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, need 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. 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 provides 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 preserve the flavour vivid 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 advocate choosing boneless skinless both approach. I’ve included baking, grilling, and stovetop directions so you may prepare dinner it nevertheless makes probably the most sense in your day or the time of 12 months.

Ingredient Notes

• Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed provides the perfect taste, however bottled lemon juice works if that’s what you may have. You’ll want about 1 lemon for 1/4 cup of juice, however generally you’ll want 2.
• Olive Oil: Common olive oil or further virgin olive oil each work.
• Lemon Pepper: Lemon pepper blends can fluctuate fairly a bit in salt content material so be careful for that.
• Dried Oregano and Basil: Stick to dried herbs for this one to maintain issues easy.
• Salt: I’m simply utilizing desk salt right here.
• Pink Pepper Flakes: Fully non-obligatory, 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 somewhat 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 somewhat quicker, whereas rooster thighs have somewhat 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 commonly, relying on what’s on sale or what I have already got within the fridge.

Cooking Technique Choices

One in every of 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 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 finest in your schedule and the climate.

Serving Recommendations

This rooster goes with nearly every thing (which is why I adore it 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.