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).
This is sooo good!! Quick and easy to make and absolutely delicious. I served with a salad and hubby went back for more. Wonderful flavours using such simple ingredients! Another winner Nagi! Thank you x
Luckily I found this recipe as I had chicken thighs in the fridge and needed some inspiration. It was quick and easy to put together. Fried with sunflower oil in my non stick pan with lid half on to catch the oil spotting. Needed a med to Hugh heat to get that crispy coloured coating.
Served with steamed corn, purple broccoli, fresh chopped carrots and cubed potatoes.
The creamy mustard sauce was a delight. Excellent recipe. Thank you
I make this multiple times a month and can guarantee my kids will eat well on those nights! I always pair it with Trader Joe’s Rice Orzo Pilaf Mix and a side salad. It’s perfection!
I have made this recipe probably 50 times since I discovered your site. Shame on me for never having reviewed it. This is so delicious and so easy yet. Tastes like it must’ve been a lot of work! I have yet to make a bad recipe from your site. Thank you so much PS give that dozer a kiss from me.
I’m a little confused because the chicken never got remotely crispy at medium heat. It was completely pale.
Need to get yourself a heavy based frypan – cast iron is best
i would make sure to let the oil get hot which it can at medium heat if given the time …and pressing down with the spatula acts like a burger/bacon press to get good contact …just made last night at it was amazing
This is an excellent dish and paired beautifully with baked mushroom rice. I added a serve of steamed broccolli to round out the meal. It was delicious and will be doing this again. Thankyou for your wonderful recipes and website. I am a big fan!
Made this tonight, absolutely delicious, will definitely make it again.Had this with steamed vegies.Super easy recipe to follow. Am l the only one that had a messy stove top from splatter😉
You have to get a splatter shield! Great for bacon, too. 😉
https://www.ikea.com/au/en/p/klockren-splatter-screen-20449169/
Impossibly good! Made this with the Buttery Seasoned Rice and it was a massive hit! I doubled the garlic because we love it, but it would have been just as good as written. Thank you, Navi, for another weeknight home run!
My chicken didnt crisp or brown in the 5 mins. And I followed recipe. Should I have waited for it to brown and crisp before adding butter and garlic and wine?
If you dredge the chicken in a tiny bit of flour before browning it will crisp up well
Great taste and easy to make. My family loved this chicken dish. Thanks!
I’ve made this recipe so many times now and it’s always absolutely delicious. I have it saved to favorites on my browser 🙂
Oh, my! I have brand new carbon steel pan that I inaugurated tonight by cooking this recipe for the first time. It was fast, easy, and absolutely delicious. I added a chopped onion to the pan along with the chicken, and served it with mashed potatoes and broccoli. Truly a perfect meal.
Also had this excellent dish with cauliflower cheese. Perfect homestyle comfort food on a wintery evening. Didn’t want my visiting son to take away any leftovers.
Made this for dinner and it was an asbolute hit! Juicy, tasty and easy. Definitely in the rotation. Had it with your cauliflower cheese which was also super yum. Tempered the richness with steamed green beans. Thanks for sorting out dinner for me Nagi x
Was so yummy I ate the four thighs in one hit. Will try and make it with the mushroom rice next time
Woohoo !! I’m glad you liked it Roddy! N x
I made this today using bone in thighs because that’s what I had. Used half white cooking wine and half chicken broth in the gravy. I cooked the thighs a little longer and it was delicious. I might add mushrooms next time. Great recipe. Will definitely make again.
Woo hoo Shirley!! I am so glad that you liked it!! N x
Delicious, well I constructed recipes. Can’t wait to try more. Thanks so Much!
Loved this! I used the sauce to cook some mushrooms and orzo pasta in. I added some chicken stock and cream, and salted to taste. Delicious meal together with the chicken!!! Thank you!!
This recipe was honestly delicious, my 12yr old loved it as well. So simple but packs allot of flavor. We paired with with buttery mash, was amazing. Thank you!
Is it possible to use bone in chicken thighs. I accidentally bought the wrong ones. If so, how long should I cook then for.