It's so easy to make the most flavorful Lemon Pepper Chicken on the stovetop with this delicious recipe! It only takes 20 minutes to make, and after just one bite, you'll fall in love with the zesty flavors of this simple chicken recipe, perfect for a busy weeknight meal.
Slice two large chicken breasts through the middle, so you have 4 pieces of chicken.
In a shallow bowl, combine the flour and 2 tablespoons lemon pepper seasoning. Dredge each piece of chicken in the seasoned flour until they're fully coated.
Heat 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large skillet on the stove over medium-high heat.
Once the butter has melted, and the skillet is hot, add the chicken and cook for 4-5 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set it aside on a clean plate or cutting board.
Add the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter to the skillet, once melted, add the minced garlic and cook for 30-60 seconds.
Add the chicken broth, lemon juice and remaining 1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning, stir to combine, making sure to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.
Simmer the pan sauce for 3-4 minutes, then add the chicken back to the skillet and continue cooking the chicken for 1-2 minutes per side.
Remove the skillet from the heat and optionally garnish the chicken with fresh chopped parsley and lemon zest before serving.
Notes
Do not add the chicken to the pan until it’s hot! If you add the chicken to the pan when it’s cold, it will not sear on the outside and get the beautiful brown crust that we’re looking for. It also won’t cook fully in 5 minutes on each side.
I always recommend using an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken to make sure it reaches 165°F in the thickest part of the breast. Since chicken breast sizes vary greatly, it might take 1-2 more minutes on each side to cook the chicken breast fully. Be sure the chicken breasts are fully cooked before making the pan sauce. They will only get heated up in the pan sauce later. They will not cook further.
To make this recipe gluten free, replace the flour with cornstarch, or an all-purpose gluten free flour blend.
Store leftover lemon pepper chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I recommend reheating the chicken in a pan on the stove with a little bit of olive oil, over medium heat for 2-3 minutes per side, or until heated through. You can also eat the leftovers cold, this is perfect for topping a salad for an easy meal.