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Lemon Pepper Chicken

Lemon pepper chicken with a golden seared crust and a bright lemon butter sauce. Chicken breasts are pan-seared until golden and finished with a zesty, shimmering sauce with visible lemon zest and cracked black pepper.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 tbsp lemon zest
  • 2 tsp cracked black pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
Lemon butter sauce
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 1 garlic, minced
  • 1 fresh parsley for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Season the chicken
  1. Mix lemon zest, cracked black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt; rub generously over both sides of each chicken breast.
Sear and cook through
  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sear chicken for 5-6 minutes per side until golden and the internal temperature reaches 165°F; remove to a plate.
Make the lemon butter sauce
  1. Melt butter in the same pan over medium heat, then add garlic and cook for 1 minute while stirring to keep it fragrant.
  2. Stir in fresh lemon juice and lemon zest and simmer for 1 minute until the sauce looks glossy and lightly bubbling around the edges.
Finish and serve
  1. Return chicken to the pan and spoon lemon butter sauce over each breast, coating the golden crust.
  2. Garnish with fresh parsley and lemon slices and serve immediately.

Notes

Pro tip: Pat the chicken dry before seasoning so the lemon pepper blend forms a better golden crust in the skillet. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days; reheat gently in a skillet over medium-low until warmed through. Freezing is not recommended because the lemon butter sauce can separate when thawed. For a lower-fat option, use light butter in the sauce while keeping the lemon zest and black pepper the same for bold flavor.