Description
This Mediterranean Chicken Thighs recipe features juicy, golden-browned chicken cooked with vibrant cherry tomatoes, olives, garlic, and fresh thyme, then finished with tangy feta cheese. It’s a flavorful, rustic dish perfect for a healthy weeknight dinner or a special occasion, bringing the bright, savory tastes of the Mediterranean right into your kitchen.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 4 boned-in chicken thighs with skin
- Salt and ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 8 whole unpeeled garlic cloves
- 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives
- 1/2 cup green olives with pimento
- 1 lemon, cut into wedges
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
Other Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
- Preheat and Season: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C). Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels to ensure crispy skin, then lightly season both sides with salt and ground black pepper.
- Brown the Chicken: In a large oven-proof skillet, heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, place the chicken thighs skin-side down and cook for about 5 minutes until the skin is golden brown and crisp. Flip the chicken and brown the other side for another 5 minutes. If your skillet is small, brown the chicken in two batches, adding more oil if needed.
- Prepare the Tomato and Olive Mixture: While the chicken is browning, combine the garlic cloves, halved cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, green olives, remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and sea salt in a large bowl. Mix gently to combine all the flavors.
- Clear and Add Tomato Mixture: Once the chicken is browned, transfer it onto a plate and keep warm. Carefully drain any excess fat from the skillet and wipe the pan clean. Pour the tomato and olive mixture into the bottom of the skillet, spreading it evenly.
- Assemble for Baking: Place the browned chicken thighs on top of the tomato mixture in the skillet. Tuck lemon wedges and fresh thyme sprigs in between the chicken pieces. If your skillet isn’t oven-proof or large enough, transfer everything to an 8×8-inch baking dish before proceeding.
- Bake: Place the skillet or baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) indicating it’s fully cooked and safe to eat.
- Finish and Serve: Remove from the oven and sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese on top of the chicken and vegetables. Serve hot and enjoy the Mediterranean flavors.
Notes
- Make sure to pat the chicken dry before seasoning to achieve crispy skin.
- If you don’t have an oven-proof skillet, transferring to a baking dish is perfectly fine.
- You can substitute fresh thyme with dried thyme if needed, but use about 1 teaspoon dried.
- Leftovers taste great the next day and can be reheated gently in the oven or microwave.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking, Searing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with accompaniments
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
