Fast and Simple Lemon Hen

That is a kind of fast and simple weeknight meals that you simply’ll need to preserve perpetually—even choosy eaters prefer it! Meals like this are what we grew up on, and we nonetheless find it irresistible simply as a lot as we did a long time in the past. Should you’re uninterested in combating together with your children to complete their dinner, that is the recipe for you. And as a bonus, you’ll find it irresistible too!

With a marinade constituted of 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 coated for each. It additionally pairs properly with nearly any aspect—suppose 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 finest taste, however bottled lemon juice works too and it certain 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 protecting it easy with dried herbs to make this dish as simple as potential.

Marinating Occasions

For this recipe, half-hour is all you could pack in loads of recent, zesty taste. It’s good for these busy weeknights when time isn’t in your aspect. In case 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 really make the hen mushy due to the acid within the lemon juice.

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

Freezer Possibility

Right here’s a bit of 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.

Once 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 a number of 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 properly. Contemplate choices like broccoli, asparagus, green beans, or gown up frozen vegetables for a fast and simple 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 absorb the scrumptious juices from the hen.

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