• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Summer Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • Sweet Recipes
  • About

The Bossy Kitchen

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Summer Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • Sweet Recipes
  • About
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Summer Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • Sweet Recipes
  • About
×
Home > Recipes > Other Cuisines

Lemon Thyme Chicken Thighs

by Gabriela - Updated April 2, 2025 | 2 Comments
↓ Jump to Recipe

Add a citrusy twist to your usual chicken recipe with this incredibly flavorful and appetizing Lemon Thyme Chicken Thighs. Simple yet bold in taste, this chicken dish is bound to have your taste buds dancing with excitement.

Lemon Thyme Chicken Thighs vertical photo
Jump to:
  • 💝 Why You Will Love This Recipe
  • 📝 Ingredients and shopping tips
  • 🔀Variations
  • 🛠️ Equipment
  • 👩‍🍳How to make this recipe
  • 🍚 Rice recipe ideas
  • 💡 Expert tip
  • ❄️How to store
  • 🙋‍♀️ Recipe FAQs
  • 🍗 More Chicken Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • Food Safety
  • 💬 Comments

They're also fantastic for those impromptu gatherings where you need to whip up a crowd-pleasing dish that looks like you've put in more effort than you actually have.

Easy, delicious recipes like this Easy Chicken Breast Schnitzel- French Style, Lemon Rosemary Roasted Chicken With Potatoes, or Lemon Garlic Roasted Chicken are perfect for those busy weeknight dinners when you need something scrumptious but don't have hours to spend in the kitchen.

Whether you're a seasoned chef or a cooking newbie, these recipes have got your back.

Lemon Thyme Chicken Thighs close up image

💝 Why You Will Love This Recipe

Lemon Thyme Chicken Thighs is an easy recipe and a favorite due to its delightful fusion of zesty lemon, aromatic thyme, and tender, juicy chicken. The thighs are marinated in lemon juice, thyme, and other spices and are baked in the oven.

While it's a year-round favorite, this dish especially shines during summer months when lemons are in their prime and outdoor dining calls for light, tangy flavors.

This chicken with lemon and thyme can also grace your holiday dinner table as a refreshing break from traditionally heavy dishes.

📝 Ingredients and shopping tips

Collage of ingredients for the Lemon Thyme Chicken Thighs Recipe (chicken, onions, lemons, melted butter)

This recipe uses simple ingredients that you probably already have in the pantry.

  • Chicken Thighs: The star of the show. Chicken thighs are used for their moist and flavorful nature but can be swapped with breasts if you prefer leaner meat. You can also use a whole chicken cut up in pieces if you prefer other parts of it.
  • Green onions: Adds a mild, sweet onion flavor. Red or even regular onions can be used as substitutes.
  • Thyme: Gives an earthy, slightly minty flavor to the dish. If fresh thyme leaves are not an option, dried thyme works just as well., dried thyme works just as well.
  • Garlic: Enhances the overall taste of the dish. Garlic powder could be a potential substitute, but I prefer the fresh one.
  • Lemon: Fresh lemon juice provides the dish with a refreshing, tangy flavor. Lime can be a suitable substitute.
  • Butter: For richness and flavor. Olive oil can be used as a healthier alternative.
  • Salt & Pepper: To enhance the overall taste of the dish.
  • Optional: Fresh parsley or cilantro for garnishing the dish, slices of limes or lemons for decoration.

🔀Variations

For those who like a little heat, feel free to add some crushed red pepper flakes to your marinade. If you're preparing the dish for kids, you might want to tone down the garlic. Some might even prefer to add some sweet elements like honey or maple syrup to balance the lemon's acidity.

🛠️ Equipment

I use a round enamel baking pan for roasting the chicken, but you can also use a 9x13-inch glass, metal, or ceramic pan. If you're using a glass pan, remember that it takes longer to heat up and retains heat for longer than metal pans. This could result in a slightly longer cooking time.

👩‍🍳How to make this recipe

Step 1. Prepare the chicken: Start by placing the chicken thighs skin side down in your baking dish or roasting pan. Ensure there's enough room for all of them. Use a sharp knife to make a lengthwise slit along the thigh bone of each piece.

Step 2. Make the marinade: In a separate small bowl, combine your chopped onions, thyme, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, lemon juice from fresh lemons or limes, and melted butter. Mix everything well.

Chicken thighs in a round baking pan.
Chicken thighs in the baking pan and bowl with marinade.

Step 3. Marinate the chicken thighs: Spoon your prepared marinade over each chicken thigh, spreading it evenly. Once all the chicken thighs are covered with the marinade, cover the dish with plastic wrap.

Step 4. Refrigerate: Allow the chicken to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 3-4 hours. If you've got time, preparing the chicken the day before and leaving it to marinate overnight is even better.

Step 5. Preheat the oven: When you're ready to cook, preheat the oven to 375F/190C.

Step 6. Cooking the chicken: Remove the plastic wrap and cover the chicken with aluminum foil. Bake in your preheated oven for about an hour.

Two photos collage of chicken marinating with lemon juice, butter and spices and baking tray covered with aluminum foil

Step 7. Final touches: After an hour, remove the foil and continue baking the chicken for an additional 5-10 minutes or until the chicken turns golden brown.

Lemon Thyme Chicken Thighs dish halfway cooked

Step 8. Garnish and serve: Decorate the chicken thighs with lemon slices and fresh coriander, if you like. Serve it hot, ideally over rice.

🍚 Rice recipe ideas

  • Dal Bhat (lentils and rice)
    Dal Bhat (Rice And Lentils)
  • Lemon Rice in a serving bowl with herbs on top.
    Easy Greek Lemon Rice Recipe (With Wine)
  • Orzo Pasta Salad in a white bowl square photo0
    Easy Orzo Pasta Salad
  • Easy Mexican rice99
    Mexican White Rice Recipe (Arroz Blanco)

This chicken lemon and thyme can also be served with green beans, pasta, mashed potatoes, or even roasted new potatoes.

Lemon Thyme Chicken Thighs dish vertical image

Related: One-Pan Harissa Chicken Thighs with Potatoes and Lime

💡 Expert tip

The secret to a wonderful meal is the use of fresh ingredients. Also, to maximize the flavor, make sure you spoon the marinade into the slits you've made in the chicken thighs. You'll end up with a more flavorful, juicy chicken that's infused with the delicious lemon and thyme flavors right through.

❄️How to store

Store the chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10-15 minutes. If frozen, first thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat as above. Great for lunch or dinner leftovers.

Lemon Thyme Chicken Thighs in a serving dish

🙋‍♀️ Recipe FAQs

Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs?

Yes, you can, but keep in mind that chicken breasts cook faster than thighs and can dry out if overcooked.

Can I make this Lemon Thyme Chicken Thighs Recipe ahead of time?

You can prepare the chicken and marinate it the day before for a deeper flavor.

Can I use boneless skinless chicken thighs for this recipe?

Yes, you can, but keep in mind that bone-in chicken thighs generally yield more flavor. If you're using boneless thighs, you might need to reduce the cooking time to prevent them from drying out.

🍗 More Chicken Recipes

  • Bone in Chicken Breast Recipes Collage square photo
    10 Easy Bone-In Chicken Breast Recipes
  • Recipe for Peanut Butter Chicken0
    Easy Peanut Butter Chicken (Quick Recipe)
  • Chicken Stewed in tomato sauce square photo0
    Chicken Stewed in Tomato Garlic and Cinnamon (Kota Kapama)
  • Green Peas With Chicken Stew in a white serving bowl Featured image.
    Peas And Chicken Stew

📖 Recipe

Lemon Thyme Chicken square image0

Lemon Thyme Chicken Thighs Recipe

Discover my Lemon Thyme Chicken Thighs recipe - a juicy, zesty delight that will make your taste buds sing. Perfect chicken dinner awaits!
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Share GrowSaved! Rate
Course: Main Course, Meat and Poultry
Cuisine: International
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 790kcal
Author: Gabriela
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  • 8 chicken thighs
  • 2 tablespoons chopped scallions
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme or one teaspoon of dried thyme
  • 2 garlic cloves crushed
  • 1 large lemon, juice or 2 medium limes
  • 6 tablespoons butter melted
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

To garnish:

  • lemon or lime slices
  • fresh parsley or cilantro

Instructions

  • Place the chicken thighs skin side down in a baking dish or roasting pan that accommodates all of them. Using a sharp knife, make a lengthways slit along the thigh bone of each.
  • In a small bowl place chopped onions, thyme, garlic, salt, pepper, lemon juice and melted butter. Mix well, then spoon the mixture over each chicken thigh, spreading evenly. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 3-4 hours. You can also prepare the chicken the day before and leave to marinate overnight.
  • Preheat the oven to 375F/190C. Remove the plastic wrap and cover the chicken with aluminum foil. Bake for about an hour. Remove the foil and continue baking further 5-10 minutes, until the chicken turns golden brown.
  • Garnish with lemon or lime slices and fresh coriander if you like, and serve over rice.

Notes

Food Safety

  • Cooking a delicious meal safely is key to maintaining a healthy kitchen. When cooking chicken, ensure that the meat is cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to kill any potential bacteria.
  • Always use separate utensils for handling raw and cooked foods to prevent cross-contamination.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw chicken.
  • Leftovers should be stored promptly in the refrigerator and consumed within four days for the best quality and safety.

Nutrition

Calories: 790kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 47g | Fat: 65g | Saturated Fat: 24g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g | Monounsaturated Fat: 24g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 328mg | Sodium: 940mg | Potassium: 629mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 830IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this Recipe? Pin it Today!Mention @thebossykitchen or tag #thebossykitchen!

More Recipes from Around the World

  • Creamed Spinach with eggs
    Easy Creamed Spinach
  • Chocolate Mint Cake decorated with truffles and yellow sugar paste roses.
    Chocolate Mint Cake Recipe (With Fresh Mint)
  • Crustless Spinach with Smoked Meat and Gouda Cheese Quiche 2
    Crustless Spinach Quiche With Ham And Cheese (Low Carb)
  • Delicious Balkan Pepper & Tomato Sauté in a serving bowl.
    Balkan Pepper & Tomato Sauté (Piperchi țârgâsiti)

Sharing is caring!

  • Share
  • Reddit
  • Threads
  • Bluesky

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Gigi says

    June 26, 2023 at 4:54 pm

    5 stars
    I just got some chicken thighs at the store today and I was looking for a good recipe. Thanks for posting this! It sounds delish!

    Reply
    • Gabriela says

      June 26, 2023 at 5:32 pm

      I cannot wait for you to return, and let me know if you liked the recipe! Thank you for visiting!

      Reply
5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating





Primary Sidebar

Gabriela the creator of The Bossy Kitchen

Hi! I am Gabriela, and this is my virtual home. I am a trained Pastry Chef and a self-taught cook. I inherited the cooking genes from my maternal grandma and the love for baking from my paternal grandma.

More about me →

Check out our Latest Recipes

Easter Recipes

  • Mexican Wedding Cookies on a Christmas plate.
    Easy Mexican Wedding Cookies Recipe
  • Cheese Straws With Poppy Seeds served on a platter.
    Best Homemade Cheese Straws with Poppy Seeds
  • Capirotada slice on plate square photo0
    Capirotada (Mexican Bread Pudding)
  • No Bake Cheesecake with Berries1010
    Philadelphia No-Bake Cheesecake With Berries

Popular Recipes

  • Charlotte Russe Cake with strawberries on a glass cake stand.
    Charlotte Russe Cake- Classic European Recipe(No Bake)
  • A tarta de Santiago or Spanish almond cake on a platter on the table.
    Spanish Almond Cake (Tarta De Santiago)
  • EASY MEXICAN PORK IN GREEN SAUCE- PUERCO EN SALSA VERDE
    Pork In Chile Verde Recipe
  • Pineapple Chicken Salad on greens square photo0
    Classic Pineapple Chicken Salad

Footer

↑ back to top

Info

Disclaimer And Privacy Policy

Accessibility Statement

Hi!

Whether it’s sponsored blog posts, social media campaigns, or recipe development using your products, I’m here to sprinkle some Bossy Kitchen magic onto it! Buzz me at:

💌 contact@theBossyKitchen.com

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2025 TheBossyKitchen

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.