Fast and Simple Lemon Hen

That is a type of fast and straightforward weeknight meals that you simply’ll need to preserve eternally—even choosy eaters prefer it! Meals like this are what we grew up on, and we nonetheless adore it simply as a lot as we did many years in the past. For those who’re uninterested in preventing along with your children to complete their dinner, that is the recipe for you. And as a bonus, you’ll adore it too!

Why Our Recipe

• Our 30-minute marinade is each fast and scrumptious!
• Made with easy components you seemingly have already got readily available.
• Goes with nearly the whole lot, so that you don’t must stress in regards to the sides!

With a marinade produced from recent lemon juice, herbs, and pantry staples, this dish comes collectively rapidly. Whether or not you’re in search of a weeknight dinner or a meal to impress, this recipe has you lined for each. It additionally pairs properly with nearly any facet—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 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 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 retaining it easy with dried herbs to make this dish as simple as attainable.

Marinating Occasions

For this recipe, half-hour is all it’s essential pack in loads of recent, zesty taste. It’s excellent for these busy weeknights when time isn’t in your facet. In case you have extra time, although, you possibly can let the hen absorb 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 bit 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 a 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 possibly can, and freeze it.

If you’re able to prepare dinner, thaw it within the fridge. This retains issues food-safe and provides the marinade loads of time to work its magic. Relying on the scale of your hen items, thawing may take a number of hours or in a single day.

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 straightforward possibility.

High 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 factor 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.