Crispy Skillet Lemon Pepper Chicken Bites
These crispy skillet lemon pepper chicken bites are juicy little flavor bombs—zesty, golden, and just begging to be popped straight from the pan into your mouth. Each bite hits with a bold punch of tangy citrus, savory spice, and that irresistible golden crunch that will delight your taste buds.
Equipment
- cutting board
- chef's knife
- 2 shallow bowls or pie plates
- measuring cups and spoons
- tongs or spatula
- large skillet (nonstick or cast iron for maximum crispiness)
- paper towel
- zester or microplane (optional, if you're making homemade lemon-pepper seasoning)
Ingredients
- 1-½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon lemon-pepper seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 2 lemons
- 4 tablespoons oil
Instructions
- Dice the chicken into bite-sized pieces (approximately ½ inch).
- Slice the lemons and juice half a lemon (about 1 tablespoon of juice), setting aside the other lemons. In a shallow bowl or pie plate, whisk together the lemon juice, milk, and egg.
- In another shallow bowl or pie plate, mix together the flour, cornstarch, lemon-pepper seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, and salt.
- Dip the diced chicken into the egg wash, turning to coat all bites evenly.
- Move chicken from egg wash to seasoned flour mixture, turning to coat evenly and pressing gently to adhere coating if necessary.
- Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add chicken in a single layer, working in batches if needed. Cook for 4-5 minutes per side, flipping once, until golden brown and cooked through.
- Wipe the pan clean and add another 2 tablespoons of oil before the second batch if there are a lot of coating bits still in the pan as these will burn and stick to your second batch of chicken.
- Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil. Serve immediately with lemon wedges, squeezing lemon juice over the chicken just before eating.