Pan-Seared Chicken Thighs with Balsamic Shallot Reduction
Juicy pan-seared chicken thighs paired with a rich balsamic and shallot sauce that balances savory and tangy flavors for a satisfying dinner. This French-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 35 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 370 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.
Ingredients
- 4 (about 1.5 lbs) bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 large, thinly sliced shallots
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp, chopped fresh thyme
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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 dry 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place chicken thighs skin-side down and sear for 7-8 minutes until skin is crisp and golden brown.
- Step 3: Flip the chicken and cook for an additional 6-7 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside, keeping warm.
- Step 4: Reduce heat to medium and add 3 thinly sliced shallots to the skillet. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened and translucent.
- Step 5: Pour in 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar and 1/2 cup chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Simmer gently for 5-6 minutes until sauce reduces by half and thickens slightly.
- Step 6: Stir in 2 tbsp unsalted butter and 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme until butter melts and sauce is glossy.
- Step 7: Return chicken thighs to the skillet and spoon sauce over them. Cook for 1-2 minutes to warm through, then serve immediately.








