Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs 🧄🍗🔥 Crispy-Skinned, Juicy Chicken Bathed in Golden Garlic Butter and Pan Drippings

This is the chicken thigh recipe that delivers flavor in every bite — deeply browned skin, tender meat, and a silky garlic butter pan sauce that begs for bread or rice. It’s bold, simple, and endlessly comforting. Weeknight fast, weekend worthy.

Ingredients (Serves 4)

For the chicken

• 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
• Salt and black pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Garlic butter sauce

• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• ½ cup chicken broth (or dry white wine)
• Juice of ½ lemon
• 1 tbsp chopped parsley (optional)

Instructions

Step 1: Prep and sear the chicken
Pat chicken thighs dry and season generously with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a skillet (oven-safe if possible) over medium-high. Sear thighs skin-side down for 5–7 minutes until deeply golden. Flip and sear the other side for 3–4 minutes. Remove to a plate.

Step 2: Make the garlic butter sauce
Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the pan. Once melted, stir in garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté 1 minute until fragrant but not browned. Deglaze with broth or wine, scraping up browned bits. Let simmer 1–2 minutes to reduce slightly. Stir in lemon juice.

Step 3: Finish cooking the chicken
Return chicken to the skillet skin-side up. Spoon some sauce over each piece. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook 10–15 minutes until cooked through (internal temp: 175°F). Alternatively, transfer skillet to a 400°F oven and bake uncovered for 15 minutes.

Step 4: Serve
Spoon pan sauce over chicken and garnish with parsley. Serve hot with mashed potatoes, rice, or crusty bread.

Flavor Variations

• Add a splash of cream or a swirl of Dijon to the sauce for richness
• Stir in chopped spinach or kale during the simmer for extra greens
• Finish with capers or olives for a briny hit
• Swap lemon for balsamic or white wine vinegar
• Use boneless thighs for faster stovetop-only cooking

Pro Tips

• Sear skin-side down without moving — this ensures a crisp crust
• Deglaze with wine or broth while scraping up fond for max flavor
• Cover to trap moisture for juicy meat — or finish in the oven for crispier skin
• Don’t crowd the pan — work in batches if needed
• Rest chicken 5 minutes before serving to lock in juices

Final Thoughts

Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs bring savory heat and golden richness to the table with barely any effort. It’s one pan, full flavor, and pure comfort — crispy skin, garlicky sauce, and juicy dark meat done right.

Sear it. Butter it. Plate it hot. 🧄🍗🔥

🧄 Garlic Butter Recipes Collection

Explore them all → Rich, golden, and versatile — garlic butter is the flavor bomb your weeknight meals (and fancy dinners) need.

🔥 Garlic Butter Proteins (Main Dishes)

• Garlic Butter Shrimp – Fast, juicy shrimp with bold garlic butter flavor.
• Garlic Butter Chicken – Crispy thighs smothered in a buttery garlic glaze.
• Garlic Butter Chicken Bites – Bite-sized skillet gold.
• Garlic Butter Steak Bites – Quick-seared steak cubes in sizzling garlic butter.
• Garlic Butter Tilapia – Mild fish with a rich, buttery finish.
• Garlic Butter Salmon – Buttery, flaky salmon perfect for weeknight dinner.

🍝 Garlic Butter Pastas & Noodles

• Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta – Seafood and carbs in harmony.
• Garlic Butter Pasta – Minimalist magic with max flavor.
• Garlic Butter Noodles – A simple classic that pairs with anything.
• Garlic Butter Lobster Mac & Cheese – Rich, decadent, and over-the-top good.
• Garlic Butter Parmesan Fettuccine – Creamy, cheesy, and craveable.
• Garlic Seafood Pasta Bake – Bubbly and golden with garlic and seafood.
• Garlic Butter Seafood Lasagna Rolls – Creamy, rolled seafood pasta baked in butter sauce.

🍚 Garlic Butter Sides, Bases & Sauces

• Garlic Butter Rice – Buttery rice with bold flavor and fluff.
• Garlic Butter Sauce – Base for seafood, pasta, and more.
• Garlic Butter Seafood Boil Sauce – Bold, spicy, and ready for dunking.
• Garlic Butter Mashed Potatoes – Creamy with a garlicky punch.
• Garlic Butter Green Beans / Asparagus – Your favorite veg made crave-worthy.
• Garlic Bread with Homemade Garlic Butter Spread – Essential upgrade for any carb lover.

🌶️ Garlic Butter Fusion Recipes (Flavor Bombs)

• Garlic Butter Cajun Shrimp – Spicy, buttery, and bold.
• Garlic Butter Shrimp Tacos – Crispy shells, buttery shrimp.
• Garlic Butter Chicken Alfredo – Creamy fusion of two comfort classics.
• Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi – Bright lemon and rich butter make magic.
• Garlic Butter Ramen Noodles – Lazy, comforting, deeply satisfying.