Lemon Pepper Chicken

Lemon Pepper Chicken is chicken marinated in a mixture of spices, lemon juice, lemon pepper, garlic and olive oil and then sautéed it until tender and juicy. An easy light meal! 

One of the things that I have learned throughout my years of cooking is that fat = flavor. That means that when it comes to chicken the dark meat and the meat with skin is what I usually gravitate towards. Boneless skinless chicken breasts, are not.

Until now.

If you, like me have had a hard time making a juicy, flavorful chicken breast, then this Lemon Pepper Chicken recipe is for you.

What ingredients do you need?

If you’ve spent any time on my blog you know that I love recipes that use ingredients that you likely have on hand and this recipe is no different.

CHICKEN BREASTS: This recipe is written for boneless skinless chicken breasts. That being said, the marinade is great with all cuts of chicken.

LEMON PEPPER SEASONING: Lemon pepper seasoning is made with grated lemon zest and crushed black pepper. It’s a zesty spice that is a MUST in this dish.

GARLIC: Just a few cloves minced is great to give a touch of garlic flavor without over powering the dish.

LEMON: I Just love lemon with chicken. It brightens the whole dish. It also helps tenderize the chicken.

DES’ TIP: I recommend marinating this chicken no more than 4 hours. While the acidity in the lemon juice helps tenderize the chicken, if left too long it can also make the chicken mushy. 

PAPRIKA: Adds color and a touch of smokiness.

SALT: For flavor.

DRIED OREGANO: You can also use fresh oregano but remember the rule of thumb 1 teaspoon dried herbs = 1 tablespoon fresh.

OLIVE OIL: Helps keep the chicken juicy.

Step by Step Instructions:

Let me show you just how easy this recipe is to make!

STEP #1: Use a sharp knife to halve the chicken breasts lengthwise.

STEP #2: Place the chicken between two pieces of plastic wrap and hit with a meat mallet or rolling pin until they are a uniform thickness. This will help make sure that they cook evenly.

STEP #3: Whisk together garlic, lemon pepper seasoning, paprika, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and oregano.

STEP #4: Pour marinade mixture over chicken and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours but not more than 4.

STEP #5: Cook the chicken in a skillet 3 – 4 minutes per side or until browned and a meat thermometer registers 170 degrees.

How to store leftovers:

Not only does this Lemon Pepper Chicken make a great dinner, it also makes a great make ahead protein to add to salads throughout the workweek! The perfect way to add some flavor to your lunch.

Here are some of my favorite side dishes to serve alongside:

Garlic Rice

Roasted Red Potatoes

Creamy Mashed Potatoes

Sautéed Broccoli 

Looking for more easy chicken dinners for your family? Here are some of my family’s favorites!

Instant Pot Chicken Adobo 

Chicken Curry Recipe

Brined Fried Chicken

40 Clove Garlic Chicken Recipe

Baked Chicken Tacos from the Cookie Rookie 

Note: This recipe was originally posted in 2009. It was updated with new photos, step by step photos and nutrition facts. The recipe was also modified to feed 4.

Lemon Pepper Chicken

Lemon Pepper Chicken is an easy weeknight dinner and a great meal prep ingreident. Perfect as a light meal or to add to salads throughout the week!

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Prep Time 2 hours hrs

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 2 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Course Main Dishes

Cuisine American

Servings 4 Servings

Calories 254 kcal

Ingredients

  

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Ingredients:

• ▢ 1 garlic clove minced
• ▢ 2 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• ▢ 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ▢ juice of 1/2 lemon
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• ▢ 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• ▢ lemon wedges for garnish

Instructions

 

• ▢
  In a bowl combine all ingredients except the chicken.
• ▢
  Use a sharp knife to half the chicken breasts lengthwise. Place chicken breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet until they are a uniform thickness. This ensures that they will cook evenly.
• ▢
  Place chicken in a glass dish. Pour the marinade over the chicken. Turn the chicken to coat. Marinate for 2 hours.
• ▢
  After two hours, remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the remaining marinade.
• ▢
  Cook the chicken in a skillet 3-4 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Serve with lemon wedges

Notes

Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 254kcalCarbohydrates: 3.3gProtein: 39.8gFat: 9.4gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 99mgSodium: 406mgFiber: 0.6gSugar: 2.9g

Tried this recipe?Mention @lifesambrosia or tag #lifesambrosia!

Keywords: chicken, chicken breast, chicken breasts, diet, dinner, Food, healthy, lemon juice, lemon pepper, olive oil, paprika, Recipe