Sauteed Lemon Pepper Hen (30 Minute Meal!)

Repeat after me: hen breast doesn’t should be dry and boring! There are such a lot of straightforward methods to rework it right into a flavorful, appetizing dish—similar to this straightforward Sauteed Lemon Pepper Hen! I sear the hen till tender and juicy. To essentially up the flavour, I cowl it with a sauce that mixes all of the goodness of lemon pepper seasoning, garlic, and butter in a single.

I really like how the zesty and vibrant taste of lemon balances all the pieces. And are available on, garlic and butter style nice with something hen! You too can make the sauce richer by including cream, plus an additional kick of spice with some purple pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.

The perfect half? This straightforward lemon pepper hen breast recipe is a wholesome and hearty dish wealthy in protein. It is so easy to make—you should utilize only one skillet! It is the best dish to make throughout busy weeknights, so don’t overlook so as to add this to your weekly rotation.

Check out different yummy hen recipes like my Greek Yogurt Parmesan Chicken, Chicken Stir Fry, and Grilled Chicken Fajitas!

Why You’ll Love Cooking Lemon Pepper Hen

This is why this lemon pepper hen recipe will probably be your favourite method to prepare dinner hen:

• Wholesome selection: Hen breast is a lean supply of protein that’s additionally very versatile within the kitchen. You’ll be able to sear, bake, broil, or air fry it and even improve it with all kinds of seasonings and sauces.
• Fast and flavorful: In just below half-hour, you possibly can create a flavorful and juicy hen meal for the entire household! The lemon pepper seasoning provides it a vibrant and tart taste that enhances the richness of butter and garlic within the sauce.
• Nice for pairing: Serve it with pasta, white rice, or roasted greens like asparagus and broccoli to create an entire meal.

Lemon pepper is such an underrated seasoning! It will also be used for different seafood dishes, like Lemon Pepper Salmon, Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken, and Lemon Pepper Tilapia.

Elements and Simple Swaps

This is all the pieces you’ll want to make this lemon & pepper hen:

• Hen: I like utilizing boneless and skinless hen breasts for this recipe as a result of they’re simpler to prepare dinner. Minimize the hen into smaller items and flatten as wanted. You too can use a special lower of hen, like thighs and wings, for this recipe, however these will simply take a bit longer to prepare dinner, particularly bone-in ones. It additionally works with pork. shrimp, and fish.
• Flour: That is the bottom for the coating and you should utilize all-purpose, white entire wheat, or another gluten-free flour. Cornstarch will also be used or blended with flour.
• Lemon pepper seasoning: The spotlight of the dish! Be beneficiant in seasoning the flour with this to essentially coat the hen cutlets with all its zesty goodness. You should utilize both store-bought or homemade lemon pepper seasoning.
• Crimson pepper flakes: If you would like some warmth in your hen, add purple pepper flakes, scorching paprika, cayenne pepper, or chili powder.
• Olive oil: I prefer to sear the hen with olive oil. You should utilize any oil you favor or swap in butter.
• Lemon pepper sauce: Mix butter and minced garlic in the identical pan the place you cooked the hen, then add hen broth to totally incorporate all of the goodness left within the pan. After all, squeeze in some recent lemon slices so as to add acidity to the sauce. You even have the choice so as to add heavy cream to make it richer and creamier.

What’s lemon pepper seasoning?

Lemon pepper seasoning is an easy however sturdy spice mix made with dried lemon zest and black pepper. This mix provides a zesty, tangy, and barely spicy taste that enhances the style of hen, seafood, and even greens.

You’ll be able to make your own lemon pepper seasoning at house, however store-bought ones are additionally good. Simply search for one with actual lemon zest, black pepper, minimal preservatives, and synthetic taste enhancers. Additionally at all times verify to see if the seasoning has salt and regulate your recipe as wanted.

Make Lemon Pepper Hen

Belief me, this will probably be your go-to recipe for hen dinners! Right here’s how one can make it in simply half an hour, together with prep time:

1. Prep the coating and hen: Mix flour, lemon pepper seasoning, and purple pepper flakes in a small bowl. Minimize the hen into one-inch chunks, guaranteeing they’re near the identical measurement in order that they prepare dinner evenly.
2. Coat the hen: Pat the hen dry with paper towels to assist the coating adhere higher. Toss the hen items within the flour combination till they’re effectively coated.
3. Sear the hen: Warmth the olive oil in a big skillet over medium-high warmth. Add the hen in a single layer and prepare dinner for 4-5 minutes till golden brown. Don’t overcrowd the skillet for higher browning. Flip and prepare dinner for 3-4 minutes till absolutely cooked and golden brown on each side. Take away and put aside, tenting with foil to maintain heat.
4. Make the sauce: Flip the warmth all the way down to medium-low. Add the butter and garlic to the skillet and prepare dinner for about 1 minute till good and aromatic. Then, pour within the hen broth, scraping up any browned bits from the underside of the pan. Deliver to a simmer and prepare dinner for 4-6 minutes till it thickens. Flip off the warmth.
5. End the sauce: Stir in recent lemon juice and chopped parsley. For those who’re utilizing heavy cream, gently combine it into the sauce. Style and season as wanted. Add a touch of purple pepper flakes for some warmth.
6. Serve: Plate the hen and drizzle the sauce excessive. Garnish with further parsley or lemon slices. For a balanced meal, get pleasure from it with sides like steamed greens, rice, or a recent salad.

Recipe Variations

Cooking is all about experimenting and attempting out new issues! Listed here are some variations you are able to do to make this lemon pepper hen recipe your personal:

• Make it a sheet pan meal: As a substitute of searing the hen, unfold it out on a sheet pan and bake at 425 levels for 10-Quarter-hour till coked via and golden brown. This is also completed within the air fryer. Then make the sauce in a small pan and drizzle the crispy hen with the sauce to serve.
• Change up the sauce: A straightforward method to tweak this recipe is to mess around with the sauce. Incorporate heavy cream into the sauce to make creamy lemon pepper hen, or add honey to provide it a candy twist! Be at liberty so as to add some Parmesan cheese, too.
• Incorporate greens: Make this dish extra filling and pack it with extra vitamins by including some veggies. After sauteing the hen, saute some zucchini, broccoli, asparagus, inexperienced beans, or cauliflower in the identical pan. Put aside after which make the sauce. Or for a better choice, merely wilt some spinach into the sauce proper earlier than serving.
• Add extra taste: For much more taste, think about including some sundried tomatoes, capers, artichoke hearts, olives, or roasted purple peppers to the dish. Simply watch the salt, to verify it doesn’t finish as much as salty.

Recipe Ideas and Tips

Simply if you thought this lemon pepper hen recipe couldn’t get any higher, it nonetheless can! Observe these tricks to make the most effective lemon pepper hen:

• Use thinly sliced hen breast to make sure it cooks via and evenly with out drying out. You’ll be able to break up the thicker slices in half and pound them into an excellent thickness of about ¼ inch.
• If in case you have time, marinate the hen first with lemon pepper seasoning earlier than coating it to lock in additional taste.
• Select a high quality lemon pepper seasoning for those who’re shopping for from the shop. The extra pure the substances, the higher. Additionally, take notice if the one you’ll use already has salt to keep away from over seasoning.
• Do not overcrowd the pan whereas cooking the hen items to make sure even browning. For larger servings, prepare dinner in batches or use an even bigger pan.
• Make a white wine discount sauce by including white wine to the unique pan sauce. This elevates the dish by so much and provides a little bit of luxurious, making it excellent to serve for particular events like date nights.

What to Serve with Lemon Pepper Hen

Lemon pepper hen is so mild and balanced, which makes it really easy to pair with all kinds of scrumptious sides. Listed here are some concepts:

Storage and Reheating

When storing leftovers, ensure that to get all of the remaining lemon pepper hen sauce from the pan. Don’t pass over all of the goodness in there!

• To retailer: Put leftovers in an hermetic container and retailer within the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
• To freeze: Freeze for as much as three months so long as it’s in a freezer-safe container.
• To reheat: If frozen, thaw the leftovers within the fridge in a single day first. You’ll be able to both heat it within the microwave or reheat on a stovetop in a skillet.