Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs (Printable)

Juicy lemon-and-pepper marinated chicken thighs roasted until skin is golden and crisp; a bright, simple weeknight meal.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs

→ Marinade

02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - Juice and zest of 2 lemons
04 - 1 tablespoon freshly cracked black pepper
05 - 1 teaspoon sea salt
06 - 4 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme (or 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped)
08 - 1 teaspoon honey (optional)

→ Garnish

09 - Fresh parsley, chopped
10 - Lemon wedges

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, cracked black pepper, sea salt, minced garlic, thyme, and honey until well combined.
03 - Add chicken thighs to the bowl and toss thoroughly to coat evenly. Let marinate for at least 10 minutes at room temperature, or refrigerate for up to 1 hour for deeper flavor penetration.
04 - Place chicken thighs skin-side up on the prepared baking sheet. Pour any remaining marinade over the top, ensuring each piece is generously coated.
05 - Roast for 35 minutes, or until the skin turns golden and crispy and the internal temperature registers 165°F when measured at the thickest part of the thigh.
06 - Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes to allow juices to redistribute. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve alongside lemon wedges.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The marinade comes together in about two minutes with pantry staples you probably already have.
  • Bone in skin on thighs turn incredibly crispy in the oven while staying juicy inside.
  • It is naturally gluten free and feeds four people with almost zero cleanup.
02 -
  • If you crowd the pan the chicken will steam instead of roast so give each thigh enough breathing room.
  • Marinating longer than an hour in straight lemon juice can start to break down the texture so keep an eye on the clock.
03 -
  • Pat the chicken thighs completely dry with paper towels before marinating because excess moisture is the enemy of crispy skin.
  • Let the baking sheet preheat in the oven for a few minutes before adding the chicken for an instant sear on the bottom.

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