Description
This creamy lemon chicken thighs recipe is a delightful and comforting dish, perfect for any weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (plus more to taste)
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper
- 3 tablespoons salted butter (divided)
- 3 cloves minced garlic (or 1 teaspoon garlic paste)
- ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream (room temperature)
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (plus more for garnish)
- 5 ounces baby spinach (one bag)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Place chicken thighs in a bowl and add salt and lemon pepper. Toss to combine. Set aside.
- Heat a medium/large skillet (oven safe) over medium high heat. Add 2 tablespoons butter and allow to melt, making sure the entire base of the skillet is coated.
- Add the chicken skin side down, and sear for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown.
- Flip and sear other side. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Return skillet to the heat and add additional 1 tablespoon butter. Allow to melt, stirring and deglazing the pan.
- Add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Stir in the chicken broth, heavy cream, parmesan, lemon juice, and thyme. Stir to fully combine. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer.
- Allow sauce to thicken for 5 minutes and then stir in spinach leaves. Stir to wilt leaves slightly but not fully.
- Add chicken back to skillet and bake the entire pan in the oven for 25 minutes, or until internal chicken temperature reaches 165-175°F.
- Garnish with lemon slices and fresh thyme. Serve over rice, pasta, mashed potatoes, or alone. Enjoy!
Notes
- This dish pairs well with rice, pasta, or mashed potatoes.
- For extra flavor, you can marinate the chicken thighs for a few hours with the salt and lemon pepper.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking, Searing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with sauce
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 120mg