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 delicious! Easy, quick! The only tweak I would give is more garlic, 3 cloves instead of 2. I love my garlic!!!
Delicious! Enjoyed it in pitas with your Tzaziki tonight😋
Thanks again Nagi, your recipes have kept me sane during lockdown 💪
Made the chicken tonight (keeping the beef rendang for another day). Added some sour cream to the sauce as I fancied a creamier dressing (was going to use cream and lemon juice but didn’t have any). Son said “the chicken was really good!”. Big compliment 👍
Very hot summer weather here, and my outdoor grill is not set up. This recipe was so fast and so delicious! To lower sodium (temporary problem in high humidity and heat) I substituted Vindaloo Curry for salt and it was fabulous! Thank you Nagi and pats on the head to Dozer!!!
Nagi, you are god’s gift to earth. Thank you for this
You’re so welcome Aicha!! 😍
I was wondering if this would go well with pasta and a Aglio E Olio sauce, i am making it tonight and already made pasta for it
i was wondering if this would work well with homemade pasta with a Agilo E Olio sauce, i really want to have some protein with the pasta, let me know what you think! i am making it tonight
i was wondering if this would work well with homemade pasta with a Agilo E Olio sauce, i really want to have some protein with the pasta, let me know what you think!
I just made this recipe and and it’s super easy and incredibly delicious. The only modification I made was that I sprinkled in some dried chili flakes. Soooo bomb. I’ve never made a pan sauce before but with garlic and butter and wine, what’s not to like😌
Perfect Mitali! N x
could you eat these cold at a picnic or better hot
I prefer it hot Kelly, but cold is fine too 🙂 N x
So easy! So yummy. Constantly cooking for 6 during lockdown and this recipe was a relief. Thank you.
That’s great to hear Louise! N x
Your recipes, Nagi, usually put me between a rock and a hard place. At age 88, I have decided to seek recipes that limit time spent for favorite foods. While this recipe fits that requirement, I now have to decide if I can reduce all your other recipes and related wanderings to a size I can manage during the remainder of my life. Your recipes are so fantastic, I must continue, but occasionally a few get so long and complicated I must delete.
Thank you for the recipe!
It is so yummy.
I wiil make again.
These were excellent and so easy to make! Flavorful, tender and juicy. Will definitely make these garlic chicken thighs again! Thank you for a great recipe for an easy main protein!
You’re so welcome Shannon, I’m so glad you loved it! N x
We love this every time!
Hi Nagi, my family (4 kids, ages 10, 8, and 5 yr old twins) and I adore your recipes. So versatile, so forgiving! Quick question on this one – as we don’t mix meat (chicken) and dairy (butter), could we sub olive oil for the butter, or should we just make another recipe instead?
Hi Kira, yes just sub oil for the butter 🙂 N x
Made this with the mushroom rice – so easy and very delicious.
Perfect Mireille! N x
I only have “cooking white wine from publix is that okay? Or should I use chicken broth?
Hi Jessica, that will be fine – Enjoy! N x
I am a terrible cook. I screw up everything! This turned out amazing! My daughter is already begging me to make it again. I used chicken broth since I don’t have wine. Thank you for the awesome recipe and the detailed instructions!
Hi! This is an awesome recipe! My whole family loves it. Can I do the same with drumsticks?
Sure can Kate although they’d take longer to cook as they have a bone – I’d suggest baking them instead. N x