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).
Julie says
I’m with you all the way!!! Go chicken thighs👍👍👍👍. As for Dozer, he’d get on famously with my Baxter! 😂
Nagi says
I bet they would get up to all sorts of NO GOOD! 😂
Nadine B. Adirondack Mountains, New York says
I made the Crispy Garlic Chicken Thighs last night and we all LOVED them! Just perfect for a night when there’s not a lot of time for cooking, but you want something delicious.
Thank you Nagi, for another wonderful chicken recipe!
Nagi says
So glad you enjoyed this Nadine!! Thank you for letting me know! N x
Gail Teruya says
Hi, Nagi! I have a question that makes me feel like a cooking dunce. If I double this recipe, the chicken thighs won’t all fit into the skillet. Is there a way to cook this in the oven in a pan that can hold all the chicken pieces?
Nagi says
Hi Gail! That’s not a cooking dunce question at all, it’s a GOOD question 🙂 You won’t get quite the same browning if you make this in the oven. But what I would do is toss the chicken in a little oil, then sprinkle with garlic, salt and pepper per recipe then bake at 200C/390F for 15 – 20 minutes on a rack if possible, no turning. Then flick to the broiler/grill for a couple of minutes to try to caramelise the top. As for the sauce, I would just melt butter + garlic in a pan, then add a splash of white wine and simmer rapidly, season with salt and pepper and I’d probably add a pinch of dried herbs of some sort to finish it off (to make up for not having the browning in the pan as the flavour base for the sauce 🙂 ) Hope that helps! N x
Gail says
Thanks so much, Nagi! I will do as instructed and let you know how it turns out.
carol says
just made this for dinner, with mash and veg a hit no leftovers ,which I’m not happy about, have to make my lunch now
What can I say most of your recipes I make everyone wants seconds
Nagi says
I LOVE HEARING THAT!!!! Thanks for trying my recipe Carol, thrilled you enjoyed it! (PS Sorry you had to make your lunch though 😂)
Josephine. B says
Hi Nagi, This ones right up my alley as it’s Keto friendly with NO CARBS as such. Love it, keep them coming please. Looks a simple and easy dinner to make as well.
Nagi says
YES. LOW CARB!!!
Monique says
I love reading actual comments from people who have made a recipe!
I made this and it is DELICIOUS!!! OMGOODNESS!!!🤪
I cannot believe how simple it was to have such great flavor! I made it with wine and might double it next time so I can have extra sauce to “sop”!
Thank you! I have forwarded this to 4 people who I know will love this as well!
Nagi says
I’m so glad you enjoyed this so much!!! It’s all about that crust Monique 🙂 Makes all the difference! N xx
Eha says
Super-easy!! Oh, I know the flavour but have to learn to buy garlic in its powder form: have always thought of that as an American addendum . . . oh, live in my ugg boots in winter here in the country and just love the shade of grey in your trackies . . . and, yea, he does love you . . .
Nagi says
Gosh no, it’s available at all our supermarkets too! SUCH good flavour!
Carmen says
This looks delicious and so simply easy. But first must find those chicken pieces in the freezer. And Dozer looks so cute with that “feed me” face. Who can resist him, daw.?
Nagi says
He’s been working on that face ALL HIS LIFE!!!😂
Carmen says
Must try this one Nagi looks sooo easy! But first must find those chicken pieces in the freezer. And Dozer looks so cute with that give me face, who can resist? Cheers
Carmen says
Lovely eats Nagi and so easy to whip up. Will definitely try this one. Mm must find that chicken in my freezer. Dozer is so cute, who can resist? Like Jenny I love watching your videos even if I don’t get to make them. Cheers
Gillian DidierSerre says
Dozer you are definetly a distant cousin to Luca I call him a ” couch hound “..
I have 4 chicken legs bone in will use the recipe ingredients you posted and cook them tks.
Nagi says
I bet Luca does an exceptionally good “feed me” face….
Jenny says
These are perfect for the ketogenic diet that I’m currently on. Lots of good, healthy fats which are so satiating. I would even be able to pour some organic whipping cream into that pan. (What a shame that people believed the no fat, low fat B.S. for so many decades.) The thing I miss most on this keto eating style though is an occasional slab of crusty bread with butter. But feeling more clarity is so worth avoiding it.
I watch your wonderful videos, even if I’m not going to be making the dish (food-porn-aholic). I really appreciate how you’ve edited them into a slick quick little how-to, without missing anything. If I am making one of your recipes, I pause the video as I go, to get the sequence right. Thanks so much.
Nagi says
I’m so pleased you find the videos helpful Jenny! It was so frustrating when I first started learning but I enjoyed the challenge. And now I really enjoy making them – so much easier to show certain techniques than using just photos or words! N x
Eha says
I am sorry, Nagi – but as a physician and having studied nutrition in four languages in a multiple universities and countries since 1994 I have to speak up.! No-one should go on a diet! No-one! One should change one’s mode of eating slowly if needed! If one does enter the so-called ‘keto’ ‘diet; please do it under strict qualified physician-endorsed rules and for a vey short time. When you eat fats: please make certain you consume no more than 30% of your diet per diem . . . and that they are ‘healthy’ fats and not saturated nor trans-fats! ‘People’ were ‘told’ the truth . . . naturally the rules have been somewhat refined: learn but do not let go of the 40:30: 30 balance and stop talking of idiotic rules . . .
Nagi says
That’s really great advice Eha re: Keto diet and physician advice. I’d actually say that about many diets 🙂 N x
Claire says
Love your comment. I agree 100% !
Nagi says
🙂 N x
Stephanie Rooney says
I always remember fond because it comes from the word foundation … garlic, oil, butter, parsley is as good a foundation as I can think of. Mmmm
Nagi says
That’s a good one!!!
Vivian says
What a couch-pal! I think he sticks to you like glue…”what she got to eat now?” Yummy garlic chicken! Are dogs fond of garlic? Is it good for them?…like it is for us?
Nagi says
Well, Dozer loves anything edible…. but unfortunately never tasted garlic because it’s toxic for dogs 🙂 He’s disgraceful, disappears for a snooze when I’m on the computer then appears out of nowhere the instant there’s food!
Leah says
I agree Vivian, Mom is his favorite everything I think! 🙂
To answer your question though…yes dogs do like garlic but both onions and garlic are extremely toxic to them. Garlic much more so. My cats love the stuff too…they never get it, for the same reason. Whodathunk?!
Nagi says
Cause they know that garlic makes EVERYTHING better! 🙂 So sad Dozer will never ever know what it tastes like…. 🙂
Leah says
No doubt there Nagi! Not sure sometimes what I appreciate more – your amazing recipes, or your obvious love for your fur baby. I think it’s a tie really! 😀
Had to come back and let you know, I made this recipe the day you shared it with us. It’s in my “keep forever, make often” file. SO simple, and so delish. Now I’m on to making the quesadilla’s the first weekend in July!
Nagi says
FIST PUMP! So glad you approve of this one Leah! 🙂 N x
Ron says
Good looking chicken thighs you got there. Looks yummy, especially laying on that rice.
So you can actually keep the Dozer off the couch when you are eating. I’m impressed in your dog training skills…..
Nagi says
He would be scolded BIG TIME if he got up on the couch!!!
Wolf says
I knew there was a reason I had a package of thighs in the fridge…
Nagi says
It’s a sign! 🙂 N x
Joe @ Joe's Healthy Meals says
Love chicken thighs and this recipe sounds delicious, especially the reduced butter, wine sauce. Thanks Nagi.
Nagi says
Thanks Joe! I do love that simple sauce, it’s one of my faves! 🙂 N x
Jax says
Oooh yeah, looks DELISH! Going to rack this one out during the week, cheers!!😜
Nagi says
Yes, do!!! Love to know what you think Jax 🙂 N x