Pan-Seared Chicken Thighs with Balsamic Glaze and Roasted Garlic
Juicy chicken thighs pan-seared to crisp skin perfection and finished with a rich balsamic glaze accented by sweet roasted garlic. This Mediterranean recipe (gluten free), ready in about 40 minutes, pairs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, salt, black pepper 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 rice, quinoa, or a quick salad. 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
- 4 pieces (about 1.5 lbs) bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 6 whole, unpeeled garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp, chopped fresh thyme
- 2 tbsp water
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F. Rub 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken thighs skin side down and sear without moving for 6-7 minutes until skin is golden and crisp.
- Step 3: Flip chicken thighs and add 6 whole unpeeled garlic cloves around them. Transfer skillet to the oven and roast for 15 minutes until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Step 4: Remove skillet from oven and transfer chicken to a plate. Place skillet back on medium heat, add 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, 1 tbsp honey, and 2 tbsp water, stirring and scraping up browned bits. Simmer for 3-4 minutes until sauce thickens to a glaze consistency.
- Step 5: Stir in 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme and toss in roasted garlic cloves (squeeze softened garlic from skins if desired). Spoon balsamic glaze over chicken and serve immediately.








