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Some recipes are so simple, reliable, and delicious that they quietly become part of your regular dinner rotation. This Lemon Pepper Chicken is one of those recipes for me.
I first discovered it in Ellie Krieger’s Small Changes, Big Results, where she explains that she learned it from cookbook author and New York Times columnist Mark Bittman when he appeared on her television show. I love that story because it’s a reminder of how good recipes get passed from one cook to another.
So this recipe has traveled from Mark… to Ellie… to me… and now to you.
With just a handful of everyday ingredients—chicken, lemon, pepper, olive oil, and a little salt—you can have a flavorful, juicy chicken dinner on the table in about 20 minutes. It’s one of those recipes that’s just as good served with rice and broccoli as it is sliced over a big green salad.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Just 5 simple ingredients
- Ready in about 20 minutes
- Perfect for busy weeknights
- High in protein
- Easy to pair with almost any side dish
Ingredients & Notes
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts – Pounding them to an even thickness helps them cook evenly.
- Coarse salt – Enhances the natural flavor of the chicken.
- Freshly ground black pepper – The star seasoning in this recipe.
- Olive oil – Just enough to help the chicken brown beautifully.
- Fresh lemon juice – Added at the end for bright, fresh flavor.
How to Make this Easy Lemon Pepper Chicken
- Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness of about 1/2 inch.
- Pat the chicken breasts dry and season both sides with the salt and pepper.
- In a large nonstick skillet (affiliate link), heat the oil over medium high heat.
- Place the chicken in the pan and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, turning halfway through.
- Turn off the heat and pour the lemon juice over the chicken and serve.
Recipe Tips
- Pound the chicken to about ½-inch thick for the most even cooking.
- Don’t overcook the chicken. Remove it from the heat as soon as it reaches 165°F.
- Pour the lemon juice over the chicken after cooking so it stays bright and fresh rather than becoming bitter.
Serving Suggestions
Serve with:
- Brown or white rice
- Steamed broccoli
- Sautéed spinach
- Roasted vegetables
- A crisp green salad
Storage
Refrigerate leftovers for up to 4 days. The chicken is delicious sliced over salads, tucked into wraps, or added to grain bowls for easy lunches.
How Many Calories and WW Points?
According to my calculations, each lemon pepper chicken breast has about 160 calories and 1 WW Point.
To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
(You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
4 PointsPlus (Old plan)
If you’ve made this Easy Lemon Pepper Chicken, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
Easy Lemon Pepper Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts (4 to 5 ounces each)
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness of about 1/2 inch.
- Pat the chicken breasts dry and season both sides with the salt and pepper.
- In a large nonstick skillet (affiliate link), heat the oil over medium high heat.
- Place the chicken in the pan and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, turning halfway through.
- Turn off the heat and pour the lemon juice over the chicken and serve.
Notes
(Must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.) 4 PointsPlus (Old plan) You can also use lemon pepper seasoning instead of the black pepper, which is what I did the last time I made them.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Source: Small Changes, Big Results: A 12-Week Action Plan to a Better Life from Ellie Krieger
For the chicken part of the recipe. It says canned roasted tomatoes but under instructions it says sundried tomatoes. Which is correct, canned roasted or sundried (not talking about the noodle part, I know that’s sundried)?
Regards: Moses Brodin
I think the size of chicken breasts has changed dramatically since Julia Child’s day, which could account for some of her shorter cook time.
Do you have any instant pot recipes that are WW friendly?
Thank you
For 1 WW Freestyle SmartPoint, that is a VERY filling meal.
Thank you, this will get added to my weekly rotation