Lemon Pepper Hen Marinade

I’ve been making this lemon pepper rooster marinade for over 15 years, and it’s a type of recipes I by no means get uninterested in. It’s the one I attain for after I want a simple dinner, wish to toss stuff on the grill, or want a batch of rooster for any type of meal prep. The substances are easy, however collectively they make rooster that’s juicy, flavorful, and something however boring. At any time when I’m unsure what to make for dinner, that is normally the place I begin.

Recent lemon juice does all of the heavy lifting right here, whereas lemon pepper and a few dried herbs hold the flavour shiny with out overpowering the rooster. It really works simply as effectively with rooster breasts because it does thighs so go along with whichever one your loved ones likes finest. I do suggest choosing boneless skinless both means. I’ve included baking, grilling, and stovetop directions so you possibly can prepare dinner it nonetheless makes probably the most sense to your day or the time of yr.

Ingredient Notes

• Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed provides one of the best taste, however bottled lemon juice works if that’s what you’ve got. You’ll want about 1 lemon for 1/4 cup of juice, however typically you’ll want 2.
• Olive Oil: Common olive oil or further virgin olive oil each work.
• Lemon Pepper: Lemon pepper blends can range fairly a bit in salt content material so be careful for that.
• Dried Oregano and Basil: Follow dried herbs for this one to maintain issues easy.
• Salt: I’m simply utilizing desk salt right here.
• Pink Pepper Flakes: Fully optionally available, however they provides a gentle kick with out making the rooster overly spicy.
• Boneless Skinless Hen Breasts or Thighs: Each work nice. Hen thighs are naturally extra forgiving and keep juicy even when they prepare dinner just a little longer.

Hen Breasts vs. Thighs

This marinade works effectively with boneless skinless rooster breasts and thighs, so it actually comes down to private desire.

Hen breasts are leaner and prepare dinner just a little quicker, whereas rooster thighs have just a little extra fats, making them further juicy and forgiving in the event that they keep on the warmth a number of further minutes. I take advantage of each repeatedly, relying on what’s on sale or what I have already got within the fridge.

Cooking Methodology Choices

Certainly one of my favourite issues about this marinade is that it really works regardless of the way you’re cooking dinner. Grill it in the course of the summer season, bake it within the oven for a simple weeknight meal, or prepare dinner it in a skillet whenever you don’t really feel like turning the oven on. I’ve included directions for all three strategies, so you should use whichever works finest to your schedule and the climate.

Serving Solutions

This rooster goes with nearly every thing (which is why I find it irresistible a lot).

Add a Starch: Serve it with rice (my easy cheesy rice pilaf is a fav), roasted potatoes (like my garlic and herb smashed potatoes), or buttered noodles (or my olive oil pasta) for a simple dinner.

Add a Veggie: like my cheesy skillet broccoli, roasted asparagus, or hold it tremendous easy by utilizing my frozen veggie hacks.

Different Choices: It’s additionally nice sliced over Caesar salad, tucked into wraps, or served in grain bowls for meal prep lunches.