Pan-Seared Chicken Thighs with Roasted Garlic and Balsamic Glaze
Tender, juicy chicken thighs pan-seared to golden perfection and finished with a rich roasted garlic and balsamic glaze. This Mediterranean-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs bone-in chicken thighs, olive oil, 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.
Ingredients
- 4 pieces (about 1.5 lbs) bone-in chicken thighs
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 8 whole garlic cloves
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tbsp honey
- 3 fresh thyme sprigs
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Pat dry 4 bone-in chicken thighs and season evenly with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Step 2: Add the chicken thighs skin-side down and sear for 6-7 minutes without moving, until the skin is deeply golden and crisp. Flip and sear the other side for 5 minutes.
- Step 3: Add 8 whole garlic cloves and 3 fresh thyme sprigs to the skillet, then reduce heat to medium-low and cover loosely. Cook for 8 minutes until chicken is cooked through and garlic softens.
- Step 4: Remove chicken and garlic to a plate. Pour off excess fat, then add 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar and 2 tbsp honey to the skillet. Simmer over medium heat for 3-4 minutes until the glaze thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Step 5: Return chicken and garlic to the skillet, spoon the glaze over, and cook for 1 more minute to coat. Serve immediately with the garlic cloves.







