Lemon Pepper Rooster Marinade

I’ve been making this lemon pepper rooster 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 straightforward dinner, need to toss stuff on the grill, or want a batch of rooster for any form of meal prep. The elements are easy, however collectively they make rooster 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.

Contemporary lemon juice does all of the heavy lifting right here, whereas lemon pepper and a few dried herbs maintain the flavour vivid with out overpowering the rooster. It really works simply as properly with rooster breasts because it does thighs so go together with whichever one your loved ones likes greatest. I do suggest choosing boneless skinless both means. I’ve included baking, grilling, and stovetop directions so you may cook dinner it nonetheless makes probably the most sense to your day or the time of yr.

Ingredient Notes

• Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed offers the perfect 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 generally 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: Stick to dried herbs for this one to maintain issues easy.
• Salt: I’m simply utilizing desk salt right here.
• Purple Pepper Flakes: Fully optionally available, however they provides a light kick with out making the rooster overly spicy.
• Boneless Skinless Rooster Breasts or Thighs: Each work nice. Rooster thighs are naturally extra forgiving and keep juicy even when they cook dinner a little bit longer.

Rooster Breasts vs. Thighs

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

Rooster breasts are leaner and cook dinner a little bit quicker, whereas rooster thighs have a little bit extra fats, making them further juicy and forgiving in the event that they keep on the warmth a couple of further minutes. I take advantage of each often, 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 irrespective of the way you’re cooking dinner. Grill it through the summer time, bake it within the oven for a straightforward weeknight meal, or cook dinner it in a skillet whenever you don’t really feel like turning the oven on. I’ve included directions for all three strategies, so you should use whichever works greatest to your schedule and the climate.

Serving Ideas

This rooster goes with nearly all the things (which is why I adore 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 straightforward dinner.

Add a Veggie: like my cheesy skillet broccoli, roasted asparagus, or maintain it tremendous easy through the use of 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.