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Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs · Skillet

Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs

Juicy, golden chicken thighs in a bright lemon-garlic butter sauce, all made in one skillet in about 30 minutes. Spoon the sauce over rice, pasta or crusty bread.

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Prep
10 min
Cook
20 min
Total
30 min
Serves
4
Level
Easy

Ingredients

Chicken

  • 2 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, 6 to 8 thighs, patted dry
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Lemon garlic sauce

  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • 1 lemon, zested and juiced (about 3 tablespoons juice)
  • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Cook to 165°F inside (check with a thermometer).

Steps

  1. Pat the chicken very dry with paper towels. Mix the salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika and sprinkle it over both sides of the chicken.
  2. Heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Lay the thighs in smooth side down and leave them alone until deeply golden.
  3. Flip and cook the other side until the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part. Thighs stay juicy even a bit past that. Move the chicken to a plate.
  4. Lower the heat to medium. Melt the butter in the same pan, add the garlic (and pepper flakes, if using) and stir until fragrant but not brown.
  5. Pour in the broth and lemon juice, scraping up the browned bits with a wooden spoon. Simmer until slightly reduced.
  6. Stir in the lemon zest, return the chicken and any juices to the pan and spoon the sauce over the top. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Tip: Don't move the chicken while it sears. It releases from the pan on its own when it's browned.

Tip: Use a separate cutting board for raw chicken, and wash hands, boards and knives in hot soapy water after handling it.

Storage: Refrigerate in an airtight container within 2 hours, up to 3 days. Reheat gently until hot all the way through (165°F).

Estimated nutrition per serving: 390 calories · protein 45 g · carbohydrates 3 g · fiber <1 g · sugars <1 g · fat 22 g (saturated 8 g) · sodium 770 mg. Estimate from USDA FoodData Central; not medical or dietary advice. Based on 11 of 11 ingredients.