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Easy One-Tray Garlic Lemon Chicken Bake Perfect Crispy Skin Recipe

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A simple and flavorful one-tray chicken bake featuring crispy skin, bright lemon, and mellow roasted garlic. Perfect for quick weeknight dinners with minimal cleanup.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 1.5 pounds / 700g)
  • 4 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
  • 1 large lemon, zested and juiced
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme or 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
  • Salt to taste (about 1 teaspoon coarse salt)
  • Black pepper to taste (about ½ teaspoon)
  • Optional: 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
  • Optional: ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Optional: Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken dry thoroughly with paper towels, especially the skin, to ensure crispiness. Set aside.
  2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine olive oil, lemon zest and juice, smashed garlic cloves, thyme, salt, pepper, and optional honey or maple syrup if using.
  3. Add the chicken thighs to the bowl and toss well to coat each piece evenly, making sure garlic and lemon zest cling to the skin and under the thighs. Marinate for 10-15 minutes if time allows.
  4. Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
  5. Arrange the chicken thighs skin-side up on a rimmed baking tray or sheet pan, spaced slightly apart. Scatter the smashed garlic cloves around the chicken pieces.
  6. Roast in the oven for 35-40 minutes. Around 25 minutes in, check the skin and rotate the tray if browning unevenly. The skin should be golden and crackly.
  7. Check doneness by ensuring the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) or juices run clear when pierced near the bone.
  8. Remove from oven and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes to redistribute juices.
  9. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and an extra squeeze of lemon juice before serving.
  10. Optional: For extra crispiness, broil for 1-2 minutes at the end, watching carefully to avoid burning.

Notes

Patting the chicken skin dry is crucial for crispiness. Roasting at high heat (425°F) helps render fat and crisp skin. Rotate the tray halfway through cooking for even browning. Rest chicken after roasting to keep it juicy. Optional broil at the end for extra crispiness. Tossing chicken in a little baking powder before oil can dry skin but use sparingly to avoid bitterness.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic lemon chicken, one-tray chicken bake, crispy chicken skin, easy chicken dinner, roasted chicken thighs, lemon garlic chicken

Find it online: https://swooshspice.com/easy-one-tray-garlic-lemon-chicken-bake-perfect-crispy-skin-recipe/