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Easy, one skillet dinner recipe idea for tender chicken thighs with the creamy lemon butter sauce poured all over the top.  The delicious sauce is the star of this dish!

Easy, one skillet dinner recipe idea for tender chicken thighs with the creamy lemon butter sauce poured all over the top.  The delicious sauce is the star of this dish!

I can’t believe I’m even saying this while in the midst of April but as I’m typing this I’m sitting outside in 80 degree weather, bright blue skies and sunshine.  This is the first time Rochester has seen 80 degrees so far in 2015 (or probably even about 70 is probably safe bet).  It’s one of those gems of a day where the entire city is trying to savor every second they can outdoors since days like this only come around once in a blue moon during the springtime.  I swear everybody in the entire city is outdoors right now coming out of hibernation.  Well played, Rochester….well played.

Simple chicken skillet dinner recipe idea for chicken thighs and creamy lemon butter sauce.

This lemon butter chicken skillet dinner is the epitome of spring and is one of those dinners you can really impress your family and friends with.  I first saw it posted on a wonderful blog called Damn Delicious.  The first time I made it I followed her way of making it verbatim.  The second time I made it I tweaked it more to my liking and I loved it even more.

The sauce in this lemon butter chicken recipe is very versatile and can be used with other meals, as well (think a fish dinner or a variety of pasta dishes).  You will want to make this over and over again because the flavor will be unforgettable.  Just make sure to have a big soup spoon nearby so you can savor every last bit of this creamy lemon butter sauce!

Chicken thighs and tasty lemon butter sauce made in a cast iron skillet create this lemon butter chicken.  Easy and delicious!

Lemon Butter Chicken
Author: 
Recipe type: dinner
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 6-8
 
Easy, one skillet dinner recipe idea for tender chicken thighs with the creamy lemon butter sauce poured all over the top. The delicious sauce is the star of this dish!
Ingredients
  • 7-8 bone-in, skinless chicken thighs
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 3 cups baby spinach
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Season chicken thighs with paprika and enough salt and pepper, to taste.
  3. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large oven-proof skillet over medium high heat. Add chicken and sear both sides until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side; drain excess fat and set aside.
  4. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in the skillet. Add garlic, and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes (do not let it burn). Stir in chicken broth, heavy cream, Parmesan, lemon juice and thyme.
  5. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, stir in spinach, and simmer until the spinach has wilted and the sauce has slightly thickened, about 5 minutes (you don't want the spinach to wilt too much). Return chicken thighs to the skillet.
  6. Place into oven and roast until completely cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 175 degrees F, about 25-30 minutes.
  7. Serve immediately by placing chicken on plates and spooning sauce over it. Enjoy!

 Recipe source:  adapted from damndelicious.net

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