Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs
Garlic butter chicken thighs are juicy, tender, and packed with deep, savory flavor. Pan-seared until golden and finished in a luscious garlic butter sauce, this simple one-pan dish is pure comfort food. Perfect for weeknights or special dinners, it pairs beautifully with mashed potatoes, rice, or roasted vegetables.
Ingredients
4–6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (or boneless if preferred)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp unsalted butter
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp fresh thyme or rosemary (or ½ tsp dried)
Optional: lemon wedges or parsley for garnish
Instructions
Prep the chicken
Pat chicken dry. Season both sides with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.
Sear the chicken
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place chicken thighs skin-side down and sear for 5–6 minutes until golden and crispy. Flip and cook another 5 minutes. Remove and set aside (they’ll finish cooking later).
Make the garlic butter
In the same pan, reduce heat to medium. Add butter and let it melt. Stir in garlic and herbs, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant (don't burn the garlic!).
Finish cooking
Return chicken to the pan. Spoon some of the garlic butter over the top. Cover and cook on medium-low for 10–12 minutes (or until internal temp hits 165°F).
Serve
Spoon more sauce over the chicken. Garnish with lemon wedges or chopped parsley if desired.