As many of us continue to stay at home, we might be trying new recipes or learning new skills. Or, we might be indulging in what we already love to do; spending more time with family, on our hobbies and making the foods we enjoy. I spent part of these past few weeks perfecting a version of one of my favorite childhood dishes: Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs.
Growing up, the recipe that my brother and I requested most frequently was Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs. It was our comfort food. We loved eating chicken with yellow rice. And we especially enjoyed dipping chicken pieces into the “juices” or drippings that gathered in the pan. Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs was also a favorite, because it was a dish that my brother and I could easily make ourselves. We would get back from school, defrost chicken from the freezer, sprinkle it with lemon pepper seasoning and toss it in the oven. Most other days, we just warmed up mozzarella cheese sticks or tekhratha (meat and cheese pies) that we stored in the freezer.
This version of Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs involves creating your own seasoning mix. It’s a simple blend of fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, black pepper, salt and garlic. I added a bit of turmeric to give the chicken a nice golden color. For the onions, I used half a large red onion and half a yellow onion; I liked the mix of flavors
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs bone-in can also work, but will have longer cooking time
- 2 lemons, for zesting
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp turmeric optional (adds nice color)
- 3 tsp cracked pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 2 large onions (sweet, yellow or red)
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
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Trim excess fat from the chicken thighs. Place in a bowl. Add lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, turmeric, garlic, and lemon zest. Mix chicken and spices until all chicken pieces are well coated. Set aside.
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Thinly slice the onions. Place on a sheet pan. Drizzle with a few tablespoons of oil. Sprinkle with some salt. Toss onion slices until coated. (You can also mix the onions in a bowl, but who really wants one more thing to wash?)
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Place the seasoned chicken thighs on top of the onions. Bake the chicken for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees F.
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Serve chicken alongside your favorite grain or vegetables. Enjoy!
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