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A cast iron skillet filled with 20-ingredient chicken thighs recipe, featuring golden-brown chicken, olives, onions, and lemon slices.

20-Ingredient Chicken Thigh Recipes (No Fuss)

This recipe for braised chicken thighs with garlic, lemon, and Greek olives is a simple and flavorful meal perfect for busy weeknights. It uses common ingredients and straightforward steps to deliver a delicious and satisfying dish.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Resting Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Calories: 723

Ingredients
  

Chicken Thighs
  • 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
Seasoning
  • to taste Kosher salt
  • to taste freshly ground black pepper
Aromatics and Flavor
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 12 garlic cloves
  • 2 large yellow onions thinly sliced (about 4 cups)
  • 1 lemon thinly sliced, seeds discarded
  • 2 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves plus more for garnish
  • 1 cup mixed Greek olives
  • 1 lemon juiced

Equipment

  • Ovenproof pan or Dutch oven

Method
 

  1. Remove the chicken from the refrigerator 20 minutes before cooking to allow it to come to room temperature.
  2. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  3. Season the chicken thighs on both sides with salt and pepper.
  4. In a large ovenproof pan or Dutch oven that can hold all the chicken thighs in a single layer, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.
  5. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken thighs, skin-side down. Sear until golden brown, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic cloves to the pan and flip the chicken thighs over. Cook until the garlic is fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes.
  6. Remove the chicken and garlic from the pan and set them aside.
  7. With the pan still hot, add the sliced onions, lemon slices, and oregano. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the onions have softened and the browned bits on the bottom of the pan have loosened, 6 to 8 minutes.
  8. Nestle the chicken thighs, skin-side up, into the onion mixture. Add the garlic and olives back into the pan.
  9. Pour the lemon juice over the chicken. Transfer the pan to the preheated oven.
  10. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
  11. Scatter fresh oregano leaves over the top before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 723kcalCarbohydrates: 18.6gProtein: 44.8gFat: 52.2gSaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 252.2mgSodium: 1040.6mgFiber: 4.2gSugar: 5.7g

Notes

This dish is excellent for meal prep as the flavors meld and deepen overnight. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the oven.

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