Textual Chef Textual Chef

Pan Fried Lemon Pepper Chicken Breast

This recipe features tender, juicy chicken breasts with a crispy, golden exterior, infused with bright lemon and savory pepper flavors. A quick pan sauce adds moisture and enhances the overall taste.

30 minEasyServes 4400 cal/serving

AmericanDinnerStovetopStandardHigh ProteinLow CarbGluten-FreeDairy-FreeNut-FreeLow-SodiumAlcohol-Free

Cook this free in the appFree. No download, no account. The screen stays awake and each step can run its own timer.

Ingredients

  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded thin
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 tsp lemon zest
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. 1

    Pound 1.5 lbs pounded thin boneless, skinless chicken breasts to 1/2-inch thickness. Pat them thoroughly dry with paper towels.

  2. 2

    In a shallow dish, combine 2 tbsp cornstarch, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, and 1/2 tsp onion powder. Dredge chicken in the mixture, ensuring they are evenly coated and shaking off any excess.

  3. 3

    Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.

  4. 4

    Add chicken to the hot skillet, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan. Cook for 4-6 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). You may need to cook in batches.

  5. 5

    Remove cooked chicken from the skillet and set aside on a plate. Tent loosely with foil to keep warm.

  6. 6

    Deglaze the skillet with 1/2 cup chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Stir in 2 tbsp lemon juice and 2 tsp lemon zest. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook for 1 minute to slightly reduce.

  7. 7

    Pour the warm pan sauce over the rested chicken. Garnish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley and serve immediately.

Cook this free in the appCooking it now? The app keeps the screen awake and times each step. Free, nothing to install.

Keep this recipe

Prints the ingredients and method only.

The American Kitchen 30 recipes from this kitchen in one printable PDF. $5, no account.

Questions

What internal temperature should Pan Fried Lemon Pepper Chicken Breast reach?

For Pan Fried Lemon Pepper Chicken Breast, the target internal temperature is 165 F (about 75 C), given in step 4. A probe thermometer removes the guesswork.

What does deglazing do in Pan Fried Lemon Pepper Chicken Breast?

Step 6 reads: "Deglaze the skillet with 1/2 cup chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon." The browned bits stuck to the pan are concentrated flavor. The liquid in step 6 dissolves them into the sauce; scrape the bottom as it bubbles.

Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts in Pan Fried Lemon Pepper Chicken Breast?

Yes. Boneless thighs at the same weight are more forgiving and stay juicier. Give them two to four minutes longer; they are at their best around 175 F rather than 165 F. As written, the entry for Pan Fried Lemon Pepper Chicken Breast uses 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded thin.

Is Pan Fried Lemon Pepper Chicken Breast keto-friendly?

A serving of Pan Fried Lemon Pepper Chicken Breast carries 3 g of carbohydrate, 1 g of it fiber. Against a strict 20 g keto day that is 15 percent of the budget; against a moderate 100 g low-carb day it is 3 percent.

How many calories are in Pan Fried Lemon Pepper Chicken Breast?

One serving (the recipe makes 4) is about 400 calories, with 44 g protein, 3 g carbohydrate and 14 g fat, plus 1 g fiber and 176 mg sodium. The figures are estimates computed from the ingredient list.

Serve it with

Cook this free in the app

Textual Chef is 4,701 plain-text recipes, free to read and free to cook from. No account, no paywall, no life stories. Open this one in the app and each quantity sits inside the step that uses it, so you read once and cook.

Every recipe is curated or public-domain sourced, written to one template and checked before it publishes. Nothing here is a scraped blog post.

Cook this free in the appNo download needed. It opens in your browser. The kitchen tools (planner, shopping list, pantry, import) are $5.33 a month billed annually; the first 30 days are free.