Although it will not be as buzzy as spirulina or different trending superfoods, hen is a superhero ingredient. It’s a protein powerhouse, fan-favorite for choosy eaters, and the proper accomplice to nearly any taste mixture. Some harp on hen for being boring or bland, however with a couple of prospers, it’s simple to remodel hen into one thing spectacular. When my week is jam-packed, I all the time discover myself trying to find scrumptious hen recipes with few elements that I can pull from my fridge or pantry.
As a result of like many people, I desire to maintain issues tremendous easy. Throwing in some veggies and starches to accompany hen—together with a very good marinade—can really elevate even the only recipes. A straightforward option to make your hen all the higher? Investing in a meat thermometer. The device ensures your hen is juicy and tender with none dryness. With a mix of completely cooked hen, nutritious veggies, and engaging carbs, it’s onerous to think about how dinner may get any higher.
We’ve rounded up a number of the finest hen recipes that gained’t require an additional journey to the grocery retailer. Maintain studying, write a brief and easy listing, and get to it. Meal prep, made ridiculously simple.
Searching for extra meal prep tricks to rework your weeknights? On this video, Camille shares simple concepts that assist her get scrumptious and wholesome meals on the desk with out breaking a sweat.
15 Straightforward Hen Recipes With Few Substances
Grilled Yogurt-Marinated Hen with All of the Herbs
Why We Love It: This grilled hen recipe is certainly one of my all-time favorites. The marinade tenderizes the hen whereas infusing it with a medley of fragrant goodness. Contemporary parsley provides a vibrant herbaceous notice, whereas a contact of honey brings a pleasant trace of sweetness.
Hero Ingredient: In case you haven’t tried marinating your hen in yogurt, I extremely counsel this recipe be your first strive.
The Greatest Roast Hen With Tomatoes, Lemons, & Cilantro Salsa Verde
Why We Love It: Roasting a hen is a straightforward technique to reduce the elements you’re working with. Tossing in cherry tomatoes to roast alongside your hen creates a scrumptious sauce by itself. And when paired with a mouth-watering cilantro salsa verde, the result’s a low-stress, balanced meal.
Hero Ingredient: The squeeze of a lemon is the key to one of the best roast hen.
Roasted Hen & Vegetable Confit
Why We Love It: One pan meals have my coronary heart. Meals stylist Maite Aizpurua shared with us certainly one of her go-to confit recipes that makes use of elements you seemingly have already got in your fridge. All the elements are roasted collectively and topped with olives and inexperienced onion for a juicy entree with built-in sides!
Hero Ingredient: Don’t skimp on the olive oil.
Sheet Pan Hen Fajitas
Why We Love It: These sheet pan fajitas are certainly one of our most well-loved recipes. The hen is juicy and zesty with a limey marinade. The perfect half? The whole dish will set you again solely 5 elements. Good.
Hero Ingredient: Cilantro and fajitas are a match made in heaven.
Lemony Sheet Pan Hen With Artichokes and Spring Veggies
Why We Love It: Turning into an grownup is realizing that artichokes are a extremely underrated vegetable. Whether or not you’re having fun with artichoke hearts in a creamy pasta—or roasted with hen and veggies like on this recipe—they’re a standout ingredient that may add a little bit of flare to any meal.
Hero Ingredient: Roasted cherry tomatoes add a candy, juicy burst of taste to your hen.
Sluggish Cooker Hen Burrito Bowls
Why We Love It: Once I’m low on elements, one of many first issues I do is verify if I can kind a balanced bowl from the groceries I’ve available. Burrito bowls are one the only variations, and the toppings are as much as no matter your coronary heart wishes. Maintain it minimal with black beans and pico de gallo, or pair your gradual cooker hen with something from bitter cream to smashed avocado.
Hero Ingredient: Enchilada sauce is the key to probably the most flavorful gradual cooker hen.
Za’atar Crusted Hen
Why We Love It: Za’atar seasoning is certainly one of my latest obsessions, and Mia Rigden’s recipe has proven me simply how a lot it could actually elevate the only of recipes. Paired with a easy arugula salad, this skillet-cooked hen requires a minimal-ingredient brine and more healthy breading than your typical cutlets.
Hero Ingredient: A very good high quality za’atar seasoning ought to be important in any family.
Lime-y Hen Tacos with Carrot, Jicama, & Mint
Why We Love It: Tacos are all the time a good suggestion—particularly when your fridge is wanting significantly empty. Right here in Texas, it’s not usually that I discover my fridge with out elements like limes, agave, and jalepeños. In case you occur to have a can of chipotles in your pantry, this recipe’s chipotle aioli elevates these tacos to restaurant high quality.
Hero Ingredient: Shopping for jicama for these tacos is a should.
Braised Hen Thighs with Olives, Lemon & Thyme
Why We Love It: I’ll be sincere, I wasn’t all the time a fan of hen thighs. Once I was youthful, I believed they had been an excessive amount of work in comparison with hen breasts. I’ve since seen the sunshine and discovered that they’re juicier and higher take in a marinade to convey daring taste to the desk.
Hero Ingredient: Within the phrases of Don Draper, thyme is straightforward, however important—and it’s the proper herb to provide this recipe a contact of contemporary taste.
Hoisin Hen Cabbage Tacos
Why We Love It: The hen in these cabbage tacos—tossed in a combination of hoisin sauce and a squeeze of lime—is the proper mixture of candy, spicy, and tangy. High with something that you’ve in your vegetable drawer, resembling carrots, cucumber, and cilantro.
Hero Ingredient: Avocado acts as a buffer for these tacos’ daring flavors.
Lettuce Wrapped Thai Hen Burger
Why We Love It: These hen burger lettuce wraps are the proper different to crimson meat. Floor hen is one other freezer staple that may be ready in so some ways with just some elements.
Hero Ingredient: Curry powder is what brings the Thai taste.
PHOTO: Hannah Haston Pictures
Shawarma-Marinated Hen Thighs with Herb Salad and Lemons
Why We Love It: Shawarma seasoning is one other mix that makes it simple to raise any hen recipe in minimal time. It’s thrown right into a blender with ginger, garlic, yogurt, cilantro, lemon juice, and honey to create a savory marinade for these roasted hen thighs.
Hero Ingredient: Double up on the yogurt marinade. I really like dipping the hen into the leftover sauce—it’s a easy transfer that makes this dish much more scrumptious.
Thai Hen Salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing
Why We Love It: This salad has been a staple in our repertoire of simple lunches for years. It has all of the makings of the proper salad: coloration, for one, a hearty serving of protein due to the hen, and a wide range of texture and crunch. It’s maybe the furthest factor from the boring salads of yore. It’s the proper, simple meal prep answer to hold you thru the work week.
Hero Ingredient: This salad is a PSA that it’s best to by no means worry incorporating fruit into your salads. Mango? Maintain it coming.
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