Description
A simple, flavorful recipe featuring crispy, juicy chicken thighs cooked in a tangy lemon garlic butter sauce, perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 pounds / 900g)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (55g)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 teaspoons)
- 1 large lemon, zested and juiced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (30ml)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth (120ml)
- Optional: chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Season generously with salt, pepper, and dried thyme on both sides. Set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil shimmers, place the chicken thighs skin-side down. Press gently with tongs to ensure full contact with the pan. Sear without moving for 5-6 minutes until skin is golden and crispy. Flip and cook the other side for 2 minutes. Remove chicken from skillet.
- Lower heat to medium. Add butter to the skillet and let it melt. Stir in minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Add lemon zest and juice, then pour in chicken broth. Scrape up any browned bits from the pan.
- Return chicken thighs to the skillet, skin side up. Spoon some sauce over them.
- Transfer skillet to a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C). Bake for 15-20 minutes until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Remove from oven and let chicken rest for a few minutes. Spoon extra sauce over the top and garnish with chopped parsley if desired. Serve with your favorite sides.
Notes
Pat chicken dry thoroughly for crispy skin. Use fresh garlic and lemon zest/juice for best flavor. Avoid burning garlic by cooking it on medium heat and watching closely. Let chicken rest after baking to redistribute juices. Optionally add white wine to sauce before baking for deeper flavor. Can substitute boneless thighs with reduced baking time. For dairy-free, replace butter with olive oil and use water instead of broth.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 26-31 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 480
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 15
- Carbohydrates: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: lemon garlic butter chicken, chicken thighs recipe, easy chicken dinner, weeknight chicken, crispy chicken thighs, lemon chicken