This Lemon Pepper Chicken is juicy and flavorful! Made with quick homemade seasoning and baked in sauce, this dish is sure to become a hit in your home.
Serve this delicious chicken dish with mashed potatoes and roasted broccoli for a dinner your whole family will love.
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Why You'll Love This Dish
If you are bored with your chicken dinners, this recipe will save your dinner time! Simple, yet full of flavor, this chicken dish is one of my favorites to make on the weekends or to make ahead for meal prep for the weekdays.
I use my easy seasoning because store-bought mix tends to have a weird taste and scent. Browning the chicken in the pan before baking traps the juices in each piece. The chicken is tender and delicious in every bite!
Ingredients:
- chicken - I used boneless skinless chicken breasts, about 8oz each;
- lemon pepper seasoning - see below for my homemade mix; the recipe is below;
- flour - I used all-purpose but gluten-free or cornstarch works too;
- olive oil and butter - my favorite combo for frying;
- white wine (like Pinot Grigio) or chicken stock - necessary to deglaze the pan;
- lemon juice - add delicious citrus flavor to the dish.
How to make Lemon Pepper Chicken?
- Prepare the seasoning.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Salt each chicken breast, then sprinkle 1 teaspoon of lemon pepper seasoning per each breast and rub it in.
- Lightly dredge each piece in flour.
- Heat up oil and butter in a skillet.
- Brown chicken for 4 minutes on each side, until nice and golden.
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- Place chicken in a casserole dish.
- Add garlic to skillet and saute for 1 minute, until fragrant. Add wine (or stock) and lemon juice. Simmer for about 4 minutes. Add butter and melt. Pour the sauce over chicken.
- Bake chicken in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes OR until the temperature reaches 165 degrees F, when checked in the thickest part of each breast.
Lemon Pepper Seasoning recipe:
I prefer to make my own spice mix because I find the store-bought kind to have a weird chemical taste and smell. To make your own seasoning, mix the following:
- 1 tablespoon of freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 tablespoon dried lemon zest (zest 2 lemons, then spread the zest in a single layer on a plate and microwave in 20-second increments until you see it drying out, then let it cool completely)
- 1,5 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon of onion powder
Use 3 teaspoons of seasoning in this recipe. Store seasoning in a jar in a cool dry place for up to 2 weeks.
Recipe variations:
- fried in a skillet: You can skip baking the chicken in the casserole dish, but you will have to slice the chicken breasts lengthwise in half, then proceed with the recipe. This will ensure even cooking.
- chicken thighs: you can use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs in this recipe
- chicken wings: follow the recipe but skip the sauce part. Bake for about 18 minutes, or until the temperature is at least 165 degrees F.
Helpful Tips!
- I recommend homemade seasoning mix for best flavors unless you have one you buy and like the best.
- Apply seasoning to salted chicken breasts, rub it in, then dredge each chicken piece in flour; this ensures the seasoning is on the chicken and sticks, instead of being left in the flour on a plate when dredging it. I found this technique the best during testing this recipe.
- Fry chicken in butter and oil mix for best browning.
- Add butter at the end of making the sauce as it adds rich flavor and a beautiful sheen.
- Always check the internal temperature when cooking meat. The thermometer should show at least 165 degrees F for chicken.
Note on servings:
A serving of chicken breast is 3 to 4 ounces. If using 6 to 8-ounce chicken breasts, technically each breast is two servings (for adults).
More easy chicken dinners:
If you like this recipe and make it, let me know in the comments below! Don't forget to rate it if you enjoyed it!
Lemon Pepper Chicken
Ingredients
chicken:
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 3 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning recipe below
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
sauce:
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- ¼ cup white wine or chicken stock see note
- ½ teaspoon minced garlic optional
- lemon slices optional
lemon pepper seasoning:
- 1 tablespoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 tablespoons dried lemon zest See note
- 1 ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Prepare the seasoning: mix all ingredients in a small bowl.1 tablespoon freshly cracked black pepper, 2 tablespoons dried lemon zest, 1 ½ teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ¾ teaspoon salt
- Preheat oven to 375℉.
- Salt each chicken breast, then sprinkle 1 teaspoon of lemon pepper seasoning per each breast and rub it in.3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, 3 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning
- Lightly dredge each piece in flour.¼ cup all-purpose flour
- Heat up oil and butter in a skillet.1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Brown chicken for 4 minutes on each side, until nice and golden.
- Place chicken in a casserole dish.
- Add garlic to skillet and saute for 1 minute, until fragrant. Add wine (or stock) and lemon juice. Simmer for about 4 minutes. Add butter and melt. Pour the sauce over chicken. Add lemon slices.3 tablespoons lemon juice, ¼ cup white wine or chicken stock, ½ teaspoon minced garlic, lemon slices
- Bake chicken in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes OR until the temperature reaches 165 degrees F when checked in the thickest part of each breast.
- Serve.
Notes
- To make dried lemon zest: zest 2 lemons, then spread the zest in a single layer on a plate and microwave in 20-second increments until you see it drying out, then let it cool completely
- Always check the internal temperature when cooking meat. The thermometer should show at least 165 degrees F for chicken.
- Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use calorie counter you are familiar with.
Ericka Ryant says
I made this for the family tonight everyone loved it. Defiantly will make again !!
Jenn Anderson says
Made this last night for dinner. It was so good!
Anna says
Thank you so much, Jenn!
Natasha says
Wonderful recipe! We loved the creamy sweet lemon flavor. I cooked it for our family of four and we all loved it. Thanks for sharing!
Valentina says
I love making this EASY lemon pepper chicken recipe for dinner time!
Sara Welch says
Tried this for dinner last night and it did not disappoint! Easily, a new favorite recipe in my home!
Kimberly says
SO good, I just love this flavor combo - lemon and pepper is the best!!
Sally says
Such an awesome recipe. I tried it tonight and Oh boy, is it delicious.