This lemon pepper chicken with butter sauce is a simple recipe that’s ready in just 20 minutes! The perfect dinner for a busy weeknight.
When I need easy dinner recipes, I turn to classics such as Chicken Vesuvio, chicken adobo, stuffed green peppers, slow cooker chicken breast, and this zesty lemon pepper chicken.
I’m back with another chicken recipe – because really, is there ever such a thing as too many chicken recipes?! This lemon pepper chicken recipe is on the table in 20 minutes, perfect for those nights where you need dinner on the table ASAP. You probably already have all the ingredients in your pantry to make it tonight! Add an Italian salad and some roasted red potatoes for a memorable meal.
Table of Contents
Lemon Pepper Chicken Ingredients
To make this recipe you’ll need chicken breast, flour, lemon pepper seasoning, salt, olive oil, butter, lemon juice and parsley.
How Do You Make Lemon Pepper Chicken?
Star by mixing together flour, lemon pepper seasoning and salt. Coat both sides of the chicken breasts with flour, then cook them in a large skillet until they’re golden brown. Remove the chicken from the pan, then add butter and lemon juice to the pan. Place the chicken back in the skillet, then spoon the sauce over the top, sprinkle with parsley and serve. Garnish with lemon slices and parsley sprigs if desired.
Tips For The Perfect Dish
- All lemon pepper seasoning is not created equal. When I purchased my lemon pepper for this recipe, I read the ingredients of 4 different brands and they varied quite a bit. Some lemon pepper brands contain salt, others use citric acid instead of actual lemon peel, and some even use yellow food coloring! I recommend choosing one with a more natural ingredient list.
- I recommend using thin cut chicken breasts because they cook quicker and more evenly than thick chicken breasts. If you don’t have thin cut breasts, you can pound regular ones to a thinner consistency with a meat mallet.
- Leftover lemon pepper chicken will stay fresh in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
quick Tip
No fresh parsley on hand? Try using a different herb such as basil, thyme or chives.
Recipe FAQs
The sauce for this dish is made with drippings from the pan, lemon juice, and butter. The lemon pepper seasoning is added to the chicken coating rather than the sauce so that it’s evenly distributed and you get plenty of lemon pepper flavor in every bite.
Serve your chicken with a side of mashed red potatoes, rice pilaf or angel hair pasta. I also recommend vegetables such as sauteed asparagus, roasted broccoli or green beans almondine.
I do not recommend using a substitute such as lemon juice and pepper for lemon pepper seasoning. It will not have the same intensity of lemon flavor compared to lemon pepper seasoning, which uses dried lemon peel. You would need to use a lot of lemon juice to replicate the flavor, which could make the dish too acidic.
foLLOW ME
Flavor Variations
While this dish is great as-is, you can change up the ingredients to customize the flavors to your tastes.
- Protein: Instead of chicken breast, try thin cut pork chops, or fish fillets such as tilapia. You can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs if you pound them thin.
- Vegetables: Feel free to add veggies to the pan to cook after you remove the chicken. Some great options include onions, spinach, sun dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, or mushrooms.
- Flavorings: Amp up the flavor of the lemon sauce of this dish with dried Italian seasoning, minced garlic, a splash of heavy cream, garlic powder, onion powder, fresh lemon zest, or finish the dish off with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.
I’ve made this lemon pepper chicken countless times over the past few months, even my kids love it! I hope your family enjoys this dinner as much as we do.
More Chicken Recipes
Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
3 hrs 5 mins
Baked Bacon Ranch Chicken
50 mins
Firecracker Chicken
50 mins
Chicken Ranch Tacos
30 mins
Lemon Pepper Chicken Video
Love This Recipe?
Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.
Lemon Pepper Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 thin cut boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1/3 cup all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning or more to taste
- salt to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- sliced lemons and parsley sprigs optional garnish
Instructions
- Mix together the flour, lemon pepper seasoning and salt to taste. Pour the flour mixture onto a plate or into a shallow bowl.
- Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium high heat.
- Dredge the chicken breasts in the flour mixture, turning to coat evenly.
- Place the chicken in the pan and cook for 5-6 minutes per side or until done.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and place on a plate. Cover to keep warm.
- Melt the butter in the pan, and whisk in the lemon juice. Season with salt to taste.
- Place the chicken back in the pan. Spoon the sauce over the chicken.
- Sprinkle with parsley and serve, garnished with lemon slices and extra parsley sprigs if desired.
Notes
- All lemon pepper seasoning is not created equal. When I purchased my lemon pepper for this recipe, I read the ingredients of 4 different brands and they varied quite a bit. Some lemon pepper brands contain salt, others use citric acid instead of actual lemon peel, and some even use yellow food coloring! I recommend choosing one with a more natural ingredient list.
- I recommend using thin cut chicken breasts because they cook quicker and more evenly than thick chicken breasts. If you don’t have thin cut breasts, you can pound regular ones to a thinner consistency with a meat mallet.
This recipe is delicious. I sprinkled lemon pepper on the chicken before cooking. This recipe paired well with Knorr Pasta Sides/Butter and Herb.
Has anyone tried this with pasta noodles?
This was absolutely delicious! My super picky husband had seconds, and even asked me to pack him dinners for 2 days in a row to take to work. Wish we could’ve gotten the kids to try it! The prep was ridiculously simple. Only thing I did different – I marinated the chicken in a lemon/water mixture. Probably a little over 1/2 water, and the rest lemon juice. Came out sooo tender and delicious. Oh, and I didn’t have any parsley. That sauce really made it boy! I made it with rice and corn, and added the sauce to everything. So yummy! Thanks so much for the recipe!
I don’t have any parsley. Is there anything else I can use in it’s place, or would it hurt to cut completely?
Thanks
You can use other herbs or just omit it!
Very delis
This recipe was a smash hit in my home! My family loved it
This was great! I’m not the best at cooking any meat except for hamburger. And this was super easy and my family liked it a lot! It came out so moist which I’m so happy about because typically when I cook meat it always turns out dry! Lol. Thank you so much! I will definitely be making this again!
Made this twice in a weeks time. Full of flavor. Fresh lemon really brightens the chicken.
Can I use Almond flour
I’ve never tried it but I think it could work.
Hi I don’t have lemon pepper seasoning, what can I use?
The lemon pepper seasoning is the main flavoring agent in this recipe so there isn’t really a substitute. You could try a combination of salt, pepper and lemon zest for a similar effect.
What brand of lemon pepper seasoning do you use?
McCormick!
Do u make them both in same pan????? Clean after the chicken????
Yes you can use the same pan!
Can I use drumettes
That should be fine!
Can you do this with thick chicken breast as well?!
You can, it’ll just take longer to cook!
My boyfriend and I tried this last night and it was soo good! Will definitely be making this again!
My family loved this dish. It was fast and easy I would make this again. Do you have anymore recipes for chicken, I would like to try something different.
I have tons of chicken recipes, here’s a selection! https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/tag/chicken/
Can I use all butter if I do not have any oils to use ??
Yes that will work!
I had to find a quick “plan B” recipe and this was it! My husband and I both really liked it! I am cutting carbs anywhere I can so in place of the regular flour I used Coconut flour. We will have this again as a “plan A” recipe and I’ll double the butter lemon sauce next time. Thanks!!
So glad you liked it, thank you for reporting back!
Can you use cooking oil instead of olive oil?
Yes that’s fine!
What about butter ?? For it all if I don’t have cooking oil or any oil but vegetable oil
This dish was so simple and delicious! Tons of flavor, and the flour helped keep the chicken tender! Will make again!
Could you make this without the flour? For health purposes?
Yes you can omit the breading and simply sear the chicken.