Description
Delight in these creamy lemon garlic chicken thighs with capers, perfectly seared and simmered in a luscious sauce of heavy cream, fresh lemon juice, and briny capers. This dish combines tender, juicy chicken with rich, tangy flavors for a comforting and elegant meal that’s easy to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Marinade
- 6 bone-in & skin-on chicken thighs, excess skin removed
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 2 tablespoons lemon pepper seasoning
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 10–12 cloves of garlic
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- ¼ cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ cup nonpareil capers
Instructions
- Season chicken & marinate: Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel. Place the chicken into a large resealable bag or bowl and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil, lemon pepper seasoning, garlic powder, and dried parsley. Massage the spices into the chicken until thoroughly coated. Seal the bag or cover the bowl, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight to marinate.
- Brown the chicken: Heat a large skillet over medium heat, adding butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. When hot, place chicken thighs skin-side down in batches of about 3. Cook undisturbed until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes. Flip and cook the other side for 2-3 minutes. Transfer browned thighs to a clean plate and repeat with remaining chicken. Note that chicken is not fully cooked at this stage.
- Caramelize the garlic cloves: Add the garlic cloves to the skillet and sauté, stirring often, until softened and golden brown, about 2-3 minutes.
- Build the creamy sauce: Pour in chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits with a wooden utensil. Let simmer 1-2 minutes. Stir in heavy cream and lemon juice and bring to a gentle boil while stirring occasionally. Add capers and mix well.
- Finish the creamy chicken thighs: Return the browned chicken thighs to the skillet, spoon sauce over them, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook for 15-20 minutes until the sauce thickens and chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Serve: Spoon the creamy lemon garlic caper sauce over the chicken thighs and serve with your favorite sides. Enjoy your flavorful, comforting meal!
Notes
- For best flavor, marinate chicken overnight if possible.
- You can use skinless chicken thighs, but the skin adds great texture and flavor.
- Nonpareil capers are smaller and milder, but regular capers are a fine substitute.
- Check chicken temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure food safety.
- Serve with rice, mashed potatoes, or steamed vegetables to complement the creamy sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Creamy lemon garlic chicken, chicken thighs recipe, caper chicken, easy creamy chicken, stovetop chicken dinner
