Pan-Seared Lemon Garlic Herb Chicken Thighs
Juicy chicken thighs pan-seared with fresh garlic, lemon zest, and herbs for a bright and savory skillet dinner. This Mediterranean-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 25 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.
Ingredients
- 4 (about 1.5 lbs) bone-in chicken thighs
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4, minced garlic cloves
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tbsp, chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
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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 dry 4 bone-in chicken thighs and season both sides with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a 12-inch nonstick pan over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 1 minute.
- Step 3: Place chicken thighs skin-side down in the pan and cook without moving for 7-8 minutes until the skin is golden brown and crispy.
- Step 4: Flip the thighs and add 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary, and 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves around the chicken.
- Step 5: Sauté for an additional 6-7 minutes, spooning the garlic and herbs over the chicken, until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Step 6: Remove from heat and drizzle 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice over the chicken before serving.







