Fast and Straightforward Lemon Rooster

This recipe is tremendous simple to make and completely scrumptious. It’s a kind of fast and simple weeknight meals that you simply’ll need to maintain endlessly as a result of miraculously, even choosy eaters have a tendency to love it! All you must do is choose a few simple sides to go together with it, and you’ve got your self a full meal. Meals like this are what we grew up on, and we nonetheless like it simply as a lot as we did a long time in the past. If you’re uninterested in combating along with your children to complete their dinner, that is the recipe for you. As a bonus, you’ll like it too!

Why Our Recipe

Fast marinade with recent lemon juice and herbs packs a punch in simply half-hour.
Made with easy elements you seemingly have already got available.
Goes with nearly all the pieces for meals which might be simple to place collectively.

Close up view of lemon chicken in a skillet.

Rooster recipes don’t get a lot easier or tastier than this. With a marinade made out of recent lemon juice, herbs, and pantry staples, this dish comes collectively rapidly. Whether or not you’re in search of a weeknight dinner or a meal to impress, this recipe has you lined for each. It additionally goes with nearly any aspect—assume roasted veggies, fluffy rice, or a recent inexperienced salad.

Ingredient Notes

Boneless Skinless Rooster Breasts: Select evenly sized breasts for constant cooking. You too can use boneless skinless hen thighs, they’ll simply take longer to cook dinner.
Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice goes to provide the finest taste, however bottled lemon juice works too and it certain is handy.
Further Virgin Olive Oil: Common olive oil works in addition to different neutral-flavored oils.
Lemon Pepper: Lemon pepper is a mixture of black pepper, lemon zest, and a pinch of garlic powder.
Dried Basil and Oregano: We’re protecting it easy with dried herbs to make this dish as simple as doable.

Marinating Instances

For this recipe, half-hour is all you have to pack in loads of recent, zesty taste. It’s good for these busy weeknights when time isn’t in your aspect. When you have extra time, although, you’ll be able to let the hen absorb the marinade for as much as 8 hours.

Don’t go overboard. Marinating for too lengthy—particularly greater than 12 hours—can truly make the hen mushy due to the acid within the lemon juice.

A fast 15-minute marinade will nonetheless provide you with slightly enhance of taste. Simply toss the hen within the marinade whilst you prep your sides, and also you’re good to go!

Tips on how to Inform When Rooster is Achieved

No person likes dry hen, so let’s be certain yours is completely juicy! One of the best ways to know when it’s finished is to verify the inner temperature—it ought to hit 165°F.

No thermometer? No downside! You should use the contact check and a fast peek inside. Press on the thickest a part of the hen breast—if it feels springy however not mushy, you’re in fine condition. Nonetheless undecided? Slice into the thickest half. The juices ought to run clear, and the meat ought to be white with no pink in sight.

Make it a Meal

Serve with Grains: Pair lemon hen with a aspect of fluffy rice, quinoa, or couscous.

Add Greens: Roasted or steamed greens complement the zesty hen nicely. Take into account choices like broccoli, asparagus, green beans, or costume up frozen vegetables for a fast and simple choice.

High A Salad: A recent salad, whether or not it’s a easy green salad, a Caeser salad, or a extra elaborate Greek salad, provides a refreshing aspect to the meal.

Embrace a Starch: For a heartier meal, add a starch like roasted or mashed potatoes, or perhaps a slice of crusty bread to take in the scrumptious juices from the hen.

Pair with Pasta: Lemon hen goes nicely with a simple pasta for a hearty and filling meal.

Freezer Choice

Right here’s slightly kitchen hack: freeze your hen proper within the marinade! It marinates whereas it thaws—how simple is that? Simply pop your hen and marinade right into a freezer-safe bag, press out as a lot air as you’ll be able to, and freeze it.

Once you’re able to cook dinner, thaw it within the fridge. This retains issues secure and provides the marinade loads of time to work its magic. Relying on the scale of your hen items, thawing would possibly take a couple of hours or in a single day.

Storage and Reheating Directions:

Refrigerate leftovers in an hermetic container for as much as 3 days.

Reheat in a skillet over medium-low warmth for finest outcomes. Add slightly olive oil or water to maintain it moist, and warmth till warmed via.

Reheat it within the microwave in 30-second increments, flipping the hen midway to make sure even heating. Watch out to not overheat, as this may dry out the hen.