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Home Chicken

Garlic Chicken Thighs

By Nagi Maehashi
384 Comments
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Published25 Jun '18 Updated9 May '25
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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 179 votes
Servings4
Tap or hover to scale
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  • 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
Prevent screen from sleeping

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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384 Comments

  1. Connie says

    October 5, 2024 at 4:37 am

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
  2. Bethany B says

    September 24, 2024 at 9:54 am

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
  3. Renee says

    September 19, 2024 at 11:39 am

    Wow – pleasantly surprised – Simple, no-nonsense tips on how to make a quick weeknight meal. Delicious!
    Cooked longer than suggested after flipping over but gave me time to finish the green beans and rice that I served alongside. DELICIOUS.

    Reply
  4. Troy J Daigle says

    September 3, 2024 at 10:16 am

    5 stars
    I cooked the crispy garlic chicken thighs tonight, following the cook time of 8 minutes is unacceptable. I cooked the chicken with all ingredients for 5 minutes at a time constantly flipping every 5 minutes for 40 minutes, then put it in the oven for 5 minutes at three hundred fifty degrees for 5 minutes and it was AWESOME

    Reply
  5. AuntieEt says

    August 28, 2024 at 7:49 pm

    5 stars
    Your recipes never disappoint, always looking for easy as to cook & serve & tasty result, nutrition is always there, the household is grateful too, never any fuss, never a reason to twerk recipe, always have in pantry/fridge what you suggest, so big thank you, from mains to desserts your recipes are stella, “Thank You”

    Reply
  6. Kathleen says

    August 9, 2024 at 8:21 am

    5 stars
    Loved this recipe so much last night, my husband asked to make it again tonight. I only have bone in thighs – can this be done? any recipe modifications?

    Reply
  7. Zenn says

    July 30, 2024 at 6:08 pm

    5 stars
    The best Software, Digital marketing and web development services in Oman.

    Reply
    • Emma says

      January 14, 2025 at 9:17 am

      SPAM. Get off here ‘Zenn’.

      Reply
  8. Elspeth Ann Michael says

    July 21, 2024 at 8:11 am

    5 stars
    I couldn’t believe how fast and easy it was to make this. I, tragically, didn’t have any white wine or broth, so I used water. I also thickened the sauce a tad with a cornstarch slurry. It was amazing!

    Reply
  9. rgv says

    July 17, 2024 at 10:09 am

    5 stars
    Great recipe, I used Saki wine and it gave the dish an adobo taste less the soy sauce

    Reply
  10. Kristen says

    July 8, 2024 at 4:14 pm

    5 stars
    Dang so good and so quick!!!

    Reply
  11. DC says

    July 8, 2024 at 5:30 am

    Absolutely wonderful dish, easy to make with easily accessible ingredients. I love with garlic with all my heart, so I always add extra as well as a squeeze of lemon. I always struggle with chicken thighs as I enjoy them but after buying them I never know what to do with them to maximize their utility. This is honestly the best chicken thigh recipe I’ve ever had. .

    Reply
  12. Amanda says

    June 21, 2024 at 12:07 pm

    5 stars
    So simple and tasty!
    Thanks again, Nagi.
    I love your recipes. I always go to you for inspiration and have never been let down.

    Reply
  13. Anne O'Sullivan says

    June 6, 2024 at 6:31 pm

    5 stars
    Easy to make and really delicious.

    Reply
  14. Susan says

    June 1, 2024 at 8:54 am

    5 stars
    Would never expect this to turn out as good as it did, but for me, all of your recipes have been wonderful. Took a chance and so glad I did. Very simple and uncomplicated (one reason why I had doubts) and was really good! The sauce was amazing and chicken perfectly done. Thanks!!

    Reply
  15. Gail Killian says

    May 15, 2024 at 9:06 am

    5 stars
    The best and easiest chicken ever!

    Reply
  16. Kiera says

    May 11, 2024 at 5:43 pm

    5 stars
    My husband RAVED about this! He was like “oh wow, this has so much flavor, it’s so good”. I made it with the Magic Broccoli and Mushroom Rice that Nagi suggested.

    Reply
  17. Stacy F. says

    March 29, 2024 at 11:44 am

    5 stars
    Simple, easy, and so delicious! I’m a crappy cook and even I could figure this one out. A keeper that we will make again. Thank you for sharing!!

    Reply
  18. vanessa says

    March 15, 2024 at 1:55 pm

    5 stars
    I needed a way to cook chicken thighs and came across this recipe. I loved that all the ingredients are common in my household. I made this and it was a hit! Will definitely be making this again! Delicious!

    Reply
  19. Becca says

    February 2, 2024 at 9:39 am

    5 stars
    So delicious! My crowd of 4 children (including a friend who can be a picky eater) LOVED this! So easy and quick.

    Reply
  20. Verity Stokes says

    February 1, 2024 at 4:37 am

    5 stars
    Only my second time using chicken thighs and this recipe is band on perfect
    tasty tasty tasty
    I shall defo be cooking this again ❤️

    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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