Pan-Seared Chicken Thighs with Lemon Garlic Spinach
Juicy pan-seared chicken thighs served atop garlicky lemon spinach for a simple, flavorful protein-packed dinner. This American-inspired chicken recipe (low carb), ready in about 30 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 low-carb week and pairs well with cauliflower rice or roasted green vegetables. 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 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 6 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1/4 tsp (optional) red pepper flakes
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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 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs dry with paper towels. 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 6-8 minutes until skin is golden brown and crispy. Flip and cook another 5-6 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove chicken and set aside.
- Step 3: Reduce heat to medium, add 1 tbsp unsalted butter to the skillet. Once melted, add 3 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Step 4: Add 6 cups fresh baby spinach and toss for 2-3 minutes until wilted. Stir in 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes if using. Season spinach with a pinch of salt to taste.
- Step 5: Serve chicken thighs over the lemon garlic spinach immediately.








