Description
Quick Easy Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs Dinner comes together fast! Tender chicken, bright lemon, and rich garlic butter. A weeknight favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
- Chicken & Base:
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- Flavor Boosters:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 6–8 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 large lemon (zest and juice)
- Pantry Staples:
- 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper (or to taste)
- Fresh Finishers:
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Crispy Skin First:: Okay, so grab those chicken thighs, pat them super dry with paper towels – this is crucial for crispy skin, trust me! Season them generously with salt and pepper. Heat a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat with a little olive oil. Once shimmering, place the chicken thighs skin-side down. You want to hear that sizzle! Let them cook for about 8-10 minutes, undisturbed, until the skin is deeply golden and super crispy. Don’t touch them! I always get tempted to peek, but resist, resist! You’ll see that beautiful color forming, and the smell, oh, the smell is just divine.
- Flip & Finish in Oven:: Once that skin is perfect, carefully flip the chicken thighs. Now, pop the whole skillet into your preheated oven at 400°F (200°C). This is where the magic happens and the chicken cooks through without drying out. Let it roast for another 15-20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). I once pulled them out too early, and oops, had to stick them back in. A meat thermometer is your best friend here, honestly. You’ll notice the chicken getting plump and juicy, and the kitchen will just be filled with warm, inviting aromas.
- Make the Garlic Butter Sauce:: While the chicken is finishing its oven nap, drain off most of the rendered chicken fat from the skillet, leaving about a tablespoon or two. Put the skillet back on the stovetop over medium heat. Add the unsalted butter and let it melt, swirling it around. Then, toss in that minced garlic. Sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant. Don’t let it burn! I’ve burned garlic before, and it makes the whole sauce bitter – total disaster. You’ll smell that glorious garlic aroma wafting up, it’s honestly one of my favorite kitchen smells.
- Add Broth & Lemon:: Pour in the chicken broth and bring it to a gentle simmer, scraping up any delicious brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Those bits are pure flavor, don’t leave them behind! Let it simmer for a few minutes until it reduces slightly and thickens just a tiny bit. Then, stir in the fresh lemon juice and lemon zest. Taste it! This is your chance to adjust. Need more salt? A little more lemon? Go for it! This is your Quick Easy Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs Dinner, make it how you like it.
- Combine & Coat:: Once the chicken is cooked through, carefully remove the skillet from the oven. Transfer the cooked chicken thighs back into the skillet with the lemon garlic butter sauce. Spoon that beautiful sauce generously over each piece of chicken. Make sure every crevice gets coated! This step is so satisfying, watching the chicken get drenched in all that golden goodness. It’s like giving it a little flavor bath!
- Garnish & Serve:: Finally, sprinkle a generous amount of fresh chopped parsley over the chicken. The green just pops against the golden sauce, and it adds that fresh, herbaceous note. Serve this Quick Easy Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs Dinner immediately with your favorite sides. I love seeing how the parsley just brightens everything up. The final result should look incredibly appetizing, smell like a dream, and taste even better – pure comfort on a plate.