Description
Lemon Pepper Chicken delivers a zesty dinner that will make your taste buds dance with excitement. Crispy, juicy chicken seasoned with tangy lemon and spicy pepper creates an easy weeknight meal anyone can master.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1.5 pounds boneless chicken breasts or thighs
Citrus Components:
- 2 medium lemons
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 2 teaspoons freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 cloves garlic
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) olive oil
Instructions
- Craft a zesty marinade by whisking ¼ cup olive oil, juice from 2 medium lemons, 3 minced garlic cloves, 2 teaspoons freshly cracked black pepper, and 1 teaspoon salt in a mixing bowl.
- Transfer 1.5 pounds of chicken breasts or thighs into a resealable plastic bag, then pour the vibrant marinade over the meat, massaging to ensure complete coverage.
- Refrigerate the chicken for a minimum of 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to penetrate deeply. For maximum taste, marinate up to 8 hours.
- Heat your grill or oven to 400°F, preparing for direct cooking of the marinated chicken.
- Arrange the chicken on the hot grill or baking sheet, cooking for 6-8 minutes per side on the grill or 20-25 minutes in the oven.
- Verify the chicken has reached a safe internal temperature of 165°F using a meat thermometer.
- Remove the chicken from heat and let it rest for 5 minutes, allowing juices to redistribute and ensure maximum tenderness.
- Slice the chicken against the grain and serve immediately while warm.
Notes
- Use fresh lemon juice for the brightest, most vibrant flavor in your marinade.
- For extra tenderness, marinate the chicken overnight in the refrigerator to let the acids fully penetrate the meat.
- When grilling, pat the chicken dry before cooking to ensure a nice sear and prevent steaming.
- For a gluten-free version, verify that all marinade ingredients are certified gluten-free and use tamari instead of traditional soy sauce if needed.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 215 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8.6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg