Fast and Straightforward Lemon Hen

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

Why Our Recipe

Fast marinade with recent lemon juice and herbs packs a punch in simply half-hour.
Made with easy components you possible have already got readily available.
Goes with nearly the whole lot for meals which might be simple to place collectively.

Close up view of lemon chicken in a skillet.

Hen recipes don’t get a lot less complicated or tastier than this. With a marinade constituted of recent 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 aspect—suppose roasted veggies, fluffy rice, or a recent inexperienced salad.

Ingredient Notes

Boneless Skinless Hen Breasts: Select evenly sized breasts for constant cooking. You can too use boneless skinless hen thighs, they’ll simply take longer to prepare dinner.
Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice goes to provide the finest taste, however bottled lemon juice works too and it positive 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 holding it easy with dried herbs to make this dish as simple as potential.

Marinating Instances

For this recipe, half-hour is all you must pack in loads of recent, zesty taste. It’s good for these busy weeknights when time isn’t in your aspect. When you have extra time, although, you may let the hen take in the marinade for as much as 8 hours.

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

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

How you can Inform When Hen is Executed

No person likes dry hen, so let’s make certain yours is completely juicy! One of the simplest ways to know when it’s finished is to examine the interior temperature—it ought to hit 165°F.

No thermometer? No drawback! You should use the contact check and a fast peek inside. Press on the thickest a part of the hen breast—if it feels springy however not mushy, you’re in fine 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 hen with a aspect of fluffy rice, quinoa, or couscous.

Add Greens: Roasted or steamed greens complement the zesty hen nicely. Take into account choices like broccoli, asparagus, green beans, or costume up frozen vegetables for a fast and straightforward choice.

Prime A Salad: A recent 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.

Embrace 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 hen.

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

Freezer Choice

Right here’s a little bit kitchen hack: freeze your hen proper within the marinade! It marinates whereas it thaws—how simple is that? Simply pop your hen and marinade right into a freezer-safe bag, press out as a lot air as you may, and freeze it.

While you’re able to prepare dinner, thaw it within the fridge. This retains issues protected and offers the marinade loads of time to work its magic. Relying on the dimensions of your hen items, thawing may take a couple 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 finest outcomes. Add a little bit olive oil or water to maintain it moist, and warmth till warmed by means of.

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