Description
A quick and easy one-pan dinner featuring juicy chicken thighs seared to crispy perfection and simmered in a luscious garlic parmesan cream sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights or cozy weekends.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (can use boneless for faster cooking)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (extra virgin preferred)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup heavy cream (240 ml)
- 3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup chicken broth (120 ml)
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (oregano, basil, thyme blend)
- Handful fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 2 minutes.
- Place the chicken thighs skin-side down in the skillet. Sear without moving for 6-7 minutes until the skin is golden brown and crispy. Flip and cook the other side for 4 minutes.
- Remove the chicken temporarily and set aside on a plate.
- Lower the heat to medium and add butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add minced garlic and stir frequently for 1-2 minutes until fragrant but not browned.
- Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream, stirring to combine. Let the sauce simmer gently for 3-4 minutes to thicken slightly.
- Stir in grated parmesan and dried Italian herbs until the cheese melts fully and the sauce coats the back of a spoon.
- Return the chicken thighs to the skillet, skin-side up. Spoon some sauce over each piece.
- Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and the sauce is bubbling.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before garnishing with fresh parsley.
Notes
Pat chicken dry before seasoning for crispy skin. Use freshly grated parmesan for best flavor and melting. If sauce is too thin after baking, simmer longer on stovetop; if too thick, add broth or cream to loosen. Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked to 165°F (74°C).
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 550
- Fat: 35
- Saturated Fat: 15
- Carbohydrates: 3
- Protein: 35
Keywords: creamy garlic parmesan chicken, one-pan dinner, chicken thighs recipe, comfort food, easy chicken recipe, garlic parmesan sauce