Lemon Pepper Rooster Marinade

I’ve been making this lemon pepper hen marinade for over 15 years, and it’s a type of recipes I by no means get bored with. It’s the one I attain for once I want a simple dinner, need to toss stuff on the grill, or want a batch of hen for any kind of meal prep. The components are easy, however collectively they make hen that’s juicy, flavorful, and something however boring. Every time 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 maintain the flavour vivid with out overpowering the hen. It really works simply as nicely with hen breasts because it does thighs so go together with whichever one your loved ones likes finest. I do advocate choosing boneless skinless both means. I’ve included baking, grilling, and stovetop directions so you possibly can prepare dinner it nevertheless makes essentially the most sense in your day or the time of yr.

Ingredient Notes

• Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed offers the most effective taste, however bottled lemon juice works if that’s what you might have. You’ll want about 1 lemon for 1/4 cup of juice, however typically you’ll want 2.
• Olive Oil: Common olive oil or additional 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: Keep on with dried herbs for this one to maintain issues easy.
• Salt: I’m simply utilizing desk salt right here.
• Crimson Pepper Flakes: Utterly non-obligatory, however they provides a light kick with out making the hen overly spicy.
• Boneless Skinless Rooster Breasts or Thighs: Each work nice. Rooster thighs are naturally extra forgiving and keep juicy even when they prepare dinner a bit longer.

Rooster Breasts vs. Thighs

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

Rooster breasts are leaner and prepare dinner a bit quicker, whereas hen thighs have a bit extra fats, making them additional juicy and forgiving in the event that they keep on the warmth just a few additional minutes. I take advantage of each recurrently, relying on what’s on sale or what I have already got within the fridge.

Cooking Methodology Choices

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

Serving Recommendations

This hen 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 maintain it tremendous easy through the use of 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.