Pan-Fried Chicken Thighs with Garlic and Lemon Zest

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

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 drafted and published.

Juicy chicken thighs pan-fried with bright lemon zest and savory garlic, delivering a simple yet flavorful dish. This Mediterranean-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, olive oil, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 6, 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: 15 min Serves 6 Mediterranean cuisine 320 cal/serving
Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

Know when the chicken is done: thermometers under $100 → Best Instant-Read Thermometers for 2026: Fast, Accurate Picks Under $100

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

More Cookware & pots → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs dry and season both sides with 1 1/2 tsp sea salt and 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper.
  2. Step 2: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering.
  3. Step 3: Place chicken thighs skin-side down and cook undisturbed for 7-8 minutes until the skin is golden brown and crispy.
  4. Step 4: Flip chicken thighs and add 4 minced garlic cloves and 2 tsp lemon zest to the pan, stirring garlic around the chicken for even flavor.
  5. Step 5: Continue cooking for another 6-7 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and garlic is fragrant and slightly golden.
  6. Step 6: Remove from heat, sprinkle with 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Related recipes