Fast and Simple Lemon Rooster

This recipe is tremendous simple to make and completely scrumptious. It’s a type of fast and simple weeknight meals that you just’ll need to hold eternally as a result of miraculously, even choosy eaters have a tendency to love it! All it’s important to do is choose a few simple 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 many years in the past. If you’re uninterested in preventing 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 contemporary lemon juice and herbs packs a punch in simply half-hour.
Made with easy elements you doubtless have already got readily available.
Goes with nearly all the pieces for meals which are simple to place collectively.

Close up view of lemon chicken in a skillet.

Rooster recipes don’t get a lot easier or tastier than this. With a marinade made out of contemporary lemon juice, herbs, and pantry staples, this dish comes collectively rapidly. Whether or not you’re searching for a weeknight dinner or a meal to impress, this recipe has you lined for each. It additionally goes with nearly any facet—assume roasted veggies, fluffy rice, or a contemporary inexperienced salad.

Ingredient Notes

Boneless Skinless Rooster Breasts: Select evenly sized breasts for constant cooking. You can too use boneless skinless rooster thighs, they’ll simply take longer to cook 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 holding it easy with dried herbs to make this dish as simple as doable.

Marinating Occasions

For this recipe, half-hour is all it’s essential to pack in loads of contemporary, zesty taste. It’s excellent for these busy weeknights when time isn’t in your facet. When you’ve got extra time, although, you’ll be able to let the rooster 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 rooster mushy due to the acid within the lemon juice.

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

Methods to Inform When Rooster is Performed

No person likes dry rooster, so let’s make sure that yours is completely juicy! One of the best ways to know when it’s executed is to examine the inner temperature—it ought to hit 165°F.

No thermometer? No drawback! You need to use the contact take a look at and a fast peek inside. Press on the thickest a part of the rooster breast—if it feels springy however not mushy, you’re in good condition. Nonetheless undecided? 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 rooster with a facet of fluffy rice, quinoa, or couscous.

Add Greens: Roasted or steamed greens complement the zesty rooster nicely. Take into account choices like broccoli, asparagus, green beans, or costume up frozen vegetables for a fast and simple choice.

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 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 absorb the scrumptious juices from the rooster.

Pair with Pasta: Lemon rooster goes nicely with a simple pasta for a hearty and filling meal.

Freezer Choice

Right here’s a bit of kitchen hack: freeze your rooster proper within the marinade! It marinates whereas it thaws—how simple is that? Simply pop your rooster and marinade right into a freezer-safe bag, press out as a lot air as you’ll be able to, and freeze it.

Once you’re able to cook dinner, thaw it within the fridge. This retains issues secure and offers the marinade loads of time to work its magic. Relying on the dimensions of your rooster items, thawing would possibly take just a few 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 a bit of olive oil or water to maintain it moist, and warmth till warmed by.

Reheat it within the microwave in 30-second increments, flipping the rooster midway to make sure even heating. Watch out to not overheat, as this could dry out the rooster.