Fast and Straightforward Lemon Rooster

This recipe is tremendous straightforward to make and completely scrumptious. It’s a kind of fast and simple weeknight meals that you simply’ll need to hold eternally as a result of miraculously, even choosy eaters have a tendency to love it! All it’s important to do is choose a few straightforward sides to go along 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 bored with 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 contemporary lemon juice and herbs packs a punch in simply half-hour.
Made with easy components you possible have already got available.
Goes with nearly the whole lot for meals which can be straightforward 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 shortly. Whether or not you’re searching 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 may also use boneless skinless hen thighs, they’ll simply take longer to prepare 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 retaining it easy with dried herbs to make this dish as straightforward as attainable.

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 facet. If in case you have extra time, although, you possibly can let the hen take in 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 offer you a bit of enhance of taste. Simply toss the hen within the marinade whilst you prep your sides, and also you’re good to go!

How one can Inform When Rooster is Accomplished

No one likes dry hen, so let’s be certain that yours is completely juicy! One of the best ways to know when it’s achieved 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 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 hen with a facet 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 gown up frozen vegetables for a fast and simple choice.

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 component to the meal.

Embody 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 a bit of kitchen hack: freeze your hen proper within the marinade! It marinates whereas it thaws—how straightforward is that? Simply pop your hen and marinade right into a freezer-safe bag, press out as a lot air as you possibly can, and freeze it.

While you’re able to prepare dinner, thaw it within the fridge. This retains issues protected and provides the marinade loads of time to work its magic. Relying on the dimensions 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 finest outcomes. Add a bit of 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 could dry out the hen.