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Lemon Pepper Chicken

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Easy lemon pepper chicken made in one pan with fresh lemon, honey, butter, and herbs. Juicy pan-fried chicken breasts ready in 30 minutes.

Easy lemon pepper chicken made in one pan with fresh lemon, honey, butter, and herbs. Juicy pan-fried chicken breasts ready in 30 minutes.

This Lemon Pepper Chicken is one of those simple dinners that feels far more impressive than the effort it takes to make. Tender chicken breasts are lightly dredged, pan fried until golden, then finished with a buttery lemon sauce, caramelized lemon slices, and plenty of fresh flavour.

If youโ€™re looking for an easy chicken dinner that doesnโ€™t rely on heavy sauces or complicated ingredients, this recipe is a great option. The combination of fresh lemon juice, honey, butter, and lemon pepper seasoning creates a bright, savoury sauce thatโ€™s perfect served with rice, potatoes, or vegetables for a complete family meal.

  • Bright lemon flavour from both fresh lemon juice and lemon pepper seasoning.
  • Quick weeknight dinner ready in about 30 minutes.
  • One skillet recipe with minimal cleanup.
  • Tender, juicy chicken thanks to the quick pan-frying method.
  • Simple pantry ingredients that are easy to find.
  • Family-friendly flavour thatโ€™s fresh and delicious without being spicy.
Easy lemon pepper chicken made in one pan with fresh lemon, honey, butter, and herbs. Juicy pan-fried chicken breasts ready in 30 minutes.

Tips for Best Results

  • Use an instant-read thermometer and cook chicken to 165ยฐF for perfectly cooked results every time.
  • Pound the chicken evenly so all pieces cook at the same rate and stay juicy.
  • Donโ€™t overcrowd the pan. Cook the chicken in batches if necessary to achieve a golden crust.
  • Use fresh lemons whenever possible for the brightest flavour and best sauce.
  • Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving to help retain its juices.
  • Caramelize the lemon slices properly. Giving them a few minutes undisturbed in the skillet develops extra sweetness and flavour.

Ingredients & Substitutions

  • Chicken Breasts โ€“ Boneless, skinless chicken breasts work best. Boneless chicken thighs can be substituted if preferred.
  • Salt & Black Pepper โ€“ Basic seasoning that helps enhance the lemon flavours.
  • All-Purpose Flour โ€“ Creates a light coating that helps the chicken brown beautifully and thickens the sauce slightly.
  • Butter โ€“ Adds richness to both the chicken and sauce. Unsalted butter is recommended.
  • Olive Oil โ€“ Prevents the butter from burning while helping the chicken develop a golden crust.
  • Lemon Pepper Seasoning โ€“ Provides the signature lemon and pepper flavour throughout the dish.
  • Fresh Lemon Juice โ€“ Freshly squeezed juice gives the best flavour, though bottled can be used in a pinch.
  • Lemons โ€“ Sliced and caramelized for extra citrus flavour and an attractive presentation.
  • Honey โ€“ Balances the acidity of the lemons without making the sauce overly sweet.
  • Fresh Parsley โ€“ Adds colour and freshness before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work very well in this recipe. They may require a slightly different cooking time depending on thickness.

Fresh lemons are recommended for the best flavour, but bottled lemon juice can be substituted if necessary. Fresh lemon slices are still worth using if possible.

Yes. The chicken can be cooked ahead and refrigerated for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165ยฐF and the juices run clear.

Yes. The flour helps create a light crust and slightly thickens the sauce, but the recipe will still work without it.

Not usually. Lemon pepper seasoning has a bright citrus flavour with mild peppery notes rather than significant heat.

Rice, roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes, green beans, asparagus, broccoli, or a simple salad all pair well with this dish.

Yes. Store cooled chicken in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Featured chicken dinners including black pepper chicken, chicken tortilla bake, and honey garlic sheet pan chicken.

Looking for more Tasty Chicken Dinner Recipes?

If you enjoyed this Lemon Pepper Chicken, here are a few more family-friendly chicken recipes to try:

  • This Cheesy Chicken Tortilla Bake is an easy dinner recipe filled with delicious cheese sauce and chicken. It is also inexpensive!
  • This Honey Garlic Chicken Sheet Pan Meal is complete with sides of carrots, broccoli and baby potatoes. Itโ€™s full of flavour, quick and easy, and best of all, your family is going to love this recipe.ย 
  • A Chinese food restaurant classic, this Black Pepper Chicken recipe is super easy to make at home. Itโ€™s a flavourful asian-inspired dish the whole family can enjoy!
Easy lemon pepper chicken made in one pan with fresh lemon, honey, butter, and herbs. Juicy pan-fried chicken breasts ready in 30 minutes.

Lemon Pepper Chicken

Yield: 4 servings | Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ยฝ teaspoon black pepper
  • โ…“ cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 tablespoons butter, divided
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 4 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning, divided
  • ยฝ cup lemon juice, divided
  • 2 lemons, sliced
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • ยผ cup chopped fresh parsley

Directions

  1. Butterfly each chicken breast in half lengthwise and pound to approximately ยผ-inch thickness.
  2. Season both sides with salt and pepper, then lightly dredge in flour, shaking off excess.
  3. Heat 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  4. Cook half of the chicken for 3 to 5 minutes per side, sprinkling with lemon pepper seasoning as it cooks, until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a plate.
  5. Repeat with the remaining chicken, 1 tablespoon butter, remaining olive oil, and remaining lemon pepper seasoning.
  6. Add ยผ cup lemon juice to the skillet and cook for 1 minute, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  7. Add the lemon slices and cook for several minutes per side until lightly caramelized. Remove and set aside.
  8. Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, remaining ยผ cup lemon juice, and honey until smooth.
  9. Return the chicken to the skillet or arrange on a serving platter.
  10. Top with caramelized lemon slices and spoon the sauce over the chicken. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately.
Lemon Pepper Chicken
Yield: 4 Servings

Lemon Pepper Chicken

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Easy lemon pepper chicken made in one pan with fresh lemon, honey, butter, and herbs. Juicy pan-fried chicken breasts ready in 30 minutes.

5.0 Stars (2 Reviews)

Ingredients

  • 4 Skinless, Boneless Chicken Breasts
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Pepper
  • 1/3 Cup All-Purpose Flour
  • 4 Tbsp Butter, divided
  • 2 Tbsp Olive Oil, divided
  • 4 tsp Lemon Pepper Seasoning, divided
  • 1/2 Cup Lemon Juice, Divided
  • 2 lemons, sliced
  • 1/4 Cup Chopped parsley
  • 2 Tbsp Honey

Instructions

  1. Butterfly each chicken breast in half lengthwise and pound to approximately ยผ-inch thickness.
  2. Season both sides with salt and pepper, then lightly dredge in flour, shaking off excess.
  3. Heat 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  4. Cook half of the chicken for 3 to 5 minutes per side, sprinkling with lemon pepper seasoning as it cooks, until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a plate.
  5. Repeat with the remaining chicken, 1 tablespoon butter, remaining olive oil, and remaining lemon pepper seasoning.
  6. Add ยผ cup lemon juice to the skillet and cook for 1 minute, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  7. Add the lemon slices and cook for several minutes per side until lightly caramelized. Remove and set aside.
  8. Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, remaining ยผ cup lemon juice, and honey until smooth.
    Return the chicken to the skillet or arrange on a serving platter. Top with caramelized lemon slices and spoon the sauce over the chicken.
  9. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately.

Notes

  • Fresh lemon juice provides the best flavour and helps create a bright, balanced sauce.
  • Boneless chicken thighs can be substituted for chicken breasts if preferred.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1 Chicken breast

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 453Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 133mgSodium: 1670mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 2gSugar: 10gProtein: 39g

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25 Comments

  1. wow what delicious recipe, i never seen this recipe any other blog really very nice and delicious recipe,i was also try.. I really appreciate the info and ideas. I love your blog!

  2. I have never made lemon chicken. I cook chicken frequently and I am always looking for delicious recipes. I believe I have found one in this lemon chicken and I can’t wait to try it. It looks and sounds delicious. Thank you for all your recipes.

  3. Wow, this looks and sounds fantastic, I’ll definitely be trying out this recipe, thanks for sharing ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. This is the perfect family recipe for us! I love cooking with lemon and their fresh flavor so I will be making this soon for sure!!

  5. Wow! This would be good to try. I like this dish. The chicken and lemon looks like a perfect combination.

    1. Oh my, lemon and chicken is one of my most favourite pairings. I also do Lemon and Thyme chicken, the recipe is posted here somewhere but you basically make a marinade with lemon juice. olive oil, honey and thyme then grill the chicken. AMAZING in the summer paired with grilled veg and fried rice.

  6. I love finding new chicken recipes to try. I will have to get the ingredients i need to make this for dinner tonight.

  7. Lemon chicken is so delicious. I will have to try this recipe this weekend. My family will love it.

  8. This looks amazing! I love lemon chicken! I’m going to have to try your recipe out. I bet it tastes great too.

  9. This looks so good I wish I could just take it up off the screen. My husband loves anything lemon chicken so I know this will be going onto our menu plan for the next week.

  10. Even the presentation of this chicken is incredible! It looks so fresh and full of springtime flavor. I saw this recipe and wanted to make it immediately. ๐Ÿ™‚

  11. This looks like an awesome dish, I love lemon with chicken, just compliments the chicken so well and brings out the flavour!!

  12. Does this ever look delicious! ! Such a perfect dish for spring and summer. I have honestly made quite a few chicken dishes but never one like this. I will have to give it a try cause I am totally craving this now

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