lemon Slices:

A nice garnish enhances any recipe. Use lemon slices on top to garnish the luscious lemon pepper chicken breasts. 

Essential Kitchen Tools for Lemon Pepper Chicken

To prepare a flavorful Lemon Pepper Chicken, having the right kitchen tools is essential. Here are some recommended items available on Amazon:

Chef’s Knife – For slicing chicken and herbs.
Meat Tenderizer – Ensures even cooking.
Zester – For fresh lemon zest.
Non-Stick Skillet – Perfect for searing chicken.
Silicone Basting Brush – Evenly coats sauce.
These tools make cooking easier and enhance flavor!

How To Make Lemon Pepper Chicken:

Want a quick chicken recipe for a family dinner? This easy lemon pepper chicken recipe has vibrant, spicy, tangy, and creamy flavors. It’s a perfect combination of juicy pan-fried chicken breasts, mildly hot lemon pepper seasoning, and velvety lemon pepper sauce. You will need just a handful of available ingredients. 

Step 1:

Clean the chicken breasts very well. Cut them into thinner halves, like cutlets. 

Step 2:

In a small bowl, gather lemon pepper seasoning and the salt. Place flour on a separate plate for coating. Season each side of the chicken breasts with the spice mixture. Place them on the flour and coat very well. Shake off excess flour and put it at rest on a wire rack. 

Step 3:

Heat extra virgin olive oil on a frying pan. As soon as the oil begins to simmer, put the chicken breasts in a single layer of the pan. Fry the chicken breasts for 3 minutes, flip the other part, fry for 2 minutes. Turn off the flame.

Step 4:

Melt the butter in a pan on medium heat. Once the butter is melted, add minced garlic and saute until fragrant. 30 seconds will be enough. 

Now add chicken stock, lemon juice, and ½ teaspoon of lemon pepper seasoning to the pan. Boil for 2 minutes. Lastly, add honey. Your lemon pepper sauce will be ready.

Step 5:

Place the pan-fried chicken breasts in the lemon pepper sauce. Turn them over and coat both sides very well. Turn off the heat. Transfer them to the plate for serving. Garnish with chopped parsley and lemon slices.

Recipe Tips & Notes:

• In this recipe, I pan-fried the chicken breasts because I love the color and texture pan frying gives. But you can make other healthier variations of the same recipe. Make grilled lemon pepper chicken or baked lemon pepper chicken. Also, you can air fry them. Use whichever is convenient for you.  

• You can use corn flour instead of wheat flour. Skip the use of flour if you want to make the recipe gluten-free. 

• Always season the chicken breasts very well before dredging them in the flour. It helps the seasoning cling better to the breasts.

• Leave the chicken breasts on the wire rack for 10 minutes after coating them with flour. It will give the breasts a better texture.

• Add 1 teaspoon of crushed red chili flakes or cayenne pepper to the lemon pepper seasoning to make lemon pepper chicken spicier.

• Replace the chicken breasts with chicken thighs. Or you can use turkey cutlets in the same recipe.

• Cilantro or sage will give the same herby touch as parsley.

• Vegetable stock will work in place of chicken stock.

• Wanna store lemon pepper chicken? Keep lemon pepper sauce and chicken breasts separately in the freezer.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Our lemon pepper chicken is savory, peppery, and fulfilling. Use any cut of chicken, chicken breasts, thighs, tenders, it’s good in every way. Let’s discover the answer of some frequently asked questions.

1. Can I Use Lemon Pepper Seasoning For Other Dishes?

Lemon pepper seasoning has multiple uses. You can use it in popcorn, pasta, vegetables, and sauces other than chicken.

2. How Do You Get The Perfect Lemon Pepper Flavor?

Use fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and fresh and good-quality dry spices for the perfect lemon pepper flavor. 

3. Can Lemon Pepper Chicken Be Made In The Oven?

Yes, of course, you can bake chicken breasts in the oven to make lemon pepper chicken. 

4. What to Serve With Lemon Pepper Chicken?

Serve lemon pepper chicken with roasted potatoes, sauteed vegetables, pasta salad, or steamed rice.

Final Thoughts:

Wanna please your guests with something different? Make our lemon pepper chicken breasts in just 15 minutes. It is tangy, spicy, buttery, and healthy with fresh ingredients. 

Plus you can make it ahead and store it. 

Pair with steamed rice and sauteed vegetables. It’s such a wholesome meal option. Once you try the recipe, you’ll repeat it frequently.