Pan-Seared Chicken Thighs with Paprika and Garlic Butter

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-27 · Updated 2026-06-27

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 pan-seared to golden perfection, finished with a rich garlic butter and smoky paprika sauce. This American-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs bone-in chicken thighs, smoked paprika, salt 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

4 pieces (about 1.5 lbs) bone-in chicken thighs
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp unsalted butter
4 cloves, minced garlic cloves
2 tbsp, chopped fresh parsley
1 tbsp lemon juice

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat dry 4 bone-in chicken thighs and season evenly with 2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Let rest for 10 minutes.
Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Place chicken thighs skin-side down and cook for 7-8 minutes without moving until the skin is crispy and deep golden brown.
Step 3: Flip the chicken thighs and reduce heat to medium. Add 3 tbsp unsalted butter and 4 minced garlic cloves to the pan. Spoon melted butter and garlic over the chicken continuously for 5-6 minutes until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature 165°F) and the sauce thickens slightly.
Step 4: Remove the pan from heat and stir in 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley and 1 tbsp lemon juice. Spoon the garlic butter sauce over the chicken before serving.