Lemon-Pepper Chicken Skillet

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-16 · Updated 2026-05-16

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A bright and zesty chicken skillet infused with fresh lemon and cracked black pepper, perfect for a fun and easy weeknight dinner. This chicken recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs boneless skinless chicken breasts, olive oil, lemon zest for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 International cuisine 280 cal/serving

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Ingredients

4 pieces (6 oz each) boneless skinless chicken breasts
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp lemon zest
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp cracked black pepper
3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat dry 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (6 oz each) and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp cracked black pepper.
Step 2: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chicken breasts and sear for 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165°F.
Step 3: Reduce heat to medium, add 3 minced garlic cloves and 1 tbsp lemon zest to the skillet, stirring for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Step 4: Pour in 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice and toss chicken in the sauce, cooking for another 2 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the chicken.
Step 5: Remove from heat and sprinkle with 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley before serving warm.