Baked Lemon-Pepper Chicken Thighs with Roasted Garlic
Juicy chicken thighs seasoned with bright lemon zest and cracked black pepper, baked alongside whole garlic cloves for a fragrant, savory finish. This American-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, pairs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, lemon zest, fresh lemon juice for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 6 pieces bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 2 tsp lemon zest
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp cracked black pepper
- 8 garlic cloves, peeled
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 425°F. In a large bowl, combine 3 tbsp olive oil, 2 tsp lemon zest, 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1 tsp cracked black pepper, and 1 tsp salt. Add 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and toss to coat evenly.
- Step 2: Arrange the chicken thighs skin-side up on a rimmed baking sheet and scatter 8 peeled garlic cloves around them. Roast in the oven for 35-40 minutes until the skin is golden and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Step 3: Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving, allowing the garlic to soften and add a mellow sweetness to the dish.
