Fast and Simple Lemon Hen

This recipe is tremendous straightforward to make and completely scrumptious. It’s a type of fast and simple weeknight meals that you simply’ll need to maintain eternally as a result of miraculously, even choosy eaters have a tendency to love it! All you need to do is decide a few straightforward 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 many years in the past. If you’re uninterested in combating along with your youngsters to complete their dinner, that is the recipe for you. As a bonus, you’ll like it too!

Why Our Recipe

Fast marinade with contemporary lemon juice and herbs packs a punch in simply half-hour.
Made with easy substances you possible have already got readily available.
Goes with nearly every part for meals which are straightforward to place collectively.

Close up view of lemon chicken in a skillet.

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

Ingredient Notes

Boneless Skinless Hen Breasts: Select evenly sized breasts for constant cooking. You may also use boneless skinless rooster 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 positive 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 holding it easy with dried herbs to make this dish as straightforward as doable.

Marinating Instances

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

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

A fast 15-minute marinade will nonetheless offer you somewhat increase of taste. Simply toss the rooster within the marinade when you prep your sides, and also you’re good to go!

The way to Inform When Hen is Finished

No one likes dry rooster, so let’s be sure that yours is completely juicy! One of the simplest ways to know when it’s achieved is to verify the inner temperature—it ought to hit 165°F.

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

Make it a Meal

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

Add Greens: Roasted or steamed greens complement the zesty rooster nicely. Think about choices like broccoli, asparagus, green beans, or costume up frozen vegetables for a fast and simple possibility.

High A Salad: A contemporary salad, whether or not it’s a easy green salad, a Caeser salad, or a extra elaborate Greek salad, provides a refreshing ingredient 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 absorb the scrumptious juices from the rooster.

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

Freezer Choice

Right here’s somewhat kitchen hack: freeze your rooster proper within the marinade! It marinates whereas it thaws—how straightforward is that? Simply pop your rooster and marinade right into a freezer-safe bag, press out as a lot air as you may, and freeze it.

While 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 dimensions of your rooster items, thawing may take just a few 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 somewhat olive oil or water to maintain it moist, and warmth till warmed by.

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