Everybody needs a classic chicken dinner that is simple yet sumptuous, easy yet elegant – this Skillet Lemon Chicken recipe is it! Perfect for a weeknight chicken dinner or a small dinner party.
We can probably all agree: weeknights are a blur of activity, right? School, work, sports, homework, work events, errands, Netflix binging... you know, important stuff! All one crazy loop-de-loop until the weekend.
So we all need a few quick and delicious, easy weeknight dinner tricks up our sleeve.
For me: this easy Skillet Lemon Chicken recipe is one of them.
All hail, the mighty chicken thigh
Chicken is popular for so many reasons, including the fact that it tends to be less expensive compared to its counterpart meat options, and it's versatile and works well in so many different types of cuisines.
My favorite cut: the almighty chicken thigh. All hail meaty thighs! Right? I'm learning to love my own, but that's a different post...
Chicken thighs are tender, and they soak up whatever flavors they are immersed into, making them SO amazing in almost any dish. I always buy chicken thighs in bulk, separate out dinner portions, and then freeze in separate bags.
Easy Skillet Lemon Chicken
Okay, back to this super skillet lemon chicken recipe. Are you ready?
Season four chicken thighs with salt, pepper, chopped rosemary. Throw them (well, gently lay them down; no throwing chicken thighs, please!) into a skillet that has been heated with some olive oil, bacon fat (or you can sub butter) and minced garlic.
I have to say: the bacon fat gives this dish an extra richness and depth that you wouldn't get with butter. That said, I am also pro-butter, so I'll let you choose.
Allow each side to get a nice sear on the outside, add a wee bit o' dry white wine and allow that to cook off for a bit while the chicken finishes cooking, toss in some lemon, then finally garnish with more lemon and rosemary sprigs.
Phew! So tough, right? I don't even know if I have all of those items in my pantry and refrigerator...
Oh wait. I do! (You can sub chopped dried rosemary for fresh rosemary). So simple.
I like to serve this skillet lemon chicken with a side of mashed potatoes, mashed cauliflower, rice pilaf, farro, or quinoa, and a heaping side salad. I call a pile of spinach a salad (I love spinach!), so you can make whatever fancy salad concoction you desire. Or enjoy with sautéed green beans, carrots, or zucchini.
Or cake. You can most definitely enjoy this with a side of cake if you so desire. I'm not here to judge.
Easy Skillet Lemon Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs
- salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary or dried rosemary
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons bacon fat or butter
- ¼ cup dry white wine
- 1 lemon sliced or quartered
- additional rosemary sprigs for garnish
Instructions
- Heat olive oil and bacon fat (or butter) over medium-high heat.
- Season chicken with salt and pepper (use a light hand; you can always add more later!), and sprinkle and pat chopped rosemary over each side.
- Add minced garlic and sauté for a minute or two, just until the garlic is slightly softened.
- Add seasoned chicken to the skillet and cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side, depending on how thick your chicken thighs are. Cook long enough until you can see the chicken meat is cooked and until you get a nice sear on the skin.
- Remove chicken and place on a plate; set aside.
- Slowly add white wine to the skillet. Stir and gently scrape up any garlic or rosemary that have stuck to the pan.
- Add half of the lemon slices (or quarters; whichever shape you wish!). Stir gently and cook for just 2-3 minutes, to soften them and flavor the sauce.
- Add chicken back to the pan and use a spoon to pour the sauce over the chicken. Cook for just another minute or two more to warm up the chicken.
- Garnish with remaining lemon slices and rosemary springs (optional).
What's your favorite chicken part to cook with for weeknight meals?
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Melissa Kaylene says
Umm... you had my <3 at bacon fat and butter! ;) These look delicious and I love the combination with the rosemary...it's one of my favorite herbs. I personally like white meat better, so I may have to try this with chicken breasts for dinner soon! Thanks for the idea!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
I love the white wine addition! Lemon rosemary chicken is one classic family favorite!
Christie says
There is so much I love about this recipe especially that it is a skillet meal. Love an easy clean up plus chicken thighs have so much more flavor than breast.
Marye says
This chicken looks so yummy! I love skillet chicken meals!
Jennifer says
I've been obsessed with lemon lately, not sure why! I'm definitely going to be trying out this recipe it's making me drool.
Lee Anne says
This looks soooo good!
Molly Tullis says
Oh my gosh! This looks amazing. I have a small kitchen and this looks so easy to do.
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish says
This sounds delicious! Love all of that rosemary and lemon.
Brianne says
This looks so good! I'm not sure mine would turn out looking this pretty, but I definitely need to give it a try!
- Brianne
kristen says
yum!! I love cooking with bacon fat. and i think chicken thighs are often forgotten! Thanks for such a great recipe!
Ashleigh says
Wow, this lemon chicken recipe looks so good! Thank you for sharing such a great recipe... I can't wait to try it!!
Chris Huston says
This looks sooo yummy! I never think to feature a recipe around the chicken thigh but I would definitely make this. I love it with the mashed potatoes too.
Thanks for sharing!
Chris
Julia says
Lemon chicken is my favorite way to make chicken. I love that this cooks up in a skillet. And that skin looks crispy and perfect.
Kaitie says
these look amazing. And the crispy from the skin with the rosemary, and lemons! What a great way to use chicken thighs!
Pech says
Drooooll.... The chicken thigh is my favorite too. And chicken without skin always makes me a little sad, what did they do with it? I love that you used bacon fat and white wine in the recipe!
The Southern Thing says
I love lemon chicken! Yours looks so good!
Chrisy @ Homemade Hooplah says
I've been OBSESSED with lemon chicken lately - this will be perfect to curve my cravings! :D
Renée ♥ The Good Hearted Woman says
We're having some family over soon and I've been trying to come up with something new and easy to serve that doesn't violate anyone's eating preferences, allergies or issues. This looks delicious and I'm pretty sure will meet everyone's needs. Thanks so much, Marlynn - it's all making me very hungry right now.
Kathleen says
Just looking at this made me hungry! I am going to make this for my family!
Mary @ Vindulge says
Bacon fat? Wine? Lemon? Rosemary? Chicken? How could you go wrong?! Looks so good!
Les @ The Balanced Berry says
This sounds SO good! The thighs are my favorite part of the chicken too - they're so flavorful and have the best crispy skin when cooked. Thanks for sharing!
rachel @ athletic avocado says
i'm all about easy and simple recipes like this! This is a quick dinner that I can make on a weeknight, thanks for sharing!
Becky @ Project Domestication says
I've been wanting to make more skillet meals. The fresh rosemary sounds so appetizing. Yum!
Angie says
Yum! I LOVE lemon chicken. I love anything lemon really lol.
Amber @ Cupcakes and Coffee Grounds says
This looks absolutely amazing!! My mouth is seriously watering as I'm scrolling through your post. Definitely going to have to give this recipe a try!
Lana @ The Joy Blog says
Love this recipe, haven't made it but I know I love it. Lemon chicken is one of my favorites.
Sara says
1) This is a delicious recipe. I found it yesterday on Pinterst.
2) A friend's son had an emergency surgery over the weekend (he's good now!) and her husband couldn't take today off - I offered to bring dinner. So I whipped this up for them because I happened to have everything. In a rush, I delivered the meal looking beautiful and smelling divine to their house. It was still raw! I was in such a hurry feeding my family (plain, meatless Monday pasta. Kids got ripped off tonight!), that I didn't even check the temp. Maybe it was my bone in thighs but they needed waaay more than 4-5 minutes per side.
3) After shedding a few tears of failure and embarrassment, I cooked another couple of thighs for me and my husband. I tossed the kids' leftover mini bowtie pasta into the sauce and let it get crunchy...so good!
4) 100% user error. Try this recipe, it's easy, fresh and delicious.
5) I definitely had some of the wine leftover to cheer myself up.