Garlic Lemon Chicken Thighs

By Snejana Andreeva

on Jan 30, 2022, Updated Feb 12, 2026

5 from 5 reviews
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Golden-brown roasted chicken thighs in a white baking dish, garnished with lemon wedges, whole garlic cloves, and chopped herbs. The dish is on a white surface with a beige napkin and parsley nearby.

These Garlic Lemon Chicken Thighs are what home cooking looks like for me: satisfying, comforting, and healthy with big flavors, minimal prep, and just a few ingredients. A dish like this takes one hour max and can be totally marinated the night before. Pair it with a 🥗 salad, cauliflower mash, mashed potatoes, or rice on the side, or turn it into a one-pot meal and throw in potatoes to bake with the 🍗 chicken.

Key Takeaways

  • Garlic Lemon Chicken Thighs are a flavorful, easy-to-prepare dish that can be marinated overnight.
  • This recipe combines juicy chicken with a lemon-honey Dijon sauce and roasted garlic for added depth.
  • You can add vegetables like potatoes or carrots to make it a complete one-pot meal.
  • To ensure the chicken cooks properly, use a meat thermometer to check for an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
  • Feel free to customize the recipe with different chicken cuts or substitutes like chicken broth instead of wine.

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love Garlic Lemon Chicken Thighs

This Garlic Lemon Chicken Thighs recipe is perfect for a quick weeknight meal idea but feels a little more special than a regular old baked chicken dish. The combination of juicy, tender chicken with a delicious wine and 🍋 lemon-honey Dijon mustard sauce is perfection. The slow-roasted 🧄 garlic on the side brings it to a whole other level. This recipe is easy to prepare, requiring minimal prep time and just one baking dish, making cleanup a breeze. Plus, the option to add vegetables transforms it into a complete, satisfying meal. This recipe is the perfect blend of simplicity, flavor, and versatility.

How to Prepare

🍗 Add the chicken to any baking dish and then add the olive oil, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, 7 cloves of unpeeled garlic, honey dijon mustard, and the juice of a lemon.

👐 Give it a nice massage with clean hands and then either bake it right away or marinate overnight.

🥔 Feel free to add some potatoes to the baking dish as well.

💧 When you are ready to bake, add the wine and water and then cover the dish with a lid or foil.

🔥 Bake at 400°F (200C) for 45 minutes, then uncover it and put the oven to broil for a couple of minutes to get the skin nice and crispy.

🌡️ Use a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).

🧄 Remove the garlic cloves and then use it as a spread on bread. Enjoy!

Nonna’s Tip 🥕

This recipe can turn into a one-pot meal if you throw in some potatoes, carrots, or green beans into the baking dish as well!

Variations and Substitutions for Garlic Lemon Chicken Thighs

  1. You are more than welcome to use any cut of 🍗 chicken of choice but if you use chicken breast you will have to reduce the cooking time because it cooks faster so keep an eye on it.
  2. You can certainly use boneless, skinless chicken thighs as well in this recipe but the cooking time will vary depending on the size and thickness.
  3. Honey dijon mustard is totally optional in this recipe.
  4. You can use unsalted chicken broth, vegetable broth, or even water instead of white wine if you prefer.
  5. You can also add vegetables like potatoes, 🥕 carrots, or green beans to the baking dish. Just make sure to cut them into even sizes so cook through properly.

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Common Questions

Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs?

Yes, you can certainly use chicken breasts instead, but they may cook faster, so start checking for doneness around 30-35 minutes to avoid overcooking. Breasts can be less juicy, so consider basting with the pan juices halfway through cooking.

Can I add vegetables to the baking dish?

Absolutely! Adding vegetables like potatoes, carrots, or green beans can make this Garlic Lemon Chicken Thighs recipe a one-pan meal. Just ensure they’re cut into even sizes to cook through properly.

Can I make this dish ahead of time?

Yes, you can marinate the chicken up to a day in advance and store it in the refrigerator. When ready to cook, add the wine and water and proceed with baking.

how can I tell if the chicken is fully cooked?

The best way to tell if your chicken is fully cooked is to use a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C). Also, the juices should run clear when the meat is pierced near the bone.

What should I do with the garlic cloves?

After baking, the garlic cloves will be soft and sweet. Spread them on crusty bread for a delicious accompaniment, or mix them into the sauce for extra flavor.

5 from 5 reviews

Garlic Lemon Chicken Thighs

This Garlic Lemon Chicken Thighs recipe is a weeknight dish you'll love. The meat is tender and juicy, and great with any side.
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Makes: 8 thighs
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 47 minutes
Total Time: 52 minutes
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EquipmentIngredientsInstructionsNotesNutrition

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Equipment

Ingredients

  • 8 chicken thighs, skin on, bone in
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • salt , to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, to taste
  • 7 cloves garlic, unpeeled
  • 1.5 tablespoons honey dijon mustard, or regular mustard
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • ½ cup white wine, or unsalted veggie or chicken broth
  • ½ cup water

Instructions

  • Add the chicken to any baking dish and add all of the ingredients minus the water and wine.
    A plate of raw chicken with spices and lemons.
  • Give it a nice massage with clean hands and you can bake it right away or you can even let it marinate overnight. Feel free to add some potatoes to the baking dish.
    Raw chicken thighs seasoned with herbs and spices, arranged in a white rectangular baking dish with whole garlic cloves, ready for baking.
  • When you are ready to bake, add the wine and water and cover the dish with a lid or foil.
    A rectangular baking dish covered tightly with aluminum foil, placed on a light-colored marble surface.
  • Bake at 400°F (200C) for 45 minutes, then uncover it and put the oven to broil for a couple of minutes so that you can get the skin nice and crispy. Keep a very close eye on it as it can easily burn.
    Baked chicken thighs with a crispy, golden-brown skin and whole garlic cloves in a white rectangular baking dish with juices visible at the bottom, on a light marble surface.
  • Remove the garlic cloves and spread on bread and then pour the sauce on top. Enjoy!

Nonna’s Notes

  • Chicken variations: You are more than welcome to use any cut of chicken of choice but if you use chicken breast you will have to reduce the cooking time because it cooks faster so keep an eye on it. You can certainly use boneless, skinless chicken thighs as well in this recipe but the cooking time will vary depending on the size and thickness.
  • Broth variations: You can use unsalted chicken broth, vegetable broth, or even water instead of white wine if you prefer.
  • Veggies: You can also add vegetables like potatoes, carrots, or green beans to the baking dish. Just make sure to cut them into even sizes so cook through properly.

My Notes

Add your personal notes here!

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Garlic Lemon Chicken Thighs
Serving Size
 
1 portion
Amount per Serving
Calories
296
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
22
g
34
%
Saturated Fat
 
6
g
38
%
Trans Fat
 
0.1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
4
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
10
g
Cholesterol
 
111
mg
37
%
Sodium
 
104
mg
5
%
Potassium
 
273
mg
8
%
Carbohydrates
 
4
g
1
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
1
g
1
%
Protein
 
19
g
38
%
Vitamin A
 
100
IU
2
%
Vitamin C
 
8
mg
10
%
Calcium
 
27
mg
3
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

5 from 5 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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4 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Absolutely delicious recipe! I used tarragon instead of Italian seasoning & didn’t use wine. This will definitely be getting added to my repertoire for an easy week night meal. Will try this with adding potatoes to the dish to make an easier one-pot dinner

    Reply

  2. 5 stars
    One of my absolute favourite recipes on your page. The sauce…I mean, good enough to chug 😉 I made it with mashed potatoes and poured the sauce over the potatoes. SO GOOD!

    Reply