Fast and Straightforward Lemon Hen

That is a type of fast and simple weeknight meals that you simply’ll need to preserve endlessly—even choosy eaters prefer it! 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 happen to’re uninterested in preventing together with your youngsters to complete their dinner, that is the recipe for you. And as a bonus, you’ll like it too!

With a marinade produced from contemporary lemon juice, herbs, and pantry staples, this dish comes collectively shortly. Whether or not you’re searching for a weeknight dinner or a meal to impress, this recipe has you lined for each. It additionally pairs effectively with virtually any aspect—assume roasted veggies, steamed rice, or a easy inexperienced salad.

Ingredient Notes

• Boneless Skinless Hen Breasts: Select evenly sized breasts for constant cooking. You may also 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 positive is handy.
• Further 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 simple as potential.

Marinating Instances

For this recipe, half-hour is all you have to pack in loads of contemporary, 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 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!

Freezer Choice

Right here’s just a little 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.

Whenever you’re able to prepare dinner, thaw it within the fridge. This retains issues food-safe and offers the marinade loads of time to work its magic. Relying on the dimensions of your hen items, thawing would possibly take just a few hours or in a single day.

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 effectively. Contemplate choices like broccoli, asparagus, green beans, or costume up frozen vegetables for a fast and simple possibility.

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 factor 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 take in the scrumptious juices from the hen.

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