Description
Creamy Lemon Pepper Chicken is a quick and easy dish featuring tender chicken breasts cooked to golden perfection and served in a luscious lemon-infused cream sauce with freshly cracked black pepper. This recipe offers a bright, zesty twist on classic comfort food, perfect for busy weeknight dinners or meal prep, and pairs beautifully with pasta, rice, or vegetables.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Season the chicken breasts generously with salt and freshly cracked black pepper on both sides to ensure each bite is perfectly flavored.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil and butter together in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook until golden brown and cooked through, approximately 5-6 minutes per side depending on thickness. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside, keeping warm.
- Make the Creamy Lemon Pepper Sauce: Reduce heat to medium and add the minced garlic to the same skillet. Sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in fresh lemon juice and lemon zest, scraping up any browned bits from the pan for added flavor. Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese, whisking constantly until the sauce thickens and becomes luscious.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Return the chicken breasts to the skillet, spooning the creamy lemon pepper sauce over them. Let everything simmer together for a couple of minutes so the chicken absorbs the flavors and stays juicy.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the dish for a bright, fresh finish. Serve immediately with your favorite side dishes to enjoy the full taste and texture experience.
Notes
- Use fresh lemon juice and freshly cracked black pepper for the most vibrant flavor.
- Do not overcook the chicken to keep it tender and juicy.
- Let the chicken rest a few minutes after cooking to lock in the juices.
- Use a heavy skillet like cast iron or stainless steel for the best sear.
- Adjust sauce thickness by simmering longer to thicken or adding a splash of chicken broth or milk for thinning.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Searing/Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg