Seared Lemon-Ginger Chicken Thighs with Sautéed Spinach
Juicy chicken thighs pan-seared with fresh lemon zest and ginger, served alongside vibrant sautéed spinach with garlic and chili flakes. This Mediterranean-inspired Whole30 recipe (gluten free), ready in about 25 minutes, pairs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, sea salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a Whole30 week and pairs well with roasted sweet potato or a simple olive-oil 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 (about 1.5 lbs) bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 tsp, divided sea salt
- 1/2 tsp, divided black pepper
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves, thinly sliced fresh garlic cloves
- 1/4 tsp red chili flakes
- 10 oz fresh baby spinach
- 1 tbsp fresh 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, skin-on chicken thighs and season evenly on both sides with 1/2 tsp sea salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp ground ginger, and 1 tbsp lemon zest.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Place chicken thighs skin-side down and sear for 6-7 minutes until skin is golden and crisp. Flip and cook for another 6 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Step 3: Remove chicken from skillet and tent with foil. In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium, add 4 thinly sliced garlic cloves and 1/4 tsp red chili flakes, sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Step 4: Add 10 oz fresh baby spinach and sauté, stirring constantly, for 2-3 minutes until wilted. Season spinach with 1/2 tsp sea salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper, then drizzle with 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice.
- Step 5: Serve the seared chicken thighs on a plate alongside the garlicky sautéed spinach.








