Feeling stuck in a routine of cooking plain old chicken breast every week? Well, it’s time to break free and give this Easy Lemon Pepper Chicken a try right away. This dish is bursting with savory, tangy, and peppery flavors, complete with a delectable pan sauce that you won’t be able to resist pouring over your entire plate. Trust me, this quick and flavorful recipe is bound to become a regular favorite in your kitchen. 😉
What Kind of Chicken Should I Use?
To prepare this speedy skillet dish, you’ll need thinly sliced chicken pieces that can be cooked rapidly, such as boneless skinless chicken breasts (sliced thinner), chicken tenders, thin-cut chicken breast, or chicken thighs. Please note that this technique is not appropriate for chicken with bones.
Do I Need Fresh Lemon?
No, fresh lemon slices were added to this dish as a garnish, but they are not necessary to make lemon pepper chicken. The main source of lemon flavor comes from the strong lemon pepper seasoning. The small amount of lemon juice used in the pan sauce can be from a bottle.
What Is Lemon Pepper Seasoning?
The seasoning I utilized to enhance the taste of this recipe is a combination of lemon zest, pepper, citric acid, and salt. It is readily available in most U.S. grocery stores, as both renowned spice brands and major generic store brands produce their own version of lemon pepper seasoning. However, if you are unable to locate it at your nearby store, numerous online recipes are available for creating homemade lemon pepper seasoning.
Before proceeding, verify whether the lemon pepper seasoning you possess includes salt. In the event that it does not, consider incorporating additional salt into the following recipe.
What to Serve with Lemon Pepper Chicken
I embraced the lemon flavor fully by pairing my Lemon Pepper Chicken with Lemon Parsley Pasta. However, it would also complement wonderfully with Sautéed Vegetables, Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad, Roasted Broccoli, Lemon Garlic Roasted Asparagus, Spinach Rice with Feta, Spanish Chickpeas and Rice, or Pasta Primavera.
How to Make Lemon Pepper Chicken – Step by Step Photos
To achieve thinner pieces, either use thin-cut chicken breasts or skillfully fillet two boneless, skinless chicken breasts using a sharp knife.
In a bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour and 1 tablespoon of lemon pepper seasoning. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over both sides of the chicken pieces.
Evenly coat both sides of the chicken with the flour mixture by spreading it over them.
Begin by heating 1 tablespoon of cooking oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, carefully place the chicken pieces into the skillet and cook them on each side until they turn a golden brown color, which should take approximately 5 minutes per side. Once cooked, transfer the chicken to a clean plate and cover it to maintain its warmth.
Incorporate 1 tablespoon of butter and finely chop one clove of garlic into the skillet. Cook the garlic over medium heat for approximately one minute, stirring occasionally.
Incorporate ½ cup of chicken broth into the skillet, vigorously stirring to eliminate any caramelized residue from the surface. Introduce 1 tsp of lemon juice to the broth, and allow it to gently simmer in the skillet for 3-5 minutes, or until it has slightly reduced. Assess the flavor of the sauce, and if necessary, add salt (although this will vary depending on the seasoning and saltiness of the lemon peppers and broth).
Put the chicken back in the skillet and pour the sauce over it. Let the chicken warm up for a couple of minutes.
Serve the chicken with a generous sprinkle of freshly cracked pepper and optional chopped parsley on top!
Enjoy the extra tenderness, juiciness, and flavor that the lemon brings to the chicken!
