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
Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
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).
Delicious! Thanks!
Thumbs up for this quick dish!. Basmati rice and steamed buttered corn to accompany it. Thanks Nagi 🙂
Tried this last night and it was terrific, and so quick to put together! I had covid last year, and lost a lot of taste, so I tripled the garlic. My husband said it was pretty garlicky but he didn’t mind.
Winner winner, chicken dinner!!!
My notoriously fussy family all gave this the seal of approval, and have requested that it be put on regular rotation. Thanks for this simple but amazingly tasty dish.
I made this tonight as was getting a bit bored with cooking curries with the thighs. Very easy, tasty, quick to cook. Sauce was great!
I made this tonight as was getting a bit bored with cooking curries with the thighs. Very easy, tasty, quick to cook. Sauce was great!
Just made this so easy and delicious!! Woo hoo
There is a snowstorm tomorrow, It is midnight and I don’t have anything in the fridge besides chicken tights and garlic. You save my lunch tomorrow! I admire your cooking style! Thank you for this recipe! God bless you !
This was SO simply and super, super delicious 🙂 I was too stingy to go out and buy a bottle of white wine, so used water as suggested. Next time I’ll definitely go for the wine, however, as I think it would have added something extra to the dish. Thanks for another wonderful recipe!
Hi Nagi,
Instead of dried garlic powder do you think it will be fine with fresh garlic or another fresh herb like sage or thyme? We don’t have garlic powder and prefer fresh if we have it
Please let me know! Thanks!!!
I am quite new to your website and loving it! I am actually enjoying cooking rather than it being a chore.
Thank you so much.
Oh your videos are so helpful too.
I started to make this recipe thinking I had taken thighs out to thaw. After opening the package I realized it was breasts. Too late to change now so went ahead with what I had. Followed the recipe and it turned out fantastic!
Made this recipe tonight and thank you for sharing it. Our dinner came out amazing and delicious!
I am obsessed with your website and recipes. I love to cook and explore new things. This chicken and roasted broccoli were easy and yummy. Great job! Thanks you!!
Hey! Haven’t made this yet, looks really good. So just wondering if I am making a batch of 6 chicken thighs but won’t be able to finish it off in one sitting. Any idea whether it would be ok as leftovers? Has anyone tasted and can advise please?
Yes they are perfectly fine as left overs Angela! N x
perfect every time i make it! thank you so much!
Nagi(eeeeee) I’m being extra over here! Girrrrlahhhh! So yummy my picky teen went back for seconds. And I’m so extra, I added a small dollop of Better Than Bullion roasted garlic flavor to my finishing sauce. Which made a perfect dressing for the brown rice (using your method…phenomenal) I served on the side. Very simple, easy and tasty week night meal. Also added a side of steamed broccoli. Thank you, this is a winner!
So tasty!
Made Garlic chicken tonight and was soooo yummy. Quick and easy. Will definitely do again. Thanks Nagi.
So delicious and easy to cook, thanks Nagi