Description
A quick and flavorful one-pan chicken dish featuring tangy lemon, caramelized shallots, and a rich pan sauce. Perfect for easy weeknight dinners with juicy, crispy-skinned chicken thighs.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 1.5 lbs / 680g)
- 3 medium shallots, thinly sliced
- 1 large lemon, zested and juiced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup (120ml) chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (or ½ teaspoon dried)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon butter (optional)
Instructions
- Prep your ingredients: slice shallots thinly, mince garlic, zest and juice the lemon, and pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken generously with salt and pepper. Place skin-side down and cook without moving for about 5 minutes until skin is golden and crisp. Flip and cook the other side for 3 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Lower heat to medium, add remaining olive oil and butter. Add shallots and cook gently until softened and caramelized, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth, lemon juice, and sprinkle thyme leaves. Scrape up browned bits from the pan with a wooden spoon. Let sauce simmer gently for 2 minutes.
- Return chicken thighs skin-side up to the pan. Spoon sauce and shallots over the top. Cover with lid or foil and simmer on low heat for 10-12 minutes, or until chicken reaches 165°F (74°C). Sauce will thicken slightly.
- Remove lid, spoon sauce over chicken again, and sprinkle with fresh lemon zest. Serve immediately.
Notes
Pat chicken dry for crispy skin. Do not move chicken while searing to develop golden crust. Use fresh lemon zest for best flavor. Simmer sauce gently without boiling. Let chicken rest 5 minutes before serving. Use a meat thermometer to ensure doneness. Optional broil 1-2 minutes for extra crispy skin.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 23 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with
- Calories: 320
- Sodium: 480
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 3
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 28
Keywords: lemon chicken, shallot chicken, easy dinner, one-pan meal, quick chicken recipe, savory chicken, weeknight dinner