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 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 rooster for any kind of meal prep. The substances are easy, however collectively they make rooster 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.

Contemporary lemon juice does all of the heavy lifting right here, whereas lemon pepper and a few dried herbs preserve the flavour vivid with out overpowering the rooster. It really works simply as nicely with rooster breasts because it does thighs so go along with whichever one your loved ones likes greatest. I do advocate choosing boneless skinless both method. I’ve included baking, grilling, and stovetop directions so you possibly can cook 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 got. 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 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-compulsory, 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 cook dinner just a little longer.

Hen Breasts vs. Thighs

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

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

Cooking Technique Choices

One in all my favourite issues about this marinade is that it really works irrespective of the way you’re cooking dinner. Grill it in the course of the summer time, bake it within the oven for a simple weeknight meal, or cook 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 utilize whichever works greatest on your schedule and the climate.

Serving Recommendations

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 simple dinner.

Add a Veggie: like my cheesy skillet broccoli, roasted asparagus, or preserve 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.