Lemon Pepper Hen Marinade

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

Why My Recipe

• My go-to marinade for the previous 15 years.
• Only a few minutes of prep offers you juicy, flavorful rooster that’s prepared for weeknights, meal prep, or cookouts.
• Works with breasts or thighs and contains oven, grill, and stovetop cooking choices.

Recent lemon juice does all of the heavy lifting right here, whereas lemon pepper and a few dried herbs maintain the flavour brilliant with out overpowering the rooster. It really works simply as nicely with rooster breasts because it does thighs so go together with whichever one your loved ones likes greatest. I do suggest choosing boneless skinless both approach. I’ve included baking, grilling, and stovetop directions so you possibly can prepare dinner it nevertheless makes essentially the most sense on your day or the time of 12 months.

Ingredient Notes

• Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed offers the very best taste, however bottled lemon juice works if that’s what you’ve. You’ll want about 1 lemon for 1/4 cup of juice, however generally you’ll want 2.
• Olive Oil: Common olive oil or additional virgin olive oil each work.
• Lemon Pepper: Lemon pepper blends can differ fairly a bit in salt content material so be careful for that.
• Dried Oregano and Basil: Persist with dried herbs for this one to maintain issues easy.
• Salt: I’m simply utilizing desk salt right here.
• Crimson Pepper Flakes: Utterly elective, 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 a bit longer.

Hen Breasts vs. Thighs

This marinade works nicely with boneless skinless rooster breasts and thighs, so it actually comes down to non-public desire.

Hen breasts are leaner and prepare dinner a bit quicker, whereas rooster thighs have a bit extra fats, making them additional juicy and forgiving in the event that they keep on the warmth a couple of additional minutes. I take advantage of each commonly, 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 straightforward weeknight meal, or prepare dinner it in a skillet while you don’t really feel like turning the oven on. I’ve included directions for all three strategies, so you should use whichever works greatest on your schedule and the climate.

Serving Ideas

This rooster goes with nearly every little 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 straightforward 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.