Fast and Straightforward Lemon Rooster

This recipe is tremendous straightforward to make and completely scrumptious. It’s a type 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 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 a long time in the past. If you’re bored with preventing together 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 doubtless have already got readily available.
Goes with nearly all the pieces for meals which are straightforward to place collectively.

Close up view of lemon chicken in a skillet.

Rooster recipes don’t get a lot less complicated or tastier than this. With a marinade created from 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 virtually any aspect—assume roasted veggies, fluffy rice, or a contemporary 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 greatest taste, however bottled lemon juice works too and it positive 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 holding it easy with dried herbs to make this dish as straightforward as attainable.

Marinating Instances

For this recipe, half-hour is all that you must pack in loads of contemporary, zesty taste. It’s excellent for these busy weeknights when time isn’t in your aspect. 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 truly make the hen mushy due to the acid within the lemon juice.

A fast 15-minute marinade will nonetheless provide you with just a little 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 Carried out

No one likes dry hen, so let’s be certain yours is completely juicy! The easiest way to know when it’s executed is to examine the inner temperature—it ought to hit 165°F.

No thermometer? No drawback! You should utilize 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 needs 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 effectively. Contemplate choices like broccoli, asparagus, green beans, or gown up frozen vegetables for a fast and simple choice.

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 factor 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 effectively with a simple pasta for a hearty and filling meal.

Freezer Possibility

Right here’s just a little 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.

Whenever 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 may take a number 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 greatest outcomes. Add just a little 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.