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–+ servings
A rice bowl topped with sliced lemon pepper chicken and steamed bok choy. The chicken is golden and caramelized, garnished with sesame seeds for added crunch.
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Lemon Pepper Chicken

This Lemon Pepper Chicken is simple enough for a weeknight but flavorful enough to feel special because of its complex and bright flavor profiles. A quick marinade is thrown together on top of chicken thighs and quickly pan seared that gives you a tasty and realistic weeknight dinner.
Watch me make Lemon Pepper Chicken
Prep Time2 minutes
Cook Time8 minutes
Marinating Time15 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Comfort Food, Dinner, Lunch, Meal Prep
Cuisine: American, Asian, Chinese, Taiwan, Taiwanese
Keyword: After Work Dinner, Asian Lemon Chicken, Easy Chicken Marinade, Easy Chicken Recipe, Easy Lemon Chicken, Easy Weeknight Chicken, Easy Weeknight Dinner, Juicy Chicken Thighs, Lemon Garlic Chicken, Lemon Pepper Chicken, Pan Seared Chicken Thighs, Pan Seared Thighs, Quick Chicken Dinner, Savory Chicken Thighs, Simple Chicken Marinade, Weeknight Chicken Recipe, Zesty Chicken Recipe
Servings: 2 servings

Equipment

Ingredients

Chicken & Marinade

  • 16 oz boneless skinless chicken thighs see note 1
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tsp cornstarch
  • ½ tsp freshly cracked black pepper

Optional Garnishes

  • Steamed greens
  • Sesame seeds

Instructions

  • Place chicken thighs in a bowl and marinate with soy sauce, sesame oil, lemon juice, garlic, cornstarch, and black pepper for 15 minutes.
  • Heat a pan with a little oil and sear the chicken for about 4 minutes per side, until golden and cooked through. Remove and let rest briefly.
  • Slice the chicken into thin strips and serve over a fresh bowl of rice. Optionally add steamed greens and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Notes

(1) I personally use chicken thighs because of they are more tender, but thin-cut chicken breasts and chicken legs also work just as well!

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 285kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 14g