Lemon Pepper Chicken

5 from 7 votes
15 Comments

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Lemon Pepper Chicken is a frequent favorite dish in our family; tangy, tender, so tasty! Made with just four ingredients, this chicken is perfect in salads, pastas, and sandwiches too!

Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken on a tray with vegetables
Featured with this recipe
  1. Ingredients in Lemon Pepper Chicken
  2. Garnish Options
  3. Homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning
  4. Suggestions for Lemon Pepper Chicken
  5. Frequently Asked Questions
  6. What to serve with this Chicken Dish
  7. More Delicious Chicken Recipes
  8. How to make Lemon Pepper Chicken
  9. Lemon Pepper Chicken Recipe

This simple Lemon Pepper Chicken recipe was in regular rotation around our house growing up. Because it’s made with four simple ingredients we always had on hand, our mother would make a huge batch and we would eat on it all week long. It pairs perfectly with rice pilaf, baked potatoes or pasta for dinner, but tastes delicious sliced over a salad for lunch the next day. If you have a little lemon juice and pepper, you can make this easy chicken recipe any night of the week. This recipe comes in handy when you just can’t think of anything to make for supper!

Ingredients in Lemon Pepper Chicken

This chicken recipe couldn’t be easier! Whip it up in just a few minutes and serve with your favorite vegetables, rice or pasta. Here’s all you need:

  • 4 chicken breasts – We love using boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this dish, but you could easily substitute chicken thighs or drumsticks. Lemon pepper chicken wings are a yummy appetizer too!
  • Olive oil – Extra virgin olive oil works great for this light, healthy marinade.
  • Lemon juice – You’ll need a quarter cup of fresh lemon juice or the juice of two lemons.
  • Lemon Pepper Seasoning – Start with one tbsp of seasoning and add more if you want.
A platter with a cut piece of grilled lemon pepper chicken in the middle


Garnish Options

This chicken looks gorgeous on its own straight from the pan, but you can dress it up for a little fancier dinner with some of these options:

  • Parmesan cheese – grate fresh parmesan over the top of the chicken breasts.
  • Parsley – a little fresh parsley looks beautiful and gives the chicken an extra level of fresh flavor.
  • Onions – slice some yellow or white onions and layer with the chicken.
  • Lemon slices – Slice a lemon and place one slice over each piece of chicken.
  • Asparagus – serve chicken over a bed of roasted asparagus or your favorite green vegetable.

Homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning

If you don’t have store-bought lemon pepper seasoning, you can make your own with some dried lemon zest, black pepper and salt. Add a dash of garlic powder or onion powder in as well for extra flavor.

Suggestions for Lemon Pepper Chicken

  • You can bake or grill this chicken, whatever you prefer. I usually marinate the chicken in the afternoon for at least thirty minutes, preferably longer, then have my husband throw it on the grill just before dinner.
  • Parmesan cheese helps give the chicken a nice, golden crust on the outside, but if you don’t have any on hand, don’t worry! It tastes delicious without.
  • Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to three days. You could also double the batch and freeze cooked chicken breasts for up to two months! They’re perfect to grab and thaw for dinner or lunch. Thaw them out in the fridge, then microwave or toss in the oven until heated through.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is lemon pepper sauce made of?

If you want a simple sauce to go over this chicken, mix some melted butter, lemon pepper seasoning, lemon juice, a little honey and a dash of hot sauce. YUM!

Can I use lemon juice and pepper instead of lemon pepper seasoning?

Yes! Just mix a few tablespoons of lemon juice (I love using fresh lemon but you could use lemon juice from the bottle too) and two teaspoons of freshly ground pepper. Fresh ingredients will enhance the flavors and really bring this dinner to life!

What is lemon pepper good on?

Besides chicken, lemon pepper seasoning is ideal for flavoring everything from pork to seafood. Lemon pepper seasoning is such a classic flavor that tastes delicious on just about anything!

READ NEXT:50+ Best and Delicious Grill Recipes

What to serve with this Chicken Dish

Serve this chicken with our delicious Oven Roasted Green Beans our Super Easy Yellow Rice or a simple Baked Potato. Turn our Nuts About Berries Salad into a hearty lunch by slicing leftover Lemon Pepper Chicken on top or add it to our One Pot Creamy Garlic Noodles! You will love how versatile this chicken is!

More Delicious Chicken Recipes

Chicken is probably the easiest meat to cook with and the possibilities are endless! Try a few of our favorite chicken recipes and you’ll never have to worry about what’s for dinner!

How to make Lemon Pepper Chicken

A tray of grilled chicken garnished with lettuce, red potatoes, and carrots

Lemon Pepper Chicken

5 from 7 votes
Lemon Pepper Chicken is a frequent favorite dish in our family; tangy, tender, so tasty! Made with just four ingredients, this chicken is perfect in salads, pastas, and sandwiches too!

Prep Time 2 hours
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4

Equipment

  • Outdoor Barbecue Grill

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Marinate chicken in oil, lemon juice, and pepper.
  • Remove chicken and discard marinade.
  • Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and grill for approximately 7-8 minutes on each side.
  • You can also bake in the oven for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.

Notes

  • You can bake or grill this chicken, whatever you prefer. I usually marinate the chicken in the afternoon for at least thirty minutes, preferably longer, then have my husband throw it on the grill just before dinner.
  • Parmesan cheese helps give the chicken a nice, golden crust on the outside, but if you don’t have any on hand, don’t worry! It tastes delicious without.
  • Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to three days. You could also double the batch and freeze cooked chicken breasts for up to two months! They’re perfect to grab and thaw for dinner or lunch. Thaw them out in the fridge, then microwave or toss in the oven until heated through.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 532kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 48gFat: 36gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 145mgSodium: 264mgPotassium: 901mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 90IUVitamin C: 8.4mgCalcium: 28mgIron: 1.4mg

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About the author

Emily Walker

Emily lives in Meridian, Idaho, with her husband, Beau, a physician assistant, and her three incredible children: a son and two daughters. Travel is one of her favorite ways to experience new cultures and cuisines, and she has a love for all things Disney.

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Comments

    1. As long as the internal temperature of the chicken and the marinade reaches 165 degrees, it should be fine. Thank you for asking!

  1. I just found your blog and wish it had been on Valentine's Day, because, seriously, you are my recipe soulmate! Where have you been all my life?

    Love, love, love the recipes!

  2. 5 stars
    Oooh – I love this simple recipe! Always on the lookout for flavorful and easy ways to prepare chicken breasts:-)