Pan-Seared Chicken Thighs with Spicy Mediterranean Olive Tapenade
Juicy chicken thighs pan-seared to golden perfection, topped with a zesty olive and caper tapenade bursting with Mediterranean flavors. This Mediterranean-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs boneless skin-on chicken thighs, extra virgin olive oil, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 370 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) boneless skin-on chicken thighs
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 3, minced garlic cloves
- 1/2 cup, pitted and chopped black olives
- 1/2 cup, pitted and chopped green olives
- 2 tbsp, rinsed and chopped capers
- 1 tsp red chili flakes
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 tbsp, finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: Pat dry 4 boneless skin-on chicken thighs and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, then add chicken thighs skin-side down. Sear for 6-7 minutes until the skin is deep golden brown and crispy, then flip and cook for another 5 minutes until cooked through.
- Step 3: While chicken cooks, combine 1/2 cup black olives, 1/2 cup green olives, 2 tbsp capers, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp red chili flakes, 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, and 1 tbsp olive oil in a bowl. Stir until well mixed.
- Step 4: Remove chicken from skillet and let rest for 5 minutes. Spoon the olive tapenade generously over each chicken thigh before serving, allowing the bright, spicy flavors to complement the savory meat.






