Stovetop Lemon-Thyme Chicken with Garlic and Shallots
Tender chicken thighs pan-seared with fresh lemon juice, thyme, garlic, and caramelized shallots for a bright, savory dish. This Mediterranean-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 40 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 320 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
- 4 cloves, minced garlic cloves
- 2 medium, thinly sliced shallots
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
- 3 tbsp, freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 tbsp butter
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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 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 2 minutes.
- Step 2: Place chicken thighs skin-side down in the skillet and sear for 6-7 minutes without moving, until skin is golden and crisp. Flip and cook the other side for 5 minutes.
- Step 3: Remove chicken to a plate. To the same skillet, add 4 minced garlic cloves and 2 thinly sliced shallots, sauté over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and softened.
- Step 4: Stir in 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves, then pour in 3 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice and 1/2 cup chicken broth. Bring to a simmer and scrape up browned bits from the pan.
- Step 5: Return chicken thighs to the skillet, skin-side up. Cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer gently for 10 minutes until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Step 6: Remove chicken again, stir 1 tbsp butter into the sauce until melted and glossy. Spoon sauce over chicken and serve immediately.








