Quick and Easy Lemon Chicken

This recipe is tremendous straightforward to make and completely scrumptious. It’s a kind of fast and simple weeknight meals that you just’ll wish to hold endlessly as a result of miraculously, even choosy eaters have a tendency to love it! All it’s a must to do is choose a few straightforward sides to go together with it, and you’ve got your self a full meal. Meals like this are what we grew up on, and we nonetheless find it irresistible simply as a lot as we did many years in the past. If you’re bored with combating together with your youngsters to complete their dinner, that is the recipe for you. As a bonus, you’ll find it irresistible too!

Why Our Recipe

Fast marinade with contemporary lemon juice and herbs packs a punch in simply half-hour.
Made with easy substances you seemingly have already got available.
Goes with nearly all the pieces for meals which can be straightforward to place collectively.

Close up view of lemon chicken in a skillet.

Hen recipes don’t get a lot easier or tastier than this. With a marinade comprised of contemporary lemon juice, herbs, and pantry staples, this dish comes collectively rapidly. Whether or not you’re searching for a weeknight dinner or a meal to impress, this recipe has you coated for each. It additionally goes with nearly any facet—assume roasted veggies, fluffy rice, or a contemporary inexperienced salad.

Ingredient Notes

Boneless Skinless Hen Breasts: Select evenly sized breasts for constant cooking. You may as well use boneless skinless rooster thighs, they’ll simply take longer to prepare dinner.
Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice goes to provide the greatest taste, however bottled lemon juice works too and it certain is handy.
Additional Virgin Olive Oil: Common olive oil works in addition to different neutral-flavored oils.
Lemon Pepper: Lemon pepper is a mixture of black pepper, lemon zest, and a pinch of garlic powder.
Dried Basil and Oregano: We’re maintaining it easy with dried herbs to make this dish as straightforward as doable.

Marinating Instances

For this recipe, half-hour is all it’s essential pack in loads of contemporary, zesty taste. It’s excellent for these busy weeknights when time isn’t in your facet. In case you have extra time, although, you’ll be able to let the rooster absorb the marinade for as much as 8 hours.

Don’t go overboard. Marinating for too lengthy—particularly greater than 12 hours—can really make the rooster mushy due to the acid within the lemon juice.

A fast 15-minute marinade will nonetheless offer you a bit of enhance of taste. Simply toss the rooster within the marinade when you prep your sides, and also you’re good to go!

Inform When Hen is Achieved

No person likes dry rooster, so let’s be sure yours is completely juicy! The easiest way to know when it’s accomplished is to verify the inner temperature—it ought to hit 165°F.

No thermometer? No drawback! You should utilize the contact take a look at and a fast peek inside. Press on the thickest a part of the rooster breast—if it feels springy however not mushy, you’re in good condition. Nonetheless undecided? Slice into the thickest half. The juices ought to run clear, and the meat ought to be white with no pink in sight.

Make it a Meal

Serve with Grains: Pair lemon rooster with a facet of fluffy rice, quinoa, or couscous.

Add Greens: Roasted or steamed greens complement the zesty rooster nicely. Contemplate choices like broccoli, asparagus, green beans, or gown up frozen vegetables for a fast and simple choice.

High A Salad: A contemporary salad, whether or not it’s a easy green salad, a Caeser salad, or a extra elaborate Greek salad, provides a refreshing aspect to the meal.

Embody a Starch: For a heartier meal, add a starch like roasted or mashed potatoes, or perhaps a slice of crusty bread to absorb the scrumptious juices from the rooster.

Pair with Pasta: Lemon rooster goes nicely with a simple pasta for a hearty and filling meal.

Freezer Possibility

Right here’s a bit of kitchen hack: freeze your rooster proper within the marinade! It marinates whereas it thaws—how straightforward is that? Simply pop your rooster and marinade right into a freezer-safe bag, press out as a lot air as you’ll be able to, and freeze it.

While you’re able to prepare dinner, thaw it within the fridge. This retains issues secure and offers the marinade loads of time to work its magic. Relying on the scale of your rooster items, thawing may take a number of hours or in a single day.

Storage and Reheating Directions:

Refrigerate leftovers in an hermetic container for as much as 3 days.

Reheat in a skillet over medium-low warmth for greatest outcomes. Add a bit of olive oil or water to maintain it moist, and warmth till warmed via.

Reheat it within the microwave in 30-second increments, flipping the rooster midway to make sure even heating. Watch out to not overheat, as this will dry out the rooster.