Quick chicken thigh recipes are midweek lifesavers, and these Garlic Chicken Thighs are one of my gold nuggets!
With a crispy, garlic crusted surface, juicy insides and a garlic butter sauce, this is a 5 ingredient boneless skinless chicken thigh recipe. It’s almost unbelievable how outrageously delicious such an effortless recipe can be!
The BEST quick chicken thigh recipe I know
There’s one key thing about this recipe that distinguishes it from most quick and easy chicken thigh recipes – these are CRISPY skinless chicken thighs.
Crispy crust? With skinless chicken thighs?
YES YOU CAN!
Here’s the secret: garlic powder, salt and pepper sprinkled on the chicken thighs. Cook on a relatively low heat = deep golden, crispy crust with terrific savoury garlic flavour.
And not only do you get all the pleasure of devouring that garlicky crispy crust, the brown bits in the pan from the searing* is the base for an incredible pan sauce that takes 1 1/2 minutes to make.
* The official word for the gold stuff in pans is fond.
Chicken thighs – all the way!
I’m pretty sure chicken breast is the most popular cut of chicken here in Australia – and probably many western countries.
Yes breast is leaner – just marginally. Does it surprise you to know that 100g/3.5oz chicken thighs only has 2 teeny tiny grams more fat than breast? 2 grams is nothing for all the extra flavour and juiciness you get from chicken thighs!
In all honesty, when it comes to stress free quick and easy meals with chicken, go chicken thighs all the way. It’s juicier so easier to cook, less prone to drying out because you overcooked it by 90 seconds, can be cooked with less oil and it has better flavour than breast. 🙂
What to serve on the side?
Make dinner extra fabulous by serving these Garlic Chicken Thighs with this addictive Curried Basmati Rice or Mushroom Rice! Add this Everyday Cabbage Salad for crunch (a great standby salad) or make a quick garden salad.
There are very few recipes in this world that are truly made from scratch that call for such few ingredients, are seriously quick and easy, don’t call for a tub of butter and cream, are economical and yet so lip smackingly delicious, you’d proudly serve this up for company.
This Garlic Chicken Thighs recipe makes the cut. Terrific back pocket recipe! 🙌🏻🙌🏻 – Nagi x
More skinless boneless chicken thigh recipes:
Greek Chicken Gyros – long time reader fave!
Sticky Baked Chicken Thighs – country style sauce, pantry staples!
Asian flavours – Thai Grilled Chicken, Chinese BBQ Chicken, Thai Coconut Chicken, Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken
Bone in, skin on chicken thigh recipes:
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
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Crispy Garlic Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 700 g / 1.2 lb skinless boneless chicken thighs (5 to 6)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup / 125 ml dry white wine (or broth or water)
- 25 g / 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 large garlic cloves , minced
- Finely chopped parsley , optional
Instructions
- Sprinkle both sides of chicken with garlic powder, salt and pepper.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place chicken in skillet smooth side down.
- Press down lightly with with spatula. Cook for 5 minutes until deep golden and crispy.
- Turn and press lightly with spatula. Cook for 2 minutes. Add garlic and butter, cook for 1 minute until garlic is light golden and it smells amazing.
- Add wine, then turn up heat. Stir around the chicken to dissolve golden bits stuck on the skillet into the wine. Simmer rapidly for 1 1/2 minutes or until alcohol smell evaporates.
- Remove from heat. Serve chicken with sauce.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
This is what’s in your face if you eat on the couch (with or without grey trackies and ugg boots).
I made this last night with a simple version of your mushroom rice and OMG! So easy and so delicious! It was a hit and will be added to my rotation! Thank you!
That’s great to here Trice!
This was awesome! I’ve had such bad luck with online recipes lately, and this was a breath of fresh air. I don’t think I’ve ever made anything that was so simple but tasted so gourmet. I made it twice actually, the second time I cooked the chicken 1.5 minutes longer on the second side, but that was my personal preference. I served it with a balsamic kale, bean, tomato, and corn salad. This will not be the last time I make this! Thank you so much!
Hi Nagi. Ive been a follower of yours for years & i love everything you do. It is nice to know that there are others whose lives revolve around fresh homemade food too.🤣🤗
With that being said, i was wondering if you could make your version of Ina Garten’s 40 Clove Garlic Chicken? Im actually going to make it tonight but id like to see your spin on it. It’s seared bone in chicken that is slow cooked in a creamy sauce made of wine, cognac, fresh thyme & a touch of cream.☺😍
Thank you for all of the recipe ideas over the years & for always responding to your fans. You make us feel very special for getting feedback from a celebrity home chef.🙂😘💃💃
Much love from the SF Bay Area!💜❤😎
Sounds Devine Adriana, I’ll have to give it a go!
Made this along with the curried basmati rice on your website. Very impressed with both recipes. I served homemade naan, tomato and cucumber salad and cucumber raita with it. Doubled the recipe for my crowd of 8 hearty eaters. I used some dry rose I had open and some stock left from making the rice to make the reduction sauce.
Sounds to die for Sylvia!!!
Made this for dinner tonight. Really nice and served it with the apple walnut salad. A very delicious meal and will definitely be making again. Who needs cookbooks when we have you Nagi. Thanks again.
Delish, fast and easy. I used skin on bone in chicken thighs. I seasoned as per recipe and cooked them longer. Before I added the butter and garlic I drained the fat out of the pan then followed the recipe directions. I served with salad.Thanks Nagi another winner. I love the pics of Dozer thanks for sharing.
That’s great Darlene!!
This is a superb recipe. My husband likes sauce in his meals and he thought this was perfect. I made the Curry Basmati Rice to go with it. Yum! Thanks, Nagi!
A great combo! ❤️
I made this last night along with the mushroom rice recipe – they were both excellent – definitely “KEEPERS “! I’m recently new to your blog and absolutely love it – it’s so well written and beautifully photographed (Dozer included – golden are the best!). Thanks
So, so good! So, so easy! So, so good! Paired it with the mushroom rice recipe – 5 stars will definitely have a place in our regular dinner rotation! Thanks so much!!!
A great combo! I’m so happy it was a hit!
Hi there! Looks delicious! We have a dairy allergy in the house. What do you recommend as a substitute for the butter (I’m so sad because I know it would be the best!)?
Hi Talia!
My daughter has a dairy allergy and I substitute pork lard for butter. Hope this helps!
This was so delicious and SO EASY! Love your recipes!
How good is it Steph!?! Who knew something so easy could be so great – I’m glad you enjoyed it! – N x
Looking to cook this tonight. Does it matter if I use skin on, bjj one in chicken thighs?
Hi Nagi, was trying this tonight but my sauce turns out black because of the burnt garlic seasoning on the chicken. The sauce also tasted slightly bitter because of the seasoning. I was using a whole leg with bone in and skin on. Anyway to prevent the garlic powder from burning?
Hi Ping, I like to use boneless thighs as they cook quicker. Try on a lower heat for longer so the chicken doesn’t burn ☺️
We just made this tonight and it was a complete hit with the family! We have a bunch of picky eaters so I was kind of worried, but it tasted fantastic. We didn’t have dry white wine, but we substituted with dry sherry (rose wine).
A great substitution Leah, I’m so glad it satisfied your picky eaters!
Absolutely loved it. I started a 31 day fit challenge and I found most of my meals I can have on your site. I have made the garlic honey chicken as well. Gonna make the honey garlic Salmon one next week. Thanks for your amazing recipes.
You’re so welcome, I’m so glad you’re enjoying them!
Whenever I crave for a rice bowl, chicken thighs usually comes out on the top of mind. Looking at your delicious skillet really pushes me to have one tonight xD
– Natalie
Made this tonight and it was sooo delicious!!! I usually find chicken dishes boring, so I was happy to find a simple chicken recipe with flavour!
Yessss!
Hi – I made this tonight and it was so easy and so flavourful thanks! I used chicken broth in place of wine and it worked out great. And I used chicken breasts. The only thing is I had to cook the chicken a lot longer to cook it through. Thanks!
Where would I be without this website and these recipes. So simple, so yum, ordinary ingredients! Thankyou
Glad you enjoyed it Maureen!!! Thanks for sharing your feedback 🙂 N x
Hi, Nagi…I’m so excited to try this recipe! Tonight is the night. I’ll leave the fat on the thighs. I usually painstakingly remove it😊 Thanks for the recipe!!