Sautéed Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs with Wilted Spinach
Juicy chicken thighs pan-seared with bright lemon and garlic flavors, served alongside tender wilted spinach. This Mediterranean-inspired chicken recipe (gluten-free, high-protein), 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 rice, quinoa, or a quick salad. 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
- 4 cloves, minced garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 6 cups fresh spinach
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
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Instructions
- Step 1: Pat dry 4 bone-in chicken thighs and season with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper evenly on both sides.
- Step 2: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, then add the chicken thighs skin-side down and cook for 6-7 minutes until the skin is golden and crisp.
- Step 3: Flip the chicken and add 4 minced garlic cloves around the pan, cooking for another 6 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and garlic is fragrant but not burnt.
- Step 4: Remove chicken from the pan and squeeze 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice into the skillet, stirring to deglaze and scrape up browned bits.
- Step 5: Add 6 cups fresh spinach to the skillet and sauté for 2-3 minutes until wilted, seasoning with a pinch of salt if needed.
- Step 6: Return chicken thighs to the pan, spoon the lemon garlic sauce and spinach over them, and serve immediately.







