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Creamy Lemon Herb Skillet Chicken Thighs

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  • Author: Olivia
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Skillet
  • Cuisine: American

Description

Creamy Lemon Herb Skillet Chicken Thighs is a one-pan dish featuring golden-seared chicken thighs in a luscious lemon and herb cream sauce. It’s rich, bright, and perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 4 bone-in or boneless skin-on chicken thighs
  • 1 tbsp olive oil or butter
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 shallot or 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh herbs (thyme, parsley, basil, or dill)
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions

  1. Pat chicken thighs dry and season both sides with salt and pepper.
  2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil or butter over medium-high heat. Sear chicken thighs skin-side down until golden, about 5–6 minutes per side. Remove and set aside.
  3. Reduce heat to medium. In the same skillet, add garlic and shallots and sauté until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
  4. Pour in chicken broth to deglaze, scraping up any browned bits.
  5. Stir in heavy cream, lemon juice, lemon zest, and fresh herbs. Simmer for 2–3 minutes.
  6. Return chicken to the skillet, nestling into the sauce. Cover and simmer on low heat for 10–15 minutes, until chicken is cooked through.
  7. Sprinkle with more fresh herbs and Parmesan cheese, if using. Serve hot over rice, pasta, or vegetables.

Notes

  • Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches 165°F.
  • Dried herbs can be used—reduce quantity by half.
  • For extra richness, stir in Parmesan cheese.
  • Deglazing the pan builds flavor—don’t skip this step.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with sauce
  • Calories: 390
  • Sugar: 2g
  • Sodium: 520mg
  • Fat: 28g
  • Saturated Fat: 13g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 13g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 5g
  • Fiber: 0g
  • Protein: 27g
  • Cholesterol: 135mg