Lemon Pepper Baked Chicken

Perfectly cooked lemon pepper chicken baked in the oven in the best zesty lemony sauce. It’s got a juicy tender center, the most flavorful taste, and ready in 30 minutes!

Why this baked lemon pepper chicken works?

• Easy to make with a prep time as little as 5 minutes!
• Everything is made in one baking dish, keeping this healthy meal light and simple!
• Lemon pepper chicken has robust herb flavor and a juicy center that is perfectly cooked using a meat thermometer to ensure food safety.
• This chicken breast recipe caters to most diets as it is whole 30, keto, gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free (use dairy-free butter), and nut-free.

Recipe ingredients

All you need for the best lemon pepper chicken are 4 ingredients and a meat thermometer:

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts – depending on the size of the chicken breast, some packages go by weight. If they come in a pack of 3 some are larger breasts, which can be pounded down and served as two after baking.
• butter or ghee – for a dairy-free version we love using an avocado oil-based butter as well.
• fresh lemon juice – freshly squeezed citrus juice ramps up the flavor here! Try using fresh, or fresh squeezed juice from a container that is not from concentrate.
• lemon pepper seasoning with salt – this can be found in the seafood section at grocery stores.

How to make this easy lemon pepper baked chicken?

This one-pan chicken recipe is made in a baking dish where you do not need extra dishes for mixing the marinade.
Baked chicken is so easy and bursting with so much flavor!

STEP 1: Heat the oven on broil and make the marinade.

STEP 2: In the baking dish stir together the melted butter, lemon juice, lemon pepper seasoning, and thyme.

STEP 3: Using a fork to handle, dip the chicken in the mixture and flip to coat both sides.

STEP 4: Broil the chicken for 5 minutes per side, turning once.
Reduce the heat to 350 degrees F and bake the chicken for 15 minutes,
or until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165 degrees F.

Expert Tips

My chicken breasts are different sizes, so will they cook the same?

Make sure all the chicken breasts are about the same thickness, so they cook evenly. If your chicken breast is extra thick, or one is thicker than the others, use a meat tenderizer to beat it to a thinner piece. To do so add the chicken to a sealable plastic bag and using a meat tenderizer beat it until it is thinner then transfer it to the baking dish. Never use the meat tenderizer while the chicken is in a glass bowl or baking dish.

What is the secret to cooking chicken breasts perfectly every time?

Make sure to use a ChefsTemp thermometer to check that the chicken reaches 165 degrees F to ensure the chicken is cooked through and for food safety. If it has not reached the temperature, cook it for 5 minutes longer and check again.

The best thing about this thermometer is it is accurate, digital, reads instantly, is quick (look at how it shows the air temp in the room!), waterproof, and easy to keep clean. This method is the key to making sure food is cooked to a temperature that kills bacteria that causes food born illness, without over cooking and drying out the meat. Get in the habit of using a meat thermometer and you’ll have perfect meat every time! Place the thermometer into the thickest part of the breast, checking the temperatures of this location. After chicken is removed from the heat, the internal temperature will rise 5⁰F-10⁰F in the first few minutes it is removed from the oven, so make sure to check it is right around 165 degrees F. For more information, please refer to our meat cooking chart.

Lemon Pepper Baked Chicken

Servings: 4

Prep: 5 minutes

Cook time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons butter, ghee, or nondairy butter – melted

3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 tablespoons lemon pepper seasoning with salt

1 tablespoon fresh thyme, plus more for garnish

4 (6 ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to broil.
2. In a 9-inch baking dish, stir together the melted butter, lemon juice, lemon pepper seasoning, and thyme.
3. Dip the chicken in the mixture and flip to coat both sides.
4. Broil the chicken for 5 minutes per side, turning once. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees F and bake the chicken for 15 minutes, or until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165 degrees F.