Fast and Straightforward Lemon Rooster

This recipe is tremendous straightforward to make and completely scrumptious. It’s a kind of fast and straightforward weeknight meals that you simply’ll wish to hold eternally as a result of miraculously, even choosy eaters have a tendency to love it! All you need to do is decide a few straightforward sides to go along with it, and you’ve got your self a full meal. Meals like this are what we grew up on, and we nonetheless find it irresistible simply as a lot as we did many years in the past. If you’re bored with combating along with your children to complete their dinner, that is the recipe for you. As a bonus, you’ll find it irresistible too!

Why Our Recipe

Fast marinade with recent lemon juice and herbs packs a punch in simply half-hour.
Made with easy elements you seemingly have already got readily available.
Goes with nearly every thing for meals which are straightforward 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 created from recent 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 coated for each. It additionally goes with virtually any facet—assume roasted veggies, fluffy rice, or a recent inexperienced salad.

Ingredient Notes

Boneless Skinless Rooster Breasts: Select evenly sized breasts for constant cooking. You may also 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 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 holding it easy with dried herbs to make this dish as straightforward as potential.

Marinating Occasions

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

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

The way to Inform When Rooster is Finished

No person likes dry rooster, so let’s be certain yours is completely juicy! One of the best ways to know when it’s completed is to examine the interior temperature—it ought to hit 165°F.

No thermometer? No drawback! You should utilize the contact check 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 unsure? Slice into the thickest half. The juices ought to run clear, and the meat must 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 effectively. Contemplate choices like broccoli, asparagus, green beans, or costume up frozen vegetables for a fast and straightforward choice.

Prime 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 component 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 rooster.

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

Freezer Possibility

Right here’s a bit kitchen hack: freeze your rooster proper within the marinade! It marinates whereas it thaws—how straightforward is that? Simply pop your rooster 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 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 a number of 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 olive oil or water to maintain it moist, and warmth till warmed by way of.

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.