These Lemon Pepper Chicken Breasts are easy to make on a weeknight and sooo delicious and ridiculously juicy! I never liked baked chicken breasts before, but this recipe truly delivers. They're tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned. Love serving these with some simple vegetables and rice.
Looking for more easy chicken recipes? Try my Baked Chicken Thighs or Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs next!
About This Recipe
These lemon pepper chicken breasts are my favorite recipe when chicken breasts go on sale. It's an easy way to prepare them, and you can easily double or triple the recipe if you want to make a bigger batch. The secret for juiciness is all in the timing.
The truth is... every chicken breast recipe has the potential to be extremely juicy and tender. It all depends on whether you pull the chicken out at the right time. You want to pull the chicken out at around 150°F. This is when the meat is cooked safely and the meat is still juicy.
The FDA recommends 165°F, but that is when salmonella is INSTANTLY killed. If you pull out chicken at 150°F and let it rest for a few minutes, it's just as safe as chicken that was cooked to 165°F. The reason is because salmonella dies at 150°F, but just at a slower rate than 165°F.
Key Ingredients
Chicken breasts: I ended up using 5 chicken breasts instead of 4 because my family pack of breasts came with an extra one.
Olive oil: Helps the spices cling to the chicken. Oil is also a good conductor of heat, so they'll cook more evenly.
Lemon juice: Freshly squeezed for the best flavor. Acid also tenderizes meat.
Lemon pepper seasoning: I use store-bought lemon pepper seasoning. It is a mixture of lemon zest, black pepper, and other seasonings (usually some garlic and onion).
Garlic powder: I like adding extra garlic powder.
Salt: Of course, we need some salt. This will flavor the meat and also make it juicier.
Instructions
STEP 1: To a large bowl, add the chicken breasts, olive oil, lemon juice, and spices. Massage all over the chicken. Allow to marinate for 15 minutes (but ideally a few hours)
STEP 2: Place the chicken breasts on the prepared baking sheet with some space between.
STEP 3: Bake for about 18-22 minutes, or until chicken reaches 150°F on an instant-read thermometer. Rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing.
Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
- 4 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- To a large bowl, add the chicken breasts, olive oil, lemon juice, and spices. Massage all over the chicken. Allow to marinate for 15 minutes (but ideally a few hours).
- Place the chicken breasts on the prepared baking sheet with some space between.
- Bake for about 18-22 minutes, or until chicken reaches 150°F on an instant-read thermometer. Rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing.
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