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 wish to hold endlessly as a result of miraculously, even choosy eaters have a tendency to love it! All it’s a must to 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 adore it simply as a lot as we did many years in the past. In case you are uninterested in combating together with your youngsters to complete their dinner, that is the recipe for you. As a bonus, you’ll adore it too!

Why Our Recipe

Fast marinade with contemporary lemon juice and herbs packs a punch in simply half-hour.
Made with easy elements you doubtless have already got readily available.
Goes with nearly every thing 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 contemporary lemon juice, herbs, and pantry staples, this dish comes collectively rapidly. Whether or not you’re on the lookout for a weeknight dinner or a meal to impress, this recipe has you coated for each. It additionally goes with nearly any facet—suppose roasted veggies, fluffy rice, or a contemporary inexperienced salad.

Ingredient Notes

Boneless Skinless Rooster Breasts: Select evenly sized breasts for constant cooking. You can even use boneless skinless hen thighs, they’ll simply take longer to cook dinner.
Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice goes to provide the greatest taste, however bottled lemon juice works too and it certain is handy.
Additional 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 conserving it easy with dried herbs to make this dish as simple as doable.

Marinating Instances

For this recipe, half-hour is all you might want to pack in loads of contemporary, zesty taste. It’s excellent for these busy weeknights when time isn’t in your facet. In case you have extra time, although, you may 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 really make the hen mushy due to the acid within the lemon juice.

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

Easy methods to Inform When Rooster is Executed

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

No thermometer? No downside! You need to 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 good 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 facet of fluffy rice, quinoa, or couscous.

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

Prime 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 hen.

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

Freezer Choice

Right here’s a bit of 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 may, and freeze it.

If you’re able to cook dinner, thaw it within the fridge. This retains issues protected and offers the marinade loads of time to work its magic. Relying on the scale of your hen items, thawing would possibly 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 greatest outcomes. Add a bit of olive oil or water to maintain it moist, and warmth till warmed by way of.

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 will dry out the hen.