Greek Lemon Hen

This lemon hen recipe is all about juicy, tender, and golden-baked hen thighs coated with the most effective lemon-herb Greek marinade. It’s fast to prep, simple to prepare dinner, and the outcomes are unbelievable!

Greek lemon chicken in a baking dish — *Picture: Gayle McLeod*

If there may be one hen recipe I may stay off of, it’s this Greek lemon hen. I’m a sucker for skin-on hen thighs given how naturally juicy and flavorful they’re. Plus, I like the way it’s nearly not possible to overcook hen thighs within the oven. However this vibrant and herby lemon hen marinade is what makes this dish so satisfying.

In case you’ve been making my recipes for some time, you might have come throughout totally different variations of this marinade on my web site beforehand. And that’s as a result of Mediterranean recipes are the center and soul of how I prepare dinner! From my video on easy hen marinades to this Greek sheet pan hen and Greek hen kabobs, lemon hen recipes have develop into a Downshiftology staple.

In case you watch the video under, you’ll see that I serve up these Greek lemon hen thighs with a facet of lemon herb rice (from my cookbook) and air fryer inexperienced beans to finish the most effective dinner ever. However maintain scrolling for much more facet dish concepts!

Lemon Hen Elements

You’ll be glad to listen to that this recipe is extraordinarily pantry-friendly, together with the hen marinade! Right here’s what you want.

Hen: Bone-in, skin-on hen thighs lend the juiciest meat and crispiest outer pores and skin. In case you’re utilizing frozen hen thighs, allow them to thaw within the fridge in a single day earlier than making this recipe.
Liquids: A mixture of extra-virgin olive oil, recent lemon juice, and Dijon mustard make up the bottom of the marinade. And if you wish to amp up the lemon taste, add a little bit of lemon zest to the combo or avoid wasting lemon slices so as to add on prime earlier than cooking.
Seasonings: Dried oregano, dried thyme, recent garlic, salt, and black pepper are the final word Mediterranean taste combo. And for this recipe, do keep on with dried herbs as an alternative of recent ones.

Discover the printable recipe with measurements under

How To Make Greek Lemon Hen

Make the marinade. The prep time for that is tremendous minimal, simply stir the marinade substances collectively in a small bowl. In case you’d like to avoid wasting further time, make the marinade a day upfront and retailer it within the fridge. Then give it a whisk earlier than utilizing it the following day.

Marinate the hen. Add the hen thighs to a big bowl, pour the marinade on prime, and provides the hen a fast toss. Then let the hen marinate for 1 to 2 hours within the fridge, or as much as 8 hours.

Marinating Greek lemon chicken in a bowl

Bake the hen. Assemble the hen in a baking dish pores and skin facet up (I’ve linked my favourite one under). Pour the remaining marinade on prime and bake for 40 to 45 minutes at 350°F (180°C). You may test to see if the hen is finished at 175°F (80°C) by utilizing an instant-read thermometer. For further crispy pores and skin, activate the highest oven broiler within the final 2 to three minutes.

Greek lemon chicken in a white baking dish

Steadily Requested Questions

How lengthy are you able to marinate hen in lemon juice?

Acidic marinades shouldn’t be used for greater than 8 hours. After this level, the hen thighs will develop into far too tenderized and have a gamey-like texture. For me, the best time is about 1 to 2 hours.

Can I exploit boneless skinless hen breasts or hen thighs?

Sure, you should use this similar marinade to prepare dinner with each forms of hen. For hen breasts, observe my best-baked hen breast recipe. For hen thighs, you possibly can cut back the time by half.

How To Retailer Leftover Hen Thighs

To retailer for the week: Take pleasure in parts all through the week by storing them within the fridge for 4 to five days.
To freeze for later: Retailer leftovers in a freezer-safe container for as much as 3 months. Then thaw them within the fridge the day earlier than you propose to reheat them. Belief me, discovering a batch of this hen in your freezer is a gold mine!
Reheating hen: Excellent news, hen thighs are much less prone to dry out when reheating. However you possibly can at all times add a little bit moisture again in by including a splash of water on prime or layering a humid paper towel over the hen piece earlier than microwaving it.

Extra Straightforward Hen Recipes

I’ve received a lot extra hen thigh recipes or hen breast recipes so that you can get pleasure from. However listed here are a few of my favorites that I make most frequently:

I hope you like this Greek lemon hen as a lot as I do! When you make it, let me know your ideas within the remark field under.

This lemon hen is the most effective dinner with juicy, tender, and golden hen thighs coated in a scrumptious lemon-herb Greek marinade. Watch how I make it and serve it up within the video under!

Make the marinade: In a small bowl, stir collectively the oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, thyme, mustard, salt, and pepper.
Marinate the hen: Add the hen thighs to a big bowl and pour the marinade on prime. Marinate for 1 to 2 hours (and as much as 8 hours) within the fridge.
Switch to baking dish: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Place the hen in a baking dish and pour the remaining marinade on prime.
Bake the hen: Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, till the hen is absolutely cooked and registers 175°F (80°C) on an instant-read thermometer. Optionally, you possibly can baste the hen just a few instances whereas it cooks. And for further crispy pores and skin, activate the highest oven broiler within the final 2 to three minutes. In case you’re serving this dish up for a cocktail party, you possibly can garnish it with lemon slices if you would like.

Energy: 404kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 24g, Fats: 33g, Saturated Fats: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fats: 6g, Monounsaturated Fats: 17g, Trans Fats: 0.1g, Ldl cholesterol: 142mg, Sodium: 707mg, Potassium: 325mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 0.3g, Vitamin A: 136IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 32mg, Iron: 2mg

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