Greek · main
Crispy Lemon-Oregano Chicken Thighs
Crispy Lemon-Oregano Chicken Thighs reads sourness 7.0, citrus 7.0 and richness 6.2 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Greek main, about 1 hr 7 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 6.5 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 5.1 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 9.1 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 2.1 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 6.7 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 4.0 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Sourness 7.0 · Citrus 7.0 · Richness 6.2 · Umami 5.6 · Salinity 5.2 · Fruity 4.5 · Allium 3.5 · Funk & Ferment 2.5 · Herbaceous 2.1 · Sweetness 2.0 · Bitterness 1.9 · Nutty 1.7 · Warm Spice 1.5 · Floral 1.2 · Marine & Briny 1.0 · Earthy 1.0 · Heat 0.8
What's in it (12)
- boneless chicken — 907 g
- olive oil — 54 g
- lemons — 130 g
- garlic — 15 g
- dried leaf oregano — 7 g
- salt — 7 g
- black pepper — 3 g
- yellow new potatoes — 680 g
- low-salt chicken broth — 118 g
- feta cheese — 113 g
- flat-leaf parsley — 15 g
- lemon — 65 g
Time & effort: about 1 hr 7 min (40 min active) · effort: involved
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 121.9 kcal, 15.3 g protein, 3.7 g fat, 7 g carbs
Dietary: Contains meat · Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (10 steps)
- Pat the chicken thighs dry and season all over with 1 teaspoon of the salt and the black pepper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, the lemon zest, half the lemon juice, the garlic, and 1 tablespoon of the oregano; add the chicken skin side up, turn to coat the meat only, and let sit at room temperature 20-25 minutes while the oven heats.
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Wipe excess marinade from the chicken skin (leave the flesh side coated) and set a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Lay the chicken skin side down and sear undisturbed until deeply golden and the fat has rendered, 7-8 minutes.
- Flip the chicken and sear the flesh side just until it loses its raw color, about 2 minutes, then transfer the chicken to a plate.
- Add the potatoes to the rendered fat in the skillet along with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, remaining 1 tablespoon oregano, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt; toss to coat and arrange cut side down. Cook undisturbed until the cut sides are golden, 4-5 minutes.
- Pour in the chicken broth and remaining lemon juice, scraping up any browned bits, then nestle the chicken skin side up on top of the potatoes.
- Transfer the skillet to the oven and roast until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the potatoes are fork-tender, 20-25 minutes.
- Switch the oven to broil and broil until the chicken skin is deeply crisp and shattering, 2-4 minutes, watching closely so it doesn't scorch.
- Let the chicken rest 5 minutes, then scatter the feta and parsley over the top and serve with the lemon wedges.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Parmesan-Crusted Tilapia — American
- Crispy Greek Chicken Cutlets with Lemon — Greek
- Greek Chicken and Rice Skillet — Greek
- Gnocchi with Crispy Sage Butter and Parmesan — Italian
- Lemon-Basil Orzotto — Italian
Keep reading: what sourness, citrus, richness mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
See how this dish fits your palate — take the short taste test →
Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.