Lemon Pepper Chicken Rice (Print)

Juicy lemon pepper chicken paired with fluffy rice for a bright, comforting main dish.

# Components:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
04 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
05 - Zest of 1 lemon
06 - Juice of 1 lemon
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Rice

08 - 1 cup long-grain white rice
09 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth or water
10 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Garnish

12 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
13 - Lemon slices

# Directions:

01 - Heat the oven to 400°F.
02 - Pat chicken breasts dry. Combine olive oil, black pepper, kosher salt, lemon zest, lemon juice, and minced garlic in a small bowl.
03 - Rub the seasoning mixture evenly over both sides of each chicken breast.
04 - Heat a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat and sear chicken breasts for 2 minutes per side until golden brown.
05 - Transfer skillet to oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
06 - Rinse the rice under cold water until clear. Bring chicken broth or water and butter to a boil in a saucepan.
07 - Add rice and salt to boiling liquid, stir once, cover, reduce heat to low, and cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
08 - Serve chicken breasts over the rice. Garnish with chopped parsley and lemon slices as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Simple ingredients create bold, fresh flavors
  • Ready in under 1 hour for a convenient weeknight main dish
02 -
  • For extra flavor, you can marinate the chicken up to 2 hours in advance.
  • This recipe is gluten-free if you use gluten-free certified chicken broth. Always check product labels.
03 -
  • Let the chicken rest a few minutes before slicing for maximum juiciness.
  • Swap brown rice for additional nutrition; increase liquid and cook time accordingly.
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