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Crispy Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs Recipe Easy One-Pan Lemon Dinner

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A quick and easy one-pan dinner featuring crispy skin chicken thighs cooked in garlic butter with a bright lemon finish. Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe delivers juicy, flavorful chicken with minimal fuss.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 to 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 pounds / 900g)
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 medium lemon, zested and juiced, plus a couple of thin slices for cooking
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme or rosemary, chopped (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon salt (kosher or sea salt)
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Let sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and heat until hot but not smoking, about 2 minutes.
  3. Place chicken thighs skin-side down in the skillet without crowding. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes without moving until the skin is golden and crispy.
  4. Flip the chicken thighs and cook for another 5 minutes until mostly cooked through.
  5. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add butter, minced garlic, fresh thyme (or rosemary), and lemon slices to the pan. Spoon the melted garlic butter over the chicken repeatedly for 2 to 3 minutes.
  6. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon over the chicken and sprinkle with lemon zest. Cook for another minute, spooning sauce over the thighs.
  7. Check doneness with an instant-read thermometer (should read 165°F / 74°C). Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Pat chicken skin dry before cooking to ensure crispiness. Avoid overcrowding the pan to prevent steaming. Add garlic and butter on medium-low heat to avoid burning the garlic. Use bone-in, skin-on thighs for best texture and juiciness. For dairy-free version, substitute butter with coconut oil or vegan butter. Optionally finish cooking in a 400°F oven for 15 minutes to crisp skin further.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic butter chicken, crispy chicken thighs, one-pan dinner, lemon chicken, easy chicken recipe, weeknight dinner, comfort food

Find it online: https://tastytuck.com/crispy-garlic-butter-chicken-thighs-recipe-easy-one-pan-lemon-dinner/