Quick Crispy Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs Skillet Recipe
A quick and easy skillet recipe for crispy, flavorful lemon pepper chicken thighs perfect for weeknight dinners.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1½ teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil
- Juice of half a fresh lemon
- Optional: fresh parsley or thyme for garnish
Instructions
- Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Season both sides with lemon pepper seasoning, garlic powder, and salt. Let sit for 10 minutes.
- Heat a 10-inch cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add avocado oil and heat until shimmering but not smoking, about 2 minutes.
- Place chicken thighs skin-side down in the skillet. Press lightly for even contact. Cook without moving for 7-8 minutes until skin is golden and crispy.
- Flip chicken thighs and cook for another 6-7 minutes on the meat side. Optionally, transfer skillet to a preheated 375°F oven for 5-7 minutes to finish cooking.
- Remove skillet from heat and squeeze juice of half a lemon over the chicken.
- Let chicken rest in the pan for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired before serving.
Notes
Pat chicken dry to ensure crispy skin. Do not overcrowd the pan. Let chicken release naturally before flipping. Rest chicken after cooking to retain juices. For extra crispiness, finish in a 375°F oven for 5-7 minutes. Avoid microwaving leftovers to keep skin crispy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh
- Calories: 320
- Fat: 24
- Protein: 22
Keywords: lemon pepper chicken, crispy chicken thighs, skillet chicken, quick dinner, easy chicken recipe, weeknight dinner