Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken
on Sep 07, 2022, Updated Apr 14, 2025
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If you think chicken breasts are boring, think again! This Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken is full of savory, tart, peppery flavor and bakes in an amazing shallot lemon butter sauce. It’s a quick and easy dinner that can be on the table in 30 minutes!
If you love one pan lemon chicken recipes, try making this Greek Lemon Chicken and Rice!
Why I love this chicken
One pan dinner – I love an easy weeknight dinner especially when it’s all made in one pan. If you’re like me and hate doing dishes then you’ll appreciate that this baked lemon pepper chicken recipe is made in just one skillet.
The sauce – The lemon butter shallot sauce is rich, tart, and the best part is, it takes no effort on your part to make. It thickens and comes together as the chicken bakes in the oven.
Minimal ingredients – For a chicken dinner that has so much flavor, you don’t need a ton of ingredients to make it, and you probably already have most of them!
What is lemon pepper seasoning?
Lemon pepper seasoning is simply granulated lemon zest and cracked black peppercorns. The citrus oil from the lemon infuses with the pepper and then they are baked and dried. It’s a wonderful seasoning to use on baked or sauteed chicken, roasted chicken, or fish.
Ingredients you’ll need
- Chicken breasts – Look for chicken breasts that are similar in thickness so they cook evenly. You can also use chicken thighs.
- Lemon pepper seasoning – Found at most grocery stores in the spice aisle or you can make your own.
- Italian herb seasoning – not traditional, but I love the addition of the dried oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary.
- Garlic powder – I like using garlic powder so it doesn’t burn in the oven like minced garlic has a tendency to do.
- Olive oil – Used to quickly sauté the chicken breasts.
- Kosher salt – Don’t forget to salt the chicken and the sauce. I generally use 3/4 teaspoon of kosher salt per pound of chicken, but use what’s best for you. Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt is my favorite brand and what I use.
- Unsalted butter – gives the sauce a rich flavor.
- Shallot – shallot has a milder and sweeter flavor than yellow onion and works best in this sauce.
- Lemon – Lemon slices are placed into the sauce and the lemon juice will be released as the chicken bakes in the oven
- Parsley – I generally like to finish my recipes with a sprinkling of chopped fresh herbs on top. Flat leaf parsley is the perfect accompaniment to the lemon.
How to Bake Lemon Pepper Chicken
Preheat your oven to start. You’ll want it to be ready to go as soon as the chicken is seared. In a small bowl combine the dry spices along with salt if your lemon pepper seasoning is salt free.
Sprinkle the dry rub all over the chicken, using your hands to pat it in well. Heat a little oil in a large oven safe skillet over medium-high heat. I like to use avocado oil or olive oil.
Place the chicken breasts into the skillet being careful not to crowd them. If there isn’t enough room, they’ll steam rather than sear. Let them cook for 2-3 minutes and then flip them over.
Add the butter, shallots, and chicken broth into the skillet. Make sure it gets nestled down in between the chicken. Place the lemon slices into the skillet and then put the skillet in the oven and let the chicken bake for 10-12 minutes. The cook time will vary depending on the thickness of the chicken. The internal temperature of chicken should be 165° F.
Remove the skillet from the oven and spoon some of the sauce over the tops of the chicken breasts. Garnish with chopped flat leaf parsley and serve. Check out my suggestions for what to serve with it below.
Pro Tips
- Pound out the thick end of your chicken breasts so they cook evenly.
- Use a skillet that’s large enough so there’s space in between the chicken breasts. This will allow them to get a nice sear.
- Use a meat thermometer to test whether or not the chicken is cooked through. The internal temperature of cooked chicken should be 165° F.
What to serve with it
- Rice or quinoa – For extra lemon pepper flavor, add some of the seasoning to the rice or quinoa.
- Serve it on top of pasta. Fettuccini would be delicious as would egg noodles.
- This summer quinoa salad has a lemon vinaigrette that would pair great with the chicken.
- For a lower carb side dish try spaghetti squash with feta and herbs.
Did you make this Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken? I’d love if you’d leave a recipe rating and review below.
Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt to taste
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1 shallot finely chopped about 1/3 cup
- 1/3 -1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 1 lemon thinly sliced
- Garnish with chopped flat leaf parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425° F. In a small bowl whisk together the lemon pepper seasoning, Italian seasoning, garlic powder and salt. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the chicken coating all sides of it.
- In a large skillet heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. When the skillet is hot place the chicken breasts in being careful not to crowd them. Sear the chicken for 2-3 minutes and then flip it over.
- Add in the butter, shallots, and chicken broth. Be sure the ingredients are in the bottom of the pan. Add in the slices of lemon and then place the skillet into the oven. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165° F.
- Remove the skillet from the oven and spoon some of the sauce on top of the chicken breasts. Garnish with chopped flat leaf parsley and serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Just made this and loved it! It was the perfect combination of easy, yummy, and quick. The lemon flavor really came through! My pan couldn’t go in the oven, so I just transferred everything to a glass baking dish and it worked fine. Thank you for sharing this recipe! I will for sure make it again, maybe even for guests next time. :)