Lemon Pepper Rooster Marinade

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

Recent lemon juice does all of the heavy lifting right here, whereas lemon pepper and a few dried herbs maintain the flavour vibrant with out overpowering the hen. It really works simply as properly with hen 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 may prepare dinner it nonetheless makes essentially the most sense on your day or the time of 12 months.

Ingredient Notes

• Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed offers one of the best 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 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: Stick to dried herbs for this one to maintain issues easy.
• Salt: I’m simply utilizing desk salt right here.
• Pink Pepper Flakes: Utterly optionally available, however they provides a light kick with out making the hen overly spicy.
• Boneless Skinless Rooster Breasts or Thighs: Each work nice. Rooster thighs are naturally extra forgiving and keep juicy even when they prepare dinner a bit of longer.

Rooster Breasts vs. Thighs

This marinade works properly with boneless skinless hen breasts and thighs, so it actually comes down to private choice.

Rooster breasts are leaner and prepare dinner a bit of quicker, whereas hen thighs have a bit of extra fats, making them additional juicy and forgiving in the event that they keep on the warmth a number of additional minutes. I exploit each frequently, relying on what’s on sale or what I have already got within the fridge.

Cooking Technique Choices

One among my favourite issues about this marinade is that it really works irrespective of the way you’re cooking dinner. Grill it throughout the summer season, bake it within the oven for a simple weeknight meal, or prepare dinner it in a skillet whenever 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 Recommendations

This hen 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 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.