Description
Lemon Pepper Chicken Cutlets bring zesty tang and peppery kick right to your dinner plate. Crispy, tender cutlets come together in minutes with simple pantry ingredients that make weeknight cooking a breeze.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 chicken breasts
Seasoning:
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
Liquid Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Flatten 4 chicken breasts to ½-inch thickness using a meat mallet, ensuring even cooking.
- Whisk 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon lemon zest, 1 teaspoon black pepper, and 1 teaspoon salt in a small bowl to create a vibrant marinade.
- Coat each chicken breast thoroughly in the marinade, then refrigerate for 30 minutes to enhance flavor penetration.
- Place a large skillet over medium heat and warm 2 tablespoons olive oil until it shimmers slightly.
- Carefully lay marinated chicken cutlets into the hot skillet, allowing each piece to sizzle without overcrowding.
- Cook chicken for 5-6 minutes on the first side until golden brown edges appear and bottom develops a nice crust.
- Flip cutlets and continue cooking for an additional 5-6 minutes, ensuring internal temperature reaches 165°F at the thickest part.
- Transfer chicken to a clean plate and let rest for 3 minutes to allow juices to redistribute before serving.
Notes
- Pounding chicken to an even thickness helps the meat cook uniformly and prevents dry or undercooked spots.
- Let the chicken marinate longer for deeper lemon and pepper flavor, up to 2 hours in the refrigerator.
- For a gluten-free version, skip any flour coating and simply season the chicken directly with the lemon-pepper mixture.
- A cast-iron skillet works best for achieving a golden-brown crust and locking in the chicken’s moisture.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-14 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 210 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 575 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg