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Lemon-Oregano Chicken

  • Active Time

    20 min

  • Total Time

    40 min

Chicken thighs are an excellent choice if you're looking for big, meaty flavor that's easy on the wallet. Here, they're seared until the skin is golden-crisp and then roasted with the classic combination of lemon and oregano until juicy.

Ingredients

Makes 4 servings

2 garlic cloves
3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, divided
8 chicken thighs with skin (about 1 3/4 pounds)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Accompaniment: lemon wedges
  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 450°F with rack in middle.

    Step 2

    Mince and mash garlic to a paste with a pinch of salt, then whisk together with 2 tablespoons oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Pat chicken dry and coat with lemon-garlic mixture.

    Step 3

    Heat 1 tablespoon butter and remaining tablespoon oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until foam subsides. Brown chicken in 2 batches, skin side down, until golden and crisp, 5 to 6 minutes (chicken will not be cooked through). Transfer, skin side up, to a 4-sided sheet pan.

    Step 4

    Pour off fat (and any small burnt pieces) from skillet. Add broth and remaining tablespoon lemon juice and boil until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Whisk in remaining tablespoon butter and oregano, then pour over chicken.

    Step 5

    Roast chicken in oven until cooked through, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

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Reviews (45)

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  • 简单好——鸡呆很潮湿,布鲁里溃疡t the skin crisped up nicely. Served it with garlic-butter spaghetti.

    • sitagaki

    • 4/20/2013

  • meh. kind of agree there are more interesting quick chicken recipes, though I did like being able to make this with next to nothing in the fridge.

    • as1714

    • Boston

    • 1/26/2013

  • What's not to like about this dish? Easy & tasty & inexpensive! Prepped it earlier in the day. Because my thighs weighed almost 4 lbs., I doubled the marinade (and used fresh oregano) & doubled the sauce (again with fresh oregano). Roasted potatoes & veggies alongside, and added a salad. Had friends over, and everyone enjoyed the meal.

    • Anonymous

    • Taos NM

    • 5/19/2012

  • Halved recipe for two, came out great. LOVE the crispy, flavorful skin. Don't skip the browning step!

    • ajjaffin

    • Washington DC

    • 4/7/2012

  • This was a great easy recipe that can go with a variety of different side dishes. I served it with risotto and a caesar salad. The chicken skin gets nice and crunchy or can be removed altogether. Definitely will make it again.

    • Anonymous

    • 3/11/2012

  • This was my first time making chicken thighs, and though I followed the recipe exactly, I found it turned out very oily, but still delicious. Chicken was cooked perfectly - moist and tender. I was surprised though, that considering how much garlic and lemon was used, the flavor was not nearly as strong as I was expecting.. very very subtle

    • Anonymous

    • Philadelphia

    • 2/19/2012

  • Excellent and super easy. The recipe is specific about using unsalted butter and reduced-sodium chicken broth. I recommend you take heed as the reduction process will intensify the flavors. I did this with skinless, boneless chicken breast and simply skipped the browning step.

    • Busy_Vicki

    • 1/20/2012

  • This is an easy recipe, relatively quick to make, with ingredients I already had at home. It was satisfying and tasty, but not particularly delicious or remarkable. The chicken skin was nice, but the flesh itself lacked flavor. I don't think I'd bother making it again.

    • intcook

    • Bay Area

    • 8/20/2011

  • This was a really easy and fast recipe and turned out fantastic for a weeknight dinner. I used skinless, boneless thighs, and after browning in the pan put them into a baking dish with some par boiled fingerling potatoes and roasted them together with the sauce for the 20 minutes. Perfect.

    • Anonymous

    • San Francisco

    • 6/23/2011

  • This was delish! i used good ole kirkland boneless chicken breasts which i'll marinate alittle longer next time. also kept the crunchies (garlic) from the pan seared chicken in the broth/lemon reduction as it added flavor. about 20 minutes in the oven was just right for the whole breasts. served with the lemon roasted potatoes which were also yummy.

    • magnamosa

    • redwood shores, ca

    • 5/15/2011

  • Very easy to make, and a super taste. It has become my 'company' recipe.

    • Anonymous

    • Cleveland, Ohio

    • 4/28/2011

  • Turned out great--especially the leftovers that I'm eating right now! The only thing I'd do differently next time is use a pot that works on the stovetop and in the oven, for an easier cleanup. I also made an Orzo "risotto" recipe I found here to go along with it which was also great. And bonus, you can use some of the same ingredients from the citrus salad recipe.

    • new_american_cook

    • 4/7/2011

  • Like other reviewers, I used chix breasts (what I had in the house) and marinated in the oil, garlic and lemon juice for an h our prior to cooking. Easy, moist and flavorful - great weeknight dinner and I will definitely make again.

    • Anonymous

    • stamford ct

    • 2/24/2011

  • This was delicious! I used split breasts instead of thighs (it's what I had on hand) and cooked it to 180° internal temp. The seasoning was perfect, and the chicken very juicy without being underdone. I will make this again for certain. Oh, and my kids liked this too -- were looking for more!

    • rjneeley

    • Indiana

    • 1/18/2011

  • It was Ok. There are better easy recipes for chicken on this site.

    • Anonymous

    • 10/30/2010

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