Quick and simple marinades for Chicken

Need some ideas?

We need to get that all important Protein into our diet. For most, the safe, easy “go to” option is slapping on some Chicken. The choices to “sexy it up” are endless, but sometimes can we be bothered? Especially if it’s a post workout meal and you just want to eat!

Like I mentioned, the choices are endless, but here are some quick simple ideas that are all quite different, so if you’re having Chicken a few nights in a row, it definitely won’t get boring.

Image of Roasted Harissa, Lemon & Herb, BBQ, Pesto and Thai Chicken Legs

#1 on the list

Harissa Chicken

This is a great way to spice up your Chicken giving you some real flavour as well as the heat. Top it off with some Minted Natural yoghurt and you’re good to go. Goes great with Cous Cous, Quinoa or just a simple salad. Harissa spice is available in most shops now, if you can get the ground spice rather than a paste you’ll really get a good, deep flavour. Simply rub the spice in with a little rapeseed oil, salt & pepper and leave for a couple of hours, over night if possible.

#2 on the list

Lemon and Herb Chicken

This is a really nice, fresh option that goes great with some roasted Sweet Potato and Salad Greens. Grate one lemon, rub some Thyme with a little Rapeseed Oil onto the Chicken, add the zest of the lemon, salt and pepper. Again, if this can be done overnight then even better, if not, then try to give yourself a good couple of hours for it to marinade. Slice up a couple of wedges from the Lemon that you grated and place on the Chicken.

#3 on the list

Pesto Chicken

This will go with anything, its so good. A simple Salad, Roasted Vegetables, Cous Cous, Quinoa. You can knock up a simple Basil Pesto in 30 seconds. A bunch of Basil, 3 cloves of Garlic, 400ml Rapeseed oil and 50g Parmesan. Add all the ingredients and blitz with either a stick blender or food processor, salt and pepper, simple pesto done. As above, you can add as much Pesto to the chicken as you would like, leave overnight if possible. Once cooked, drizzle with a little more Pesto and  enjoy!

#4 on the list

Thai Chicken

Now this bad boy, is one of the tastiest on the list and probably the easiest. Now we could go down the route of me telling you how to make a Thai Red Paste, but that would defeat the object of this post (definitely one for a future post though!). Today, we are going with a Thai Paste that you can get in most shops. Don’t get heavy handed now, as most Thai pastes can pack a serious punch. Rub this over the chicken and squeeze over the juice of one lime, again if you can do this the night before even better but if not a couple of hours left marinading will do the job. Once roasted, sprinkle on a chopped chilli and spring onion and you’re good to go.

#5 on the list

BBQ Chicken

This is sooooo finger licking, lip smackingly satisfying. BBQ Chicken goes well with most things especially some Roasted Sweet Potato wedges sprinkled with a little Sea Salt and chopped rosemary…yum yum. Again, following the theme of the post you are going to go with a BBQ Sauce/marinade from the shops. Rub this over the Chicken with a Table spoon of paprika, teaspoon of honey and a teaspoon of cinnamon (if you have these things, if not then it really isn’t the end of the world, they just create a few more flavours).

Personally, I love to use Chicken legs because they are packed with flavour, but if you’re trying to stock up on protein and Chicken Breasts are what you’re going with then no worries. With legs, turn the oven down to 165-170 degrees celsius and slowly roast for 1 hour. If you are going with Breasts then have the oven on 175 degrees celsius for approximately 20 mins.

As mentioned at the start there are many other flavours you could go with. I really believe, having these five recipes in your locker will see you good for a long while.

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