Cast Iron Pan-Seared Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-12 · Updated 2026-05-12

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Juicy chicken thighs pan-seared in cast iron with a bright lemon garlic sauce, perfect for a quick dinner. This American-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, olive oil, unsalted butter for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 25 min Serves 4 American cuisine 350 cal/serving

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Ingredients

6 pieces bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp unsalted butter
4 garlic cloves, minced
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat dry 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a cast iron pan over medium-high heat until shimmering.
Step 2: Place chicken thighs skin-side down in the hot pan and sear for 7-8 minutes without moving until the skin is deep golden and crispy. Flip and cook on the other side for 5 minutes.
Step 3: Reduce heat to medium, add 2 tbsp unsalted butter and 4 minced garlic cloves to the pan. Spoon the melted butter and garlic over the chicken for 1 minute until fragrant.
Step 4: Pour in 1/2 cup chicken broth and 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice, then sprinkle 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves over the chicken. Simmer for 5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and the chicken is cooked through.
Step 5: Remove chicken from pan and spoon the lemon garlic sauce over the top before serving.