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).
Can I make this recipe and freeze it?
Sure can Christine, not sure how crispy the outside would stay though when thawed! N x
can this recipe be frozen after cooking
Tried this tonight for the first time. Another one of your winners Nagi..thank you!
Will chicken crisp in a nonstick pan or should it be an uncoated pan?
Can I bake this in the oven and get the same result? What do you recommend for temperature and time?
I recommend a pan here Adnes to ensure you get the direct heat for the beautiful crust on the chicken. N x
Wonderful recipe! Added a spontaneous squeeze of lime at the end 😊
and served with your Magic broccoli recipe and crispy smashed potatoes. It was all delicious!
I really don’t like thighs.. can I make it with breast? Does it change anything of the recipe or cooking time ? Love from Holland
This is my to go chicken recipe absolutely love it and so easy
This was delicious but it didnt crisp up as I thought it was going to.
I will be making it again as it was really tasty.
Followed the recipe exactly, it was so delicious! Thank you!
I was a little skeptical when I looked at the ingredients; it looked way too simple. BUT it turned out yummy. It’s comforting yummy. I didn’t have wine so, I used chicken stock and a dash of Chinese cooking wine. I also grated the garlic so it wouldn’t burn. Will make again!!
Agree with Gail, mine needed a bit more time. A preheated 400 oven preserved the crispiness and got me the 165 I was looking for.
I usually don’t write reviews but felt like this was too good not to mention. It was one of the tastiest dishes I have ever made. Made exactly as written except that I cooked in a cast iron pan and finished it off in the oven just to insure the doneness of the chicken. My house smelled so good!
I’m so glad you loved it Gail – and it’s SO easy too! N x
Hello Nagi. Can I make this with the skin on?
So great! Easy, quick and yummy. I made a side of mashed ❤️ Thank you
Yum! I added cream to the sauce once it finished cooking and it was so so good!
Sounds like you nailed it Lucy!! 👌 N x
Smooth side down? is that skin?
Hi Mari, I say smooth side as this recipe used skinless thighs, but yes, it would be where the skin was – you can see this in the video too for clarification 🙂 N x
This dish was a quick and tasty winner with my family of 5. I added some mushrooms to the sauce. Clean plates all round. Thank you Niga
Recipes are great. Simple, and easy to follow.
Yum! I cooked some mushrooms and spinach in the sauce with the chicken, it was deeeeelicious. Definitely a winner, thanks Nagi.
Quick easy and taste, made with Curried Basmati Rice –
really good.