Ultimate Skillet Chicken with Garlic and Herbs: Your New 30-Minute Weeknight Favorite

Discover the secret to a quick, delicious, and easy weeknight meal with this incredible Skillet Chicken with Garlic and Herbs. Packed with robust flavors and requiring minimal effort, this recipe comes together in just 30 minutes, making cleanup a breeze too!

In today’s fast-paced world, finding time to prepare a wholesome and flavorful dinner can often feel like a challenge. Many of us are constantly searching for recipes that promise convenience without compromising on taste. If you’re tired of dry, bland chicken or lengthy cooking processes, prepare to have your weeknight dinner routine transformed. This Skillet Chicken with Garlic and Herbs is not just another recipe; it’s a culinary revelation designed to bring joy and ease back into your kitchen. For even more fantastic ideas that fit into your busy schedule, be sure to explore all of my easy weeknight dinners.

Why This Garlic Herb Skillet Chicken Will Become Your Go-To

If you’re anything like me, a true garlic enthusiast, then this Skillet Chicken with Garlic and Herbs is absolutely tailor-made for your palate. But here’s the wonderful surprise: even if garlic isn’t typically your favorite, you might just find yourself falling head over heels for this dish. The secret lies in how the garlic is cooked. Unlike the sharp, potent bite of raw garlic, here it softens and mellows significantly. While it doesn’t quite reach the sweet, almost jam-like consistency of slow-roasted garlic, it’s well on its way to that delightful transformation. The result is a profoundly aromatic and savory garlic essence that infuses every bite of chicken and every drop of sauce, without being overwhelming. It’s so deliciously mellow, you’ll be tempted to eat the garlic cloves straight out of the skillet – not that I would ever confess to doing such a thing!

This garlic herb skillet chicken is the epitome of a perfect weeknight dinner, primarily because it delivers outstanding flavor in an astonishingly short amount of time – we’re talking a complete meal in just 30 minutes. What truly sets this recipe apart, and significantly simplifies the cooking process, is the strategic use of chicken thighs. Forget the stress of overcooking delicate chicken breasts and ending up with a dry, unappetizing meal. Chicken thighs are incredibly forgiving, remaining succulent and flavorful even if you leave them on the heat a little longer. As regular readers of this blog know, I wholeheartedly advocate for using thighs over breasts, not just for their richer flavor but for the sheer ease and reliability they offer in cooking.

Beyond its weeknight appeal, this flavorful dish is also sophisticated enough to grace a special occasion or a cozy date night in. (And for those date nights, remember the golden rule: two garlics cancel each other out!). Its robust yet comforting profile makes it universally appealing, and rest assured, the kids will be asking for seconds too! The simplicity and depth of flavor make it a fantastic choice for any day of the week when you crave something truly satisfying.

Key Ingredients for Your Flavorful Skillet Chicken

Crafting this quick and easy skillet chicken with garlic and herbs requires only a handful of readily available ingredients. Each component plays a crucial role in building the dish’s incredible flavor profile. Let’s delve into what you’ll need to create this culinary masterpiece:

• Chicken Thighs: My absolute preference for this recipe, and many others, is boneless, skinless chicken thighs. They are inherently more flavorful and contain more fat, which keeps them incredibly moist and tender throughout the cooking process. This makes them much more forgiving than chicken breasts, reducing the risk of a dry meal. However, if chicken breasts are what you prefer or have on hand, feel free to substitute them. Just be mindful of their quicker cooking time to avoid dryness.
• Salt and Pepper: These fundamental seasonings are critical, especially in a recipe with so few ingredients. Don’t be shy! Generously season both sides of your chicken to enhance its natural flavors and create a beautiful crust during searing.
• Olive Oil: Extra-virgin olive oil is used for searing the chicken, providing a rich, subtle base flavor and helping to create that perfect golden-brown crust. Any neutral cooking oil, such as avocado oil or grapeseed oil, can also be used if preferred.
• Garlic: The star of the show! You’ll need about 10 cloves of fresh garlic. To ensure the garlic cooks faster and releases its aromatic oils more quickly into the sauce, I recommend cutting each clove in half lengthwise. This simple step allows the garlic’s wonderful, mellow flavor to truly shine without overwhelming the dish.
• Chicken Stock: While chicken broth can be used in a pinch, I highly recommend using chicken stock. Stock typically has a richer, deeper flavor profile due to being made from bones, which adds a more profound savory dimension to your sauce. It forms the foundation of the delicious pan sauce that coats the chicken and vegetables.
• Fresh Herbs (Rosemary, Thyme & Chives): Fresh herbs are non-negotiable for truly vibrant flavor in this recipe. Rosemary provides an earthy, piney aroma, thyme adds a delicate, slightly minty note, and fresh chives contribute a mild oniony brightness as a garnish. If fresh herbs are inaccessible, dried alternatives can be used, but note that the flavor will be less intense. Refer to the recipe card for precise dried herb conversion amounts.

Expert Tips and Tricks for Success

Achieving culinary perfection with this skillet chicken is surprisingly simple, especially with a few insider tips:

• Temperature is Key: An instant-read thermometer is your best friend when cooking chicken. For chicken thighs, I recommend removing them from the heat once they reach an internal temperature of around 165ºF. Allow them to rest for about 5 minutes; the residual heat will continue to cook them, bringing them up to the recommended 170ºF for perfectly juicy thighs.
• Sauce It Up: This dish creates a magnificent pan sauce infused with garlic and herbs. Don’t let it go to waste! I love serving this skillet chicken with roasted potatoes, rice, or crusty bread, allowing you to generously drizzle every last drop of that flavorful sauce over your side dish.
• Embrace the Garlic: While the garlic will beautifully flavor the chicken and the sauce, if you’re a true garlic aficionado, don’t hesitate to enjoy the tender, mellowed garlic cloves themselves. They’re a delightful treat!
• Storage and Leftovers: Any leftover Skillet Chicken with Garlic and Herbs can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. It reheats beautifully, making it excellent for meal prep or a quick lunch the next day.
• Herb Variations: Feel free to experiment with other fresh herbs like parsley or oregano, depending on your preference.
• Add a Splash of Citrus: A squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a dash of white wine to the pan sauce at the end can add an extra layer of brightness and complexity.

More Delicious Chicken Thigh Recipes to Explore

If you’ve fallen in love with the ease and flavor of chicken thighs, you’re in luck! There’s a whole world of delicious recipes waiting to be discovered. Here are some more favorites that leverage the versatility and forgiving nature of chicken thighs:

Cast Iron Teriyaki Chicken Thighs
Thirteen Spice Skillet Chicken Thighs with Creme Fraiche
Huli Huli Chicken
Garlic Paprika Instant Pot Chicken Thighs
Easy Lime Baked Chicken Thighs

This Skillet Chicken with Garlic and Herbs is more than just a meal; it’s an invitation to savor the simplicity and joy of home cooking. With its minimal prep, quick cooking time, and burst of savory flavors, it promises to be a staple in your culinary repertoire. Enjoy the process, relish the flavors, and delight in the easy cleanup!

Skillet Chicken with Garlic and Herbs Recipe

Skillet Chicken with Garlic and Herbs

Author: Deborah Harroun

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American

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Finished in 30 minutes, this easy Garlic and Herb Skillet Chicken has tons of flavor with very little effort. And the cleanup is easy, too!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 6)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 10 garlic cloves, peeled and cut in half lengthwise
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons chicken stock
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary*
• 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh thyme*
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh chives

Instructions

1. Sprinkle both sides of the chicken with the salt and pepper.
2. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned, then flip and cook the second side until browned. Remove the skillet from the heat and transfer the chicken from the skillet to a plate.
3. Add the garlic and 2 tablespoons of chicken stock to the skillet. Return the skillet to the heat and cook, stirring, until the liquid has almost evaporated, 1-2 minutes. Stir in the remaining 1 cup of chicken stock, the rosemary and the thyme. Add the chicken back to the pan in a single layer. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until the chicken is cooked through and reads 170ºF on an instant-read thermometer, about 8 minutes.
4. Sprinkle the chicken with chives before serving.

Recipe Notes:

• *You can substitute the fresh rosemary for 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary, and the fresh thyme for 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme. If you don’t have fresh chives, you can leave them off or use 1 teaspoon of dried chives.
• Recipe source: TASTE OF HOME HEALTHY COOKING 2016 ANNUAL RECIPES
• Nutrition information provided as an estimate only. Various brands and products can change the counts. Any nutritional information should be used as a general guide.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1/4 of recipe, Calories: 326kcal (16%), Carbohydrates: 9g (3%), Protein: 36g (72%), Fat: 16g (25%), Saturated Fat: 4g (25%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 185mg (62%), Sodium: 570mg (25%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 0g

Keywords: skillet chicken, skillet chicken thighs, garlic herb chicken, 30-minute chicken

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