A good cook needs an assortment of chicken dishes to fall back on. Aside from roasting or frying (and in addition to grilling), braising chicken is a simple technique to master. Chicken thighs make the best braises; use skin-on bone-in thighs for the best flavor. Though it could be done on the stovetop, this dish is oven-braised.

Here are more recipes using chicken thighs.

Ingredients

  • 8 chicken thighs, skin-on and bone-in, about 3 1/2 pounds
  • Salt and pepper
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ teaspoon crushed fennel seeds
  • 1 tablespoon roughly chopped rosemary
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 Meyer lemons, cut in wedges
  • 1 cup flavorful olives with pits, a mixture of black and green, about 1 pound
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 3 tablespoons chopped parsley
  • Nutritional Information
    • Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

      1038 calories; 78 grams fat; 20 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 34 grams monounsaturated fat; 15 grams polyunsaturated fat; 7 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 1 gram sugars; 72 grams protein; 418 milligrams cholesterol; 653 milligrams sodium

    • Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.

4 to 6 servings

Preparation

  1. Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Season well with salt and pepper and place in an earthenware baking dish in one layer, skin side up. Sprinkle with red pepper, garlic, fennel and rosemary and drizzle with olive oil. Rub seasoning into thighs on all sides. Tuck lemon wedges here and there. Let marinate for 15 minutes. Heat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Put baking dish in oven, uncovered, and roast until skin browns lightly, about 20 minutes. Scatter olives evenly over chicken and add broth. Cover tightly and bake for 1 hour, until meat is very tender when probed with a skewer.
  3. Remove thighs and lemon wedges and arrange on a platter. Keep warm. Pour pan juices into a saucepan and quickly skim fat from surface. Over high heat, simmer rapidly until reduced by half. Spoon juices over chicken, sprinkle with parsley and serve.

1 hour 45 minutes

Dining and Cooking