Lemon Pepper Hen 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, need to toss something on the grill, or want a batch of hen for any form of meal prep. The substances 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 normally the place I begin.

Why My Recipe

• My go-to marinade for the previous 15 years.
• Only a few minutes of prep provides you juicy, flavorful hen that’s prepared for weeknights, meal prep, or cookouts.
• Works with breasts or thighs and consists of oven, grill, and stovetop cooking choices.

Recent lemon juice does all of the heavy lifting right here, whereas lemon pepper and a few dried herbs maintain the flavour brilliant with out overpowering the hen. It really works simply as effectively 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 manner. I’ve included baking, grilling, and stovetop directions so you possibly can cook dinner it nonetheless makes essentially the most sense in your day or the time of yr.

Ingredient Notes

• Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed provides the most effective 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 further virgin olive oil each work.
• Lemon Pepper: Lemon pepper blends can fluctuate fairly a bit in salt content material so be careful for that.
• Dried Oregano and Basil: Follow dried herbs for this one to maintain issues easy.
• Salt: I’m simply utilizing desk salt right here.
• Crimson Pepper Flakes: Utterly elective, however they provides a gentle kick with out making the hen overly spicy.
• Boneless Skinless Hen Breasts or Thighs: Each work nice. Hen thighs are naturally extra forgiving and keep juicy even when they cook dinner slightly longer.

Hen Breasts vs. Thighs

This marinade works effectively with boneless skinless hen breasts and thighs, so it actually comes down to non-public choice.

Hen breasts are leaner and cook dinner slightly quicker, whereas hen thighs have slightly extra fats, making them further juicy and forgiving in the event that they keep on the warmth just a few further minutes. I exploit each usually, relying on what’s on sale or what I have already got within the fridge.

Cooking Methodology Choices

One in all my favourite issues about this marinade is that it really works regardless of the way you’re cooking dinner. Grill it throughout the summer time, bake it within the oven for a simple weeknight meal, or cook dinner it in a skillet once you don’t really feel like turning the oven on. I’ve included directions for all three strategies, so you need to use whichever works greatest in your schedule and the climate.

Serving Options

This hen goes with nearly all the things (which is why I like it 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 by utilizing 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.