Fast and Simple Lemon Hen

This recipe is tremendous straightforward to make and completely scrumptious. It’s a type of fast and simple weeknight meals that you just’ll wish to hold perpetually as a result of miraculously, even choosy eaters have a tendency to love it! All it’s important to do is decide 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 adore it simply as a lot as we did a long time in the past. In case you are uninterested in combating along with your children to complete their dinner, that is the recipe for you. As a bonus, you’ll adore it too!

Why Our Recipe

Fast marinade with recent lemon juice and herbs packs a punch in simply half-hour.
Made with easy substances you doubtless have already got readily available.
Goes with nearly every thing for meals which are straightforward 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 comprised of recent lemon juice, herbs, and pantry staples, this dish comes collectively shortly. Whether or not you’re on the lookout for a weeknight dinner or a meal to impress, this recipe has you lined for each. It additionally goes with nearly any facet—suppose roasted veggies, fluffy rice, or a recent inexperienced salad.

Ingredient Notes

Boneless Skinless Hen Breasts: Select evenly sized breasts for constant cooking. You may as well use boneless skinless hen 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 conserving it easy with dried herbs to make this dish as straightforward as potential.

Marinating Occasions

For this recipe, half-hour is all it’s essential to pack in loads of recent, zesty taste. It’s good for these busy weeknights when time isn’t in your facet. You probably have extra time, although, you possibly can 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 really make the hen mushy due to the acid within the lemon juice.

A fast 15-minute marinade will nonetheless offer you just a little increase of taste. Simply toss the hen within the marinade whilst you prep your sides, and also you’re good to go!

Methods to Inform When Hen is Achieved

No one likes dry hen, so let’s ensure yours is completely juicy! The easiest way to know when it’s performed is to examine the interior temperature—it ought to hit 165°F.

No thermometer? No downside! You should use the contact take a look at 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 unsure? 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 facet of fluffy rice, quinoa, or couscous.

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

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 ingredient 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 take in the scrumptious juices from the hen.

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

Freezer Possibility

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

While you’re able to prepare dinner, thaw it within the fridge. This retains issues protected and provides the marinade loads of time to work its magic. Relying on the scale 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 greatest outcomes. Add just a little olive oil or water to maintain it moist, and warmth till warmed via.

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 may dry out the hen.