Crispy Skin-On Chicken Thighs with Lemon-Caper Pan Sauce
A high-protein keto dinner featuring perfectly seared chicken thighs with a tangy, herb-infused pan sauce that locks in moisture and flavor. This American-inspired chicken recipe (keto, high protein), ready in about 40 minutes, pairs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, avocado oil, small red onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 680 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
- 200g bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 2 tbsp avocado oil
- 1/4 cup, finely diced small red onion
- 2, minced garlic cloves
- 30g, drained capers
- 10g fresh lemon zest
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- 10g unsalted butter
- 60ml chicken stock
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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: Pat 200g bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season evenly with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp black pepper. Heat 2 tbsp avocado oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking.
- Step 2: Place chicken thighs skin-side down in the hot skillet and cook undisturbed for 10 minutes until skin is golden brown and crispy, pressing lightly with a spatula to ensure even contact.
- Step 3: Flip thighs and cook for 6 minutes more, then transfer skillet to a preheated 400°F (200°C) oven for 8 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Step 4: Remove chicken and set aside. Add 1/4 cup finely diced red onion and 2 minced garlic cloves to the skillet, sautéing over medium heat for 2 minutes until softened but not browned.
- Step 5: Stir in 30g drained capers, 10g fresh lemon zest, and 1 tsp fresh thyme, cooking for 30 seconds until fragrant, then pour in 60ml chicken stock and simmer for 3 minutes until reduced by half.
- Step 6: Return chicken thighs to the skillet, nestling them into the sauce, and cook for 2 minutes to reheat. Stir in 10g unsalted butter until melted and glossy, then serve immediately.







