Carrots & Cookies

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home Recipes Dinner

    Easy Lemon Pepper Chicken Marinade

    Modified: Jan 26, 2022 · Published: Jun 1, 2020 by Kristi Ruth RD · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    ↓ Jump to Recipe

    Make this delicious and super easy Lemon Pepper Chicken Marinade with 5 ingredients in 5 minutes! This is my absolute favorite marinade and number one 'go to' recipe for chicken on busy weeknights and for summertime picnics! It's a recipe everyone loves!

    Cooked Lemon Pepper Chicken on a white plate.

    Talk about next level flavor! You have no idea how delicious the combination of lemon pepper, garlic, and soy sauce is! As a bonus, this marinated lemon pepper chicken tastes just as good when cooked in the oven as it does on the grill! 🙌

    I've been making this marinade for over 10 years and in my opinion, there is no need to make a homemade lemon pepper seasoning because of how good some of the store-bought seasonings are. See the 'Ingredient Notes's section below for my favorite seasoning blends.

    And just like Air Fryer BBQ Chicken, this lemon pepper chicken is a big hit with the whole family, even kids! In fact, this is my youngest daughter's absolute favorite dinner!

    Serve this lemon pepper marinated chicken with homemade guacamole and chips, kale salad, and pasta salad. It's the perfect protein to go with pretty much any side!

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredient Notes
    • How to Make This Lemon Pepper Chicken Marinade
    • How to Make This Marinated Chicken Recipe in an Oven
    • What to Serve with This Lemon Pepper Chicken Recipe
    • Dietitian Tip
    • Helpful Tips
    • Questions You May Have
    • Related Recipes
    • More Easy Dinner Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    I love to host and I love to cook. In order to enjoy having company while not being distracted by food prep and 'hands-on' cooking, I need to keep things simple and, of course, delicious!

    • Simple Ingredients This is a simple recipe made with simple ingredients that can be found in the grocery store.
    • Quick and Easy Recipe Get incredible lemon flavor without having to buy fresh lemons. That's right, you can get delicious lemon flavor without lemon zest or juice. Just mix the ingredients together, add chicken, and marinate. You'll have the most delicious juicy chicken ready in no time.
    • Kid-Approved Get ready to add this to the top of your list for easy chicken recipes. This lemon pepper chicken has received rave reviews from kids of all ages, even teenagers!

    Ingredient Notes

    Lemon pepper marinated chicken ingredients, labeled.
    • Chicken Good source of protein. I use thin-sliced chicken breasts because they absorb more marinade and are quicker to cook. Boneless skinless chicken breasts and chicken thighs also work well but may take longer to cook.
    • Less-Sodium Soy Sauce For a savory flavor. Coconut aminos also work well in this recipe. Coconut aminos will produce a sweeter (but still delicious) flavor.
    • Lemon-Pepper Seasoning This seasoning blend can be found in just about every grocery store. I've used Trader Joe's lemon pepper grinder and Watkins ground lemon pepper seasoning blend. Both added amazing lemon pepper flavor. Using a grinder takes more work, but the plus side is that it gives more of a freshly ground pepper flavor.
    • Garlic Use fresh garlic. Garlic contains prebiotics. Prebiotics are good for gut health.
    • Olive Oil I use extra virgin olive oil when I cook this chicken in the oven or avocado oil when I cook it on the grill because avocado oil is considered a high-smoke point oil. Avocado oil and olive oil are rich in monounsaturated fats.
    • Water Cost saving! Do you have any idea how much we spend on products (like marinades and dressings) that are made with a lot of water? A lot!

    How to Make This Lemon Pepper Chicken Marinade

    Two numbered images showing a marinade in a zip-lock bag. The top image only has the marinade, the bottom image has chicken in the marinade.

    Here is a summary of how to make the best lemon pepper chicken marinade. For a complete list of ingredients and specific instructions for how to cook the marinated chicken, scroll down to the recipe card.

    • Mix all the listed ingredients in a large resealable bag or shallow dish. I use a gallon-sized zip-lock bag.
    • Place chicken in marinade. The marinade should completely cover all of the pieces of chicken. Seal the bag or, if using a shallow dish, cover it with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate as it marinates.
    • Refrigerate marinated chicken for two hours before cooking it.

    How to Make This Marinated Chicken Recipe in an Oven

    Marinated chicken pieces on a stoneware bar pan.
    1. Place the marinated chicken pieces on a rimmed baking sheet or shallow baking dish in a single layer. Discard the marinade. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165 degrees.

    What to Serve with This Lemon Pepper Chicken Recipe

    Can be used to top salads or pair with a simple veggie side. It's so versatile!

    • Green Beans with Garlic
    • Roasted Broccoli in Air Fryer
    • Oven Roasted Sprouts
    • Guacamole and Chips
    • Red-Skinned Mashed Potatoes

    Dietitian Tip

    By law, hormones are not allowed in raising poultry. So, there's no need to spend extra money at the grocery store for chicken with "no added hormones" on the label.

    In fact, adding hormones to chicken has been banned in the US since the 1950's.

    Helpful Tips

    • Chicken thighs are not as lean as chicken breasts, but they are often less expensive, and some prefer to cook with them.
    • Use any cut of chicken. The chicken pieces should have an even thickness.
    • I suggest using thin-sliced chicken breast, chicken thighs, or a combination. I have found that not only do they cook quicker (than standard chicken breast) but they also cook more evenly.
    • You can make this with chicken tenderloins but you will have to adjust the cooking time because they cook faster.
    • Coconut aminos can be used in place of soy sauce. It is lower in sodium than less-sodium soy sauce (it is still not considered "low sodium") and it's soy free and gluten free. It does have a sweeter taste, so the marinade will taste different but still good.
    • Lemon pepper seasoning is sometimes easier to measure by the tablespoon. Thankfully it's easy to convert tablespoons to cups and cups to tablespoons to make measuring ingredients easier.
    • The best way to tell when chicken is done cooking is by using an instant-read digital meat thermometer. Cooked chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Avoid overcooking chicken. Overcooked chicken is tough to chew.
    • If you don't have time to let the chicken marinate, you can cook the chicken in the marinade (in the oven, not the grill). I did this the last time my daughter me to make her "favorite chicken." The flavors weren't as deep as if they had been marinated, but it still tasted great! 😅
    • Store leftover cooked chicken in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the fridge.

    Questions You May Have

    Can I grill this lemon pepper chicken?

    Yes, I have made this lemon pepper chicken recipe on the grill and in the oven.

    First clean and oil the grates, then heat grill to medium-high heat.
    Once hot, place chicken over direct heat and grill for about 6-8 minutes.
    Flip and move to indirect heat (not directly over fire/coals) and cook until an inserted instant-read thermometer reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees (about 6-12 minutes depending on thickness of chicken breast).

    How long can chicken be in a lemon pepper marinade?

    Marinade chicken in this marinade for 30 minutes to 2 hours. I don't suggest marinating chicken in this marinade for more than 2 hours.

    Is lemon pepper chicken made with fresh lemon?

    This recipe uses lemon pepper seasoning blend that is made with lemon juice powder and lemon peel (per the ingredient list), not fresh lemon juice or zest.

    If you'd like to add fresh lemon, top the marinated pieces of chicken with thin fresh lemon slices as it bakes. Personally, I don't think it's necessary, but feel free to make it your own 🙂

    Related Recipes

    • Easy Baked Italian Chicken
    • Air Fryer BBQ Chicken
    • Baked Thin Porkchops
    • Pork Tenderloin with Rosemary
    • Dutch Oven Chicken

    More Easy Dinner Recipes

    • One Asian-inspired noodle bowl with a linen napkin to on the side and chopsticks on the top of the bowl.
      Easy Asian Noodle Bowl
    • One turkey sloppy joe sandwich on a seeded whole grain bun.
      Best Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes
    • Easy Feta and Spinach Turkey Burgers
    • One serving of lasagna on a white plate with a napkin in front of the plate.
      Easy Lasagna Recipe with Cottage Cheese

    Did you make this easy marinade recipe for lemon pepper chicken and love it? Please ler me know by leaving a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and comment below. A 5-star rating is the best compliment!

    Don't forget to follow me on Pinterest for more easy recipes with nutrition tips!

    📖 Recipe

    A pile of cooked marinated lemon pepper chicken on a white plate.

    Easy Lemon Pepper Chicken Marinade

    Kristi
    Make this delicious and super easy Lemon Pepper Chicken Marinade with 5 ingredients in 5 minutes! This is my absolute favorite marinade and number one 'go to' chicken recipe for busy weeknights and summertime picnics! It's a recipe everyone will love!
    5 from 20 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 25 minutes mins
    2 hours hrs
    Total Time 2 hours hrs 35 minutes mins
    Course Main Course, Recipes
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 127 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Lemon Pepper Marinade Marinade

    • ⅔ cup water
    • ½ cup less-sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos
    • ⅓ cup olive oil extra virgin. can use avocado oil instead.
    • 4 tablespoon or ¼ cup of lemon pepper seasoning
    • 4 garlic cloves minced

    Chicken

    • 2.5 pounds chicken thin sliced chicken breasts, chicken thighs, or chicken tenders.

    Instructions
     

    How to Make the Lemon Pepper Marinade

    • Add water, soy sauce, olive oil, lemon pepper, and minced garlic to a shallow dish or large resealable bag. Mix well.
      ⅔ cup water, ½ cup less-sodium soy sauce, ⅓ cup olive oil, 4 tablespoon or ¼ cup of lemon pepper seasoning, 4 garlic cloves
    • Place chicken in the marinade, making sure all of the chicken is coated by the marinade.
    • If using a bowl to marinate, cover the bowl before placing it in the refrigerator.
    • Marinate in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours.

    Baking Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 375° Fahrenheit.
    • Remove the chicken from the marinade and place on an oven-safe rimmed sheet pan or baking dish.
    • Cook chicken in the oven for 22-25 minutes or until the thickest part of the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165° Fahrenheit.

    Grilling Instructions

    • First clean and oil the grates.
    • Heat grill to medium-high heat.
    • Once hot, place chicken over direct heat and grill for about 6-8 minutes.
    • Flip and move to indirect heat (not directly over fire/coals) and cook until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165° (about 6-12 minutes depending on thickness of chicken breast).

    Notes

    Nutrition information is estimated using a database that this owner is not responsible for maintaining. Exact nutrition information will depend on the actual ingredients, amounts used, and amount of retained marinade when making this recipe.
    • Full-sized chicken breasts may take longer to cook, closer to 30 minutes.
    • Chicken tenders will cook faster, closer to 20 minutes.
    • There are 4 tablespoons in ¼ of a cup; use either as a reference for measuring the lemon pepper.
    • Use any cut of chicken. The chicken pieces should have an even thickness.
    • I suggest using thin-sliced chicken breast, chicken thighs, or a combination. I have found that not only do they cook quicker (than standard chicken breast) but they also cook more evenly.
    • Regular sized chicken breasts may take closer to 30 minutes to cook, while small chicken tenderloin pieces can cook in 20 minutes.
    • Coconut aminos can be used in place of soy sauce. It is lower in sodium than less-sodium soy sauce (it is still not considered "low sodium"). It's also soy free and gluten free. It does have a sweeter taste, so the marinade will taste different but still good.
    • Lemon pepper seasoning is sometimes easier to measure by the tablespoon. Thankfully it's easy to convert tablespoons to cups and cups to tablespoons to make measuring ingredients easier.
    • The best way to tell when chicken is done cooking is by using an instant-read digital meat thermometer. Cooked chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Avoid overcooking chicken. Overcooked chicken is tough to chew.
    • If you don't have time to let the chicken marinate, you can cook the chicken in the marinade (in the oven, not the grill). I did this the last time my daughter me to make her "favorite chicken." The flavors weren't as deep as if they had been marinated, but it still tasted great! 😅
    • Store leftover cooked chicken in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the fridge.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 127kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 4gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 543mgPotassium: 100mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 36IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Dinner

    • Apple Cider Vinaigrette Dressing in a small glass bowl with a white serving spoon.
      Apple Cider Vinaigrette Dressing
    • A lettuce salad on a round white plate with a small white bowl of basil balsamic dressing.
      Basil Balsamic Dressing
    • A Christmas holiday salad in a large white serving bowl with a small white bowl with the salad dressing in the center of the salad greens.
      Quick and Easy Christmas Salad
    • A whole roasted chicken stuffed with carrots and celery in a white Dutch oven.
      Easy Dutch Oven Chicken

    Comments

    1. Dani Hollingsworth says

      June 16, 2020 at 12:47 am

      Yummm..always looking for a good, fast marinade❤️

      Reply
    5 from 20 votes (20 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Kristi Ruth RD wearing a green top with jeans and holding a white platter with tri-colored carrots.

    Welcome to Carrots & Cookies! I'm a busy working mom of three and can now say that I've been a dietitian for 20 years!! I'm on a mission to show you that eating well doesn't have to be complicated by providing you with easy recipes and practical nutrition tips! More about me...

    Popular Recipes

    • Cherry tomato sauce topped with two small basil leaves and a sprig of fresh oregano served in a white bowl with a white spoon.
      Easy Cherry Tomato Sauce for Pasta
    • Five cooked jerk lime boneless pork chops overlapping each other one a white plate with broccoli to the right.
      Best Oven Baked Boneless Pork Chops
    • Top view of a bowl of fresh fruit salad.
      15-Minute Fresh Fruit Salad
    • Three pieces of barbecue chicken with two ears of corn topped with pieces of cilantro and served on a white plate.
      15-Minute Air Fryer BBQ Chicken
    • One ripe pineapple with a still on held up over a pile of pineapples.
      How to Pick a Good Pineapple
    • Granola in a white ramekin with pieces of granola scattered around the base of the ramekin.
      Easy Granola Recipe (Low Sugar)

    Easy Recipes for Summer

    • A pile of cooked marinated lemon pepper chicken on a white plate.
      Easy Lemon Pepper Chicken Marinade
    • Chunks of fresh watermelon topped with Tajin and cinnamon.
      5-Minute Tajin and Watermelon
    • Kale salad in a yellow bowl with a set of tongs in the salad as to serve.
      Easy Kale (Tuscan) Salad
    • A chip being dipped into guacamole served in a white ramekin.
      4-Ingredient Guacamole Recipe
    • Pieces of fresh fruit on toothpicks and bamboo skewers on a white plate with yogurt and granola in separate ramekins.
      Favorite Fruit on a Stick
    • One Pitaya Bowl with toppings.
      Easy Pitaya Bowl

    Footer

    Featured In

    Southern Living logo.
    Yahoo logo.
    Well + Good logo.
    Eat This logo.
    Eating Well logo.
    Womans World logo.
    LiveStrong logo.
    Fod news logo.
    Real simple logo.
    Parade logo.
    Parents logo.
    The Beet logo.
    Clean Plate logo.

    ↑ back to top

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Statement

    Copyright © 2024 Carrots & Cookies

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.