Description
A quick and easy 30-minute dinner featuring golden, juicy chicken thighs with crispy skin and a bright lemon garlic sauce. Perfect for weeknight meals that feel special without the fuss.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 1.5 lbs / 680g)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (extra virgin recommended)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about 30ml)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ cup chicken broth or water (60ml)
- Optional: ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Optional: 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Optional: 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt, pepper, and dried oregano. Zest the lemon and set the zest aside for the sauce.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking. Place chicken thighs skin-side down without crowding the pan.
- Cook without moving for 7-8 minutes until the skin is deep golden and crisp. Flip and cook for another 3 minutes on the other side.
- Remove chicken from the pan and set aside. Reduce heat to medium and add minced garlic. Stir constantly for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Pour in chicken broth (or water), lemon juice, and add lemon zest. Scrape up any brown bits from the pan. Let sauce simmer for 2-3 minutes to reduce slightly. Stir in butter if using.
- Return chicken thighs to the pan, skin-side up. Spoon sauce over the meat (not the skin). Reduce heat to low, cover loosely, and cook for another 5-7 minutes until chicken reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Transfer chicken to plates, spoon over extra sauce, and garnish with chopped parsley and red pepper flakes if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
Pat chicken dry twice for extra crispy skin. Avoid crowding the pan to ensure proper browning. Stir garlic constantly to prevent burning. Use fresh lemon zest and juice for best flavor. Butter adds richness but can be omitted for dairy-free version. Reheat leftovers gently in a skillet to maintain crispiness.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh
- Calories: 350
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: chicken thighs, lemon garlic chicken, crispy chicken, quick dinner, easy chicken recipe, weeknight dinner, garlic chicken, lemon chicken