Lemon Pepper Chicken Marinade

I’ve been making this lemon pepper hen 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, wish to toss something on the grill, or want a batch of hen for any kind of meal prep. The elements are easy, however collectively they make hen that’s juicy, flavorful, and something however boring. Every time I’m undecided what to make for dinner, that is often the place I begin.

Why My Recipe

• My go-to marinade for the previous 15 years.
• Just some minutes of prep provides you juicy, flavorful hen that’s prepared for weeknights, meal prep, or cookouts.
• Works with breasts or thighs and consists of 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 hold the flavour brilliant with out overpowering the hen. It really works simply as effectively with hen breasts because it does thighs so go along with whichever one your loved ones likes greatest. 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 on your day or the time of yr.

Ingredient Notes

• Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed provides the perfect taste, however bottled lemon juice works if that’s what you’ve gotten. 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: Follow dried herbs for this one to maintain issues easy.
• Salt: I’m simply utilizing desk salt right here.
• Purple Pepper Flakes: Fully non-compulsory, however they provides a light kick with out making the hen 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 hen breasts and thighs, so it actually comes down to non-public choice.

Hen breasts are leaner and prepare dinner somewhat quicker, whereas hen thighs have somewhat extra fats, making them additional juicy and forgiving in the event that they keep on the warmth a number of 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

Considered one 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 season, bake it within the oven for a straightforward 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 should use whichever works greatest on your schedule and the climate.

Serving Options

This hen goes with nearly all the pieces (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 straightforward dinner.

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