Pan-Seared Chicken Thighs with Lemon-Garlic Butter

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 developed and reviewed.

Juicy chicken thighs cooked until golden, finished with a bright lemon-garlic sauce that clings perfectly to every bite. This American-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs bone-in 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 350 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: 15 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 American cuisine 350 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season evenly with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
  2. Step 2: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Place chicken skin-side down and cook undisturbed for 8-10 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
  3. Step 3: Flip chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes more until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
  4. Step 4: Remove chicken and set aside. Add minced garlic to skillet and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, stirring constantly.
  5. Step 5: Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, and 1 teaspoon dried thyme. Simmer for 1 minute until butter melts and sauce thickens slightly.
  6. Step 6: Return chicken to skillet, spooning sauce over top, and cook for 1 minute to reheat and coat.

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