Name: Paleo Greek Chicken Thighs
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 TB olive oil; 1 Pound boneless skinless chicken thighs; 1/2 tsp dried dill weed; 1/2 tsp dried parsley flakes; 1/4 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp black pepper; 3 TB lemon juice; 2 cloves garlic (minced); 1 C Roma tomatoes (diced); 1/2 C marinated artichoke hearts; 1/2 C large green olives (cut in half); 1/2 TB capers; 1 TB artichoke heart marinade

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Juicy chicken thighs are seared in a cast-iron skillet for an easy, flavorful, and healthy 30-minute meal. They are cooked in a wonderful lemon sauce with Greek ingredients like olives, capers, tomatoes, and artichoke hearts. It's a bright and flavorful quick chicken thigh recipe that anyone on a paleo, gluten-free, keto, low-carb, diabetic, or Whole30 diet. There is no easier or better way to cook Greek-style boneless chicken thighs.

This paleo & keto lemon chicken thigh recipe with artichokes is the ultimate one-pan dinner. You can also use boneless skinless chicken breasts but using thighs results in poultry that is more moist and flavorful. I also find that thighs sear quickly and easily in the cast-iron pan and the fat that is rendered off is key to the richness in this dish. Those drippings are what make the pan sauce along with fresh lemon and capers so heavenly.

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Ingredients for Paleo Greek Chicken Thighs

The beauty of this savory recipe is that you get a lot of flavor out of just a few wonderful ingredients. Other than the fresh tomatoes and the boneless chicken thighs, most of the other ingredients are shelf-stable and could already be in your pantry. You could even use canned tomatoes but it would be quite the same. A few dry spices like dill, parsley, salt, and pepper are all you need to season the chicken. For a simple pan sauce, the lemon and garlic bring all the flavor that is needed. Then the tomatoes, marinated artichoke hearts, capers, and olives finish off the dish.

How to Cook Chicken Thighs in a Cast-Iron Pan

If you have never used a cast-iron pan before, this easy recipe is the perfect first to try as an introduction to cooking with one. The one I recommend is listed below. It is high-quality, a great size, and inexpensive. I love all Lodge products including their pots that I use in the oven, especially for homemade sourdough.

To start off it is important to preheat the cast iron skillet. Do so by adding the olive oil and turn it on medium heat for 2 minutes.

While it is heating up, blot dry, using a paper towel, both sides of the chicken thighs. Next, season with dill, parsley, salt, & pepper on both sides.

Turn the pan up to medium-high and add the chicken to the pan. DO NOT move them around, let them cook and brown. Cook for 5-7 minutes on the first side. You will know they are ready to flip as they will separate from the pan easily when using tongs.

Cook on the second side for an additional 5-7 minutes. The temperature should read about 160° on a meat thermometer. Remove the chicken from the pan onto a plate and set aside.

Make the Greek Lemon Pan Sauce

Once you have removed the chicken and set it aside on a plate, turn the pan down to medium-low. Next, you will deglaze the pan with lemon juice and garlic. To deglaze, slowly add the lemon juice and garlic to the pan and using a wooden spoon scrape up the bits and stir everything in the pan until mixed together. Cook for one minute.

Next, add the diced tomatoes, sliced olives, artichoke hearts, and capers to the skillet and stir to combine.

Add the chicken back in and continue to cook on medium-low until the tomatoes start to break down and all ingredients are hot.

It should take about 5 minutes. At this time the chicken should now read at 165° and be fully cooked. Drizzle the artichoke heart marinade over the chicken pieces for a final punch of flavor.

Serve immediately. You can garnish with fresh minced parsley too. Some great ideas for what to serve with Paleo Greek Chicken Thighs check out these great side dish recipes -

Storing & Reheating Leftover Chicken Thighs

This Greek chicken thigh recipe stores and reheats wonderfully. In all honesty, I will double this recipe from now on as the leftovers are that good. The chicken reheats and does not dry out and since there is no dairy or breading, the sauce and vegetables are perfect too. Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freezer for up to a month. Reheat in the microwave as needed.

PIN FOR SAFEKEEPING & SHARING!

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Paleo Greek Chicken Thighs

Angela

Juicy chicken thighs browned in a cast iron pan and cooked in a wonderful lemon sauce with Greek ingredients like olives, capers, tomatoes, and artichoke hearts. A bright and flavorful easy one-pan meal that anyone on a paleo, gluten-free, keto, low-carb, or Whole30 diet.

5 from 7 votes

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Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 25 mins

Total Time 30 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Greek, Mediterranean

Servings 4

Equipment

cast iron pan

Ingredients

2 TB olive oil
1 Pound boneless skinless chicken thighs
½ teaspoon dried dill weed
½ teaspoon dried parsley flakes
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
3 TB lemon juice
2 cloves garlic minced
1 C Roma tomatoes diced
½ C marinated artichoke hearts
½ C large green olives cut in half
½ TB capers
1 TB artichoke heart marinade

Instructions

Preheat cast iron with olive oil over medium heat for 2 minutes.
Blot dry, using a paper towel, both sides of the chicken thighs. Season with dill, parsley, salt, & pepper.
Turn the pan up to medium-high and add the chicken to the pan. DO NOT move them around, let them cook and brown. Cook for 5-7 minutes on the first side. You will know they are ready to flip as they will separate from the pan easily.
Cook on the second side for an additional 5-7 minutes. The temperature should read about 160° on a meat thermometer. Remove the chicken from the pan onto a plate and set aside.
Turn the pan down to medium-low and deglaze the pan with the lemon juice and garlic- using a wooden spoon scrape up the bits in the pan and mix together. Cook for one minute.
Next, add the diced tomatoes, sliced olives, and artichoke hearts, and capers to the skillet and stir to combine. Add the chicken back in and continue to cook on medium-low until the tomatoes start to break down and all ingredients are hot.
It should take about 5 minutes. At this time the chicken should now read at 165° and be fully cooked.
Drizzle the artichoke heart marinade over the chicken and serve!

Notes

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	266
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 20g	26%
Saturated Fat 3.1g	16%
Cholesterol 81mg	27%
Sodium 695mg	30%
Total Carbohydrate 4.3g	2%
Dietary Fiber 2.2g	8%
Total Sugars 1.4g
Protein 19.9g
Vitamin D 0mcg	0%
Calcium 72mg	6%
Iron 2mg	14%
Potassium 134mg	3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Keyword diabetic, easy, gluten-free, grain-free, keto, low calorie, low carb, one pan, paleo, poultry, quick, whole30

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