Description
Creamy Garlic Mushroom Chicken Thighs is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring crispy seared chicken thighs simmered in a rich garlic cream sauce with tender sautéed mushrooms. This easy skillet recipe delivers juicy, tender chicken with a luscious sauce perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 1.5 pounds)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Mushroom Garlic Sauce
- 8 oz fresh cremini or button mushrooms, sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves or 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Season the chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper on both sides to ensure a flavorful, crispy crust when seared.
- Sear the chicken: Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the chicken thighs skin-side down and cook until the skin is golden brown and crispy, about 6 to 8 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Remove chicken from the skillet and set aside temporarily.
- Sauté mushrooms and garlic: In the same skillet, add the sliced mushrooms and sauté until they release their juices and become tender, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook just until fragrant, being careful to avoid bitterness.
- Deglaze and create sauce: Pour in the chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up all the flavorful browned bits from the bottom. Stir in the heavy cream and simmer gently, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Cook chicken in sauce: Place the seared chicken thighs back into the creamy mushroom sauce. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for another 10 to 12 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
- Garnish and serve: Just before serving, sprinkle fresh thyme leaves or chopped parsley over the dish to add brightness and a fresh herbal note.
Notes
- Patting the chicken dry is crucial to achieve crispy skin during searing.
- Use bone-in, skin-on thighs for maximum flavor and moisture.
- Adjust seasoning with extra salt and pepper if desired after cooking.
- Fresh thyme or parsley adds a nice herbal freshness; you can substitute with dried herbs if fresh is unavailable.
- This dish pairs well with rice, mashed potatoes, or crusty bread to soak up the creamy sauce.
