Lemon-Pepper Roasted Chicken Legs

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Lemon-Pepper Roasted Chicken Legs

Serves 4 as Main Dish.

An easy and very tasty weeknight meal

• 4 whole, bone-in skin-on chicken legs
  
• 1 medium onion, sliced
  
• 3 T butter, melted
  
• 2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
  
• 1 tsp coarsely-ground black pepper
  
• 2 lemons, zested and juiced
  
• 2 c chicken stock
  
• 2 T corn starch
  
• 4 T water
  

1. Brine chicken legs for 30 minutes to an hour in a solution of 1/2 c table salt dissolved in 2 qt water.

2. Preheat oven to 350F. Scatter onion slices in a 13x9 baking dish and pour about 1 c warmed chicken stock in the dish. Place a rack over the onions.

3. Melt butter in microwave in a small bowl; when it's melted, stir in garlic, half of the lemon zest, and the black pepper, then microwave for another 15-20 seconds.

4. Rinse chicken and pat with paper towels to dry. Brush the chicken with the butter mixture and sprinkle with salt on both sides. In a heavy skillet over medium-high heat, brown the chicken for about 3-4 minutes per side, then place on a rack over the onions in the baking dish. Put the dish in the oven and bake until internal temp in thighs reaches 165 F (about 30-40 minutes).

5. While chicken is in the oven, deglaze the skillet with a little chicken stock. In a small saucepan, heat the remaining butter mixture along with the remaining lemon zest. Add about half of the lemon juice and the remaining chicken stock. Bring to a boil, then strain through a fine-mesh strainer into bowl. Rinse out the saucepan and return the sauce.

6. When chicken is finished, turn off the oven and transfer the chicken to a platter, putting the platter in the oven to keep warm. Strain the liquid from the baking dish into the sauce, pressing on the onions to extract flavor. In a small bowl, mix the corn starch and water, then add to sauce, stirring to combine. Bring to a low boil and simmer until thickened. Adjust flavor by adding more lemon juice, if desired.

Serve chicken over rice or pasta topped with lemon sauce.

Keywords: Main Dish, Easy, Chicken, Dinner

( RG2078 )