Pan-Seared Chicken Thighs with Lemon and Garlic

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-08 · Updated 2026-04-08

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, golden-brown chicken thighs infused with garlic and lemon, finished with a bright herb butter sauce. This American-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs chicken thighs, olive oil, garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 400 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 15 min Serves 4 American cuisine 400 cal/serving

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Ingredients

4, bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
2 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves, minced garlic
1, sliced lemon
1 tbsp, leaves chopped fresh thyme
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp unsalted butter

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat 4 chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on) dry with paper towels, then season both sides with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Place chicken skin-side down and cook for 8-10 minutes without moving until skin is golden and crisp.
Step 3: Flip chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes more until internal temperature reaches 165°F and juices run clear.
Step 4: Remove chicken to a plate and set aside. Add 3 garlic cloves (minced) to the skillet, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
Step 5: Stir in 1 lemon (sliced) and 1 tbsp fresh thyme (leaves chopped), then add 1 tbsp unsalted butter until melted and bubbly.
Step 6: Return chicken to the skillet, spooning sauce over the top, and cook for 2 minutes to reheat and absorb flavors.