Crispy Lemon-Garlic Chicken Thighs with Cauliflower Mash
Juicy chicken thighs caramelized with garlic and lemon, served atop creamy cauliflower mash for a satisfying keto dinner. This American-inspired keto recipe (low carb, high protein), ready in about 40 minutes, pairs chicken thighs, bacon, cauliflower for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a low-carb week and pairs well with cauliflower rice or roasted green vegetables. 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
- 8 oz chicken thighs
- 4 slices bacon
- 1.5 cups cauliflower
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
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Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
- Step 2: Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp (3-4 minutes), then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Pour off all but 1 tbsp bacon grease.
- Step 3: Add chicken thighs to skillet, skin-side down, and cook undisturbed for 8 minutes until golden brown. Flip and cook 5 more minutes.
- Step 4: Add 3 minced garlic cloves to the skillet and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, then add 1 tbsp lemon juice and 1/2 tsp dried thyme.
- Step 5: Transfer chicken to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, nestle bacon pieces around it, and bake for 15 minutes until chicken reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Step 6: While chicken bakes, steam cauliflower for 10 minutes until fork-tender, then mash with 2 tbsp unsalted butter and a pinch of salt until smooth.








