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).
I made this added spinach and purple cauliflour, served with rice and salad. My 4 year old gobbled it all up and I was surprised at how she devoured everything with no trouble. Quick and easy recipe which I will make again and again. Thank you!
It is worth remembering to dress chicken (and other meat) on cutting boards, preferably made of glass, like :https://tulupdecor.com/glass-chopping-boards because they do not absorb bacteria and are much easier to keep clean.
I make this on repeat in fact we love it so much my young teenage son now cooks it for the family. It’s so good! Thank you for this easy and delicious recipe. It’s perfect for those weeknight dinners when you hear those dreaded thoughts pop in your head lol “What’s for dinner?”We pair with rice and a side salad. Thank you Nagi 🤗!!!!
I meant eat! I doubled the recipe for the Boys.
Perfect! Something my big boys will ear. They raved about it. Very easy.
Perfect! Something my big boys will eat…and they raved about it.
Absolutely delicious! I only had chicken breast on hand and it was still amazing. I can only imagine how much better it would be with chicken thighs.
Delicious and easy
Wow, those are so simple and delicious. Thank you so much
Just found this recipe tonight as I wanted something easy that wasn’t a stir fry with lots of veggies. It was so quick, easy as and packed full of garlicky flavours and made a perfect weeknight winter meal with mash and green beans. This will be a time saving comfort food recipe for my collection. Thanks from NZ Nagi !
Just found this recipe tonight as I wanted something easy that wasn’t a stir fry with lots of veggies. It was so quick, easy as and packed full of garlicky flavours and made a perfect weeknight winter meal with mash and green beans. This will be a time saving comfort food recipe for my collection. Thanks from NZ Nagi !
YUM! I just made this for lunch alongside Nagi’s Greek Salad. A perfect light-ish lunch that only took 30 mins to make and eat. Will definitely be making again!
I usually just coat chicken in a light coat of flour with salt & pepper before frying and serve without a sauce but this recipe was very tasty so I’ll definitely use this again. I made more sauce and stirred in a tablespoon of Greek yoghurt and sprinkling of fresh coriander, delicious. Thank you Nagi. ❤️
Not as much flavor as I expected though I followed the recipe to a T. I think chicken is better when marinated.
This was delish. On the cooking time, I think it varies. I did mine a couple of minutes extra on turned over side and 5 minutes simmering in the sauce, mmm that sauce! Was perfect with your creamy cauliflower mash and lemon broccolini. Thanks x
Not a fan! No sauce at the end (and had to cook it longer than 7 minutes) and extremely salty (think with the garlic powder and salt on each thigh). This won’t be on our rotation again 😟
This was so easy and delicious! And as with all Nagi’s sauces, I could drink it!
Can this work in the oven?
So good & quick…so much flavor and loved the crispy outside. I cooked for 6 min’s on both sides, then simmered for a minute in the sauce and it was perfect! I was afraid that was going to be too long, but it was great! I think because it’s dark meat, there’s a bit of time forgiveness since dark meat takes longer to cook. Thanks for a great, easy weeknight meal. Will be looking through your recipes for more great meals!
Your recipes are always a rave! This one, deceptively quick and simple-I am fond of fond. Since I had 16 thighs, I did a side by side comparison of cast iron and enamel. Cast iron for the win for sear and for sauce. Just better results-better fond. Good to see the garlic shy commenter exploring a recipe as this. Try it!
I had bone-in, skin-on thighs and this was still absolutely fantastic. I ended up having to bake them a bit to get them done, probably because of the bone. I also added a ton more garlic because we love garlic in this house. But yeah it was delicious and my picky husband requested we add it to the regular rotation. Thank you!