Description

This Lemon Pepper Chicken recipe features tender chicken breasts seasoned with zesty lemon, cracked black pepper, and garlic powder, then lightly coated in flour and pan-seared for a flavorful and juicy meal. It’s quick to prepare, perfect for a weeknight dinner, and garnished with fresh parsley for a vibrant finish.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

2 chicken breasts (~250 – 300g / 8 – 10oz each)

Lemon Pepper Marinade

2 lemons (for zest and optional slices)
1 tbsp olive oil

Coating

3 tbsp flour
1/2 – 3/4 tsp salt
2 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper (adjust to taste)
1/2 tsp garlic powder (or substitute with onion powder)

Cooking

1 tbsp olive oil (for skillet)

Garnish

Fresh parsley (optional)

Instructions

Prepare Chicken: Cut each chicken breast in half horizontally to create thinner steaks. Optionally, pound the steaks gently to about 1cm (2/5 inch) thickness for even cooking.
Make Lemon Zest Mixture: Zest the lemons carefully to gather 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons of lemon zest, avoiding the bitter white pith. Combine the zest with 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a bowl.
Marinate Chicken: Place the chicken into the lemon zest and olive oil mixture, using your hands to thoroughly coat each piece with the oil and zest blend.
Prepare Flour Coating: In a shallow bowl, mix together the flour, salt, cracked black pepper, and garlic powder until evenly combined.
Coat Chicken: Dip each chicken piece into the flour mixture, ensuring an even coat. Shake off any excess flour before cooking.
Cook Chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken and cook for about 2 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through.
Optional Lemon Slices: Slice the zested lemons and add to the skillet to cook alongside the chicken for added flavor and presentation, if desired.
Serve: Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

Notes

For even cooking thickness, pounding the chicken breasts is recommended but optional.
Adjust the cracked black pepper quantity according to your preferred spice level.
Garlic powder can be substituted with onion powder if preferred.
Be careful when zesting lemons to avoid the white pith, which is bitter.
Cooking lemon slices in the skillet adds a lovely aromatic touch but is optional.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 6 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Frying
Cuisine: American

Keywords: lemon pepper chicken, pan-seared chicken, quick chicken recipe, lemon zest chicken, easy chicken dinner