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Home Chicken

Garlic Chicken Thighs

By:Nagi
Published:25 Jun '18Updated:20 Mar '19
323 Comments
Recipe v Video v Dozer v

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!

Close up of Crispy Garlic Chicken Thighs in a skillet with garlic butter sauce, ready to be served

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.

Garlic Chicken Thighs on a rustic cream plate, served over rice with a terrific quick and easy garlic butter sauce.

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.

Overhead photo of Crispy Garlic Chicken Thighs in a silver pan with garlic butter sauce, fresh off the stove.

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!

  • Chicken STROGANOFF!

  • Chicken Doner Kebab

  • Asian flavours – Thai Grilled Chicken, Chinese BBQ Chicken, Thai Coconut Chicken, Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken

Bone in, skin on chicken thigh recipes:

  • Baked Chicken and Rice

  • Chicken Stew

  • Honey Mustard Chicken

  • Vietnamese Coconut Caramel Chicken

  • Spicy Italian Chicken Casserole

Close up of Crispy Garlic Chicken Thighs in a skillet with garlic butter sauce, fresh off the stove

WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT

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Close up of Crispy Garlic Chicken Thighs in a skillet with garlic butter sauce, fresh off the stove

Crispy Garlic Chicken Thighs

Author: Nagi
Prep: 3 minutes mins
Cook: 12 minutes mins
Total: 15 minutes mins
4.94 from 135 votes
Servings4
Tap or hover to scale
Print
  • 1132
Recipe video above. A fantastic quick and easy chicken thigh recipe! You'll love the terrific garlic flavour in this - seared on the crust and in the sauce. The trick to crispy skinless chicken thighs is to cook longer on a lower heat. 

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:

1. This recipe can be made with chicken breast but it won't have the same golden crust. Cut breast in half horizontally so they're 1cm / 2/5" thick, follow recipe but use these cook times: heat skillet on high, cook for 2 minutes, flip, cook for 1 minute then add garlic and butter, proceed with recipe as written.
2. Suggested sides: Cowboy Rice Salad, Roasted Broccoli, Avocado Corn Salad, Garlic Butter Kale Rice, Mushroom Rice (also see Baked Mushroom Rice), Smashed Potatoes.
3. Nutrition per serving, chicken and all the sauce.
Crispy Garlic Chicken Thighs nutrition

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 180gCalories: 334cal (17%)
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @recipe_tin.

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323 Comments

  1. Summer says

    July 26, 2023 at 11:48 am

    5 stars
    My mother in law is a great cook & she rated these chicken thighs and the smashed potatoes 10/10 🙂 So glad I stumbled upon these recipes

    Reply
  2. Robyn says

    June 9, 2023 at 2:15 am

    5 stars
    This was so quick and easy and delicious.

    Reply
  3. Namrata says

    May 17, 2023 at 5:58 pm

    5 stars
    Great recipe for the work week. Quick and super tasty.

    Reply
  4. Ahsan Tahir says

    May 10, 2023 at 10:50 pm

    5 stars
    I love that garlic chicken thighs. I will try that one for sure.

    Reply
  5. Lori says

    May 1, 2023 at 5:38 am

    4 stars
    Chicken thighs do not cook in 91/2 min. Great recipe but took a lot longer. I cooked them in the oven after for another 15ish min covered at 350

    Reply
    • Joan says

      September 18, 2023 at 11:19 am

      5 stars
      Recently the grocery store chicken parts seem a lot bigger. The thighs are huge, and the breasts are DDD cup! (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.) Sometimes there is a range of sizes in one package. I just make sure that before I add the butter and garlic, the largest thighs are almost done, 155-160 degrees F. If there really is a big difference in size, I put the biggest ones in the pan first.

      Reply
  6. Tania says

    April 1, 2023 at 6:02 am

    5 stars
    Minimum effort and maximum taste. This was delicious thank you

    Reply
  7. Petina says

    March 19, 2023 at 2:13 pm

    5 stars
    After I took the chicken out, I whisked in a 1/2 cup of broth and thickened it with teaspoon of cornstarch mixed with a bit of water to make a gravy. It was lovely to serve over brown rice drizzled with gravy, tossed greens and peas with grass fed butter and smoked salt! will make this again!

    Reply
  8. Joe Blogs says

    March 14, 2023 at 10:23 pm

    5 stars
    Good taste. Easy and quick to prepare compared to some more traditional Spanish style recipes for same.

    Reply
  9. Victoria Khera says

    March 14, 2023 at 11:39 am

    Hi Nagi. Love this recipe. How is this different from your Crispy garlic chicken thighs that is exclusive in your cookbook?

    Reply
  10. Kerryn says

    February 20, 2023 at 6:40 pm

    OMG. The flavour in this… So easy and soooo tasty. Will be making this one again post haste. Thanks for yet another winner winner chicken dinner Nagi 🐔🍗👌😛😍

    Reply
  11. Carol says

    February 15, 2023 at 4:38 pm

    5 stars
    Sooo yummy! My family and I loved the chicken. Will make again. Served with smashed potatoes ❤️
    This meal was of fine dining quality.

    Reply
  12. Cheryl Waye says

    January 29, 2023 at 6:54 pm

    5 stars
    Quick and easy and very enjoyable 😋

    Reply
  13. Delwyn Xavier Campbell says

    January 7, 2023 at 3:20 pm

    5 stars
    Cooked and let my daughters try it. They had already eaten dinner. They tried to eat the chicken too!

    Reply
  14. Donna says

    December 1, 2022 at 8:05 pm

    5 stars
    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

    Reply
  15. Jane Mifsud says

    November 14, 2022 at 10:43 pm

    5 stars
    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

    Reply
  16. Aghavni says

    November 7, 2022 at 10:31 am

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
  17. Kat C says

    October 26, 2022 at 8:17 am

    5 stars
    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.

    Reply
  18. Mir says

    October 2, 2022 at 12:49 pm

    3 stars
    I’m a little confused because the chicken never got remotely crispy at medium heat. It was completely pale.

    Reply
    • Dave says

      December 2, 2022 at 3:11 am

      5 stars
      Need to get yourself a heavy based frypan – cast iron is best

      Reply
    • Seth Bessire says

      November 5, 2022 at 3:11 am

      5 stars
      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

      Reply
  19. Peter Valentine says

    October 1, 2022 at 4:14 pm

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
  20. Carolyn says

    September 28, 2022 at 6:45 pm

    5 stars
    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😉

    Reply
    • Terry says

      November 2, 2022 at 6:26 pm

      You have to get a splatter shield! Great for bacon, too. 😉

      https://www.ikea.com/au/en/p/klockren-splatter-screen-20449169/

      Reply
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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

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