Crispy Chicken Thighs with Broccoli

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This crispy chicken thighs and broccoli is a simple, one-skillet meal that delivers big flavors with minimal cleanup. The chicken thighs are seared until the skin is golden and crisp. Broccoli is added and roasted alongside the chicken, soaking up the flavorful drippings and helping build a rich fond at the bottom of the pan that becomes the base for the savory sauce.

A recipe photo of Crispy Chicken Thighs & Broccoli.
Credit:

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle.

Active Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
40 mins
Servings:
4

Crispy Chicken Thighs with Broccoli is the quick and easy weeknight dinner you’ve been looking for. Juicy, protein-packed chicken thighs and antioxidant-rich broccoli are bathed in a bright, lemony Dijon-butter sauce. Parsley and thyme add the final, fresh flair. This dish is simple, with minimal ingredients, but big on flavor. Keep reading for our expert tips, including what ingredient substitutions you can make.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

  • Add the cold chicken to a cold skillet so the chicken skin and the skillet heat up together, helping the fat render evenly. This ensures super-crispy skin.
  • When trimming chicken, you’ll want to cut off any excess fat, blemishes and gristle. For this recipe, we have you use bone-in chicken because the bone helps distribute heat and makes the meat super flavorful, moist and tender.
  • We used chicken thighs for this recipe, but bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts also work well.
  • For an easier option, grab some prepackaged broccoli florets. You’ll need about 7 cups, which usually means getting at least two bags, especially if the packages are about 10 to 12 ounces each.

Nutrition Notes

  • Chicken thighs are a great source of protein and micronutrients, like choline and B vitamins, necessary for a healthy nervous system. While they contain more fat than the breasts, chicken thighs also fit into a healthy, balanced eating pattern—and they don’t dry out like breasts can.
  • Broccoli is packed with antioxidants, fiber, vitamins and minerals. You even get some plant protein in broccoli. Eating broccoli regularly may reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer. 
  • Chicken broth doesn’t add much nutrition beyond hydration, but if you don’t get unsalted broth, it will add unnecessary sodium. This could be an issue if you have high blood pressure or if your body is sensitive to sodium. Using unsalted broth also allows you to control the amount of salt in this dish, flavoring it to your liking.
Ingredients for a recipe including chicken thighs broccoli and seasonings

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle.

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 4 servings

  • 4 (6-ounce) bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, trimmed

  • ½ teaspoon salt, divided

  • ½ teaspoon ground pepper, divided

  • 1 medium lemon

  • 1 pound broccoli, cut into 1-inch florets (about 7 cups)

  • cup unsalted chicken broth

  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, plus more for garnish

  • 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Pat trimmed chicken thighs dry with a paper towel; sprinkle both sides evenly with ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Place the chicken, skin-side down, in a large, ovenproof cast-iron skillet. Cook over medium heat, undisturbed, until the skin is deeply golden, about 15 minutes. Flip and cook until golden on the other side, about 2 minutes. Transfer, skin-side up, to a plate; reserve the drippings in the pan.

    Four cooked chicken thighs in a skillet on a counter

    Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle.

  2. Meanwhile, zest 1 lemon to yield ½ teaspoon zest; set aside. Slice the lemon into ¼-inch slices. Return the skillet with the drippings to medium-high heat. Add the lemon slices; cook, undisturbed, until they start to release juices and are browned on the bottom side, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the lemon slices to the plate with the chicken.

    Lemon slices arranged in a skillet with seasonings

    Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle.

  3. Add broccoli florets and the remaining ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper to the pan; cook, stirring constantly, until bright green, about 1 minute. Remove from heat. Nestle the browned chicken thighs, skin-side up, into the pan with the broccoli, reserving lemon slices on the plate.

    Cooked chicken thighs served in a pan with broccoli as garnish

    Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle.

  4. Roast until the broccoli is tender and slightly charred and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of chicken registers 170°F, about 10 minutes. Transfer the broccoli and chicken to a serving platter; tent with foil to keep warm.

  5. Return the skillet to medium-high heat. Add ⅔ cup chicken broth and 2 teaspoons mustard, whisking until combined; add the reserved lemon slices. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a lively simmer; whisk in 1 tablespoon parsley, 1 teaspoon thyme and the reserved lemon zest. Remove from heat and whisk in butter pieces, 1 piece at a time, until fully incorporated. Drizzle the sauce over the chicken and broccoli. Garnish with additional thyme, if desired.

    Cooking preparation of a creamy sauce with lemon slices in a cast iron pan on a striped cloth

    Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle.

Nutrition Information

Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh, ¾ cup broccoli & 2 Tbsp. sauce

Calories 240, Fat 13g, Saturated Fat 6g, Cholesterol 121mg, Carbohydrates 8g, Total Sugars 2g, Added Sugars 0g, Protein 24g, Fiber 3g, Sodium 500mg, Potassium 585mg

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Is there a substitute for Dijon mustard?

    Certainly, although the final recipe might not taste exactly the same as ours. If you’re looking for a similar mustard, your best bet is a stone-ground variety. Other types like yellow mustard, spicy brown, German mustard or honey mustard have their own levels of sweetness and spice, so you’ll want to use less or more depending on taste.

  • Does it matter if I use a cast-iron skillet?

    Using cast iron is a great choice because it heats quickly and retains its temperature well. Plus, it’s nonstick if properly seasoned. But if you don’t have a cast-iron skillet, choose a heavy-bottomed skillet or frying pan made of carbon steel or stainless steel that is oven safe. A Dutch oven would work well, too.

  • How should I store and reheat leftovers?

    Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days. When you’re ready to reheat, use an air fryer at 375°F or pop the chicken on a wire rack set in a baking sheet and bake at 400°F to crisp it up. Allow the chicken to come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before heating. Just remember not to crowd the pieces too closely together; if they touch, they’ll steam instead of crisping up nicely.

  • What should I serve with Crispy Chicken Thighs & Broccoli?

    You have the meat and the green vegetable, so all you need is a starch. We offer many recipes, but here are a few of our best, whether you’re up for rice or potatoes: Easy Brown Rice, Smashed Roasted Potatoes, Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes with White Pepper, Roasted Sweet Potatoes or our Best Mashed Sweet Potatoes.

EatingWell.com, July 2025

Additional reporting by
Carrie Myers, M.S.
Carrie Myers
Carrie Myers is a portfolio entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the health and wellness space. As a writer and editor, Carrie has worked for both consumer and trade print and online publications. She's been quoted in several articles as a health and fitness expert. Carrie is also a certified life and wellness coach and exercise physiologist, and the founder of CarrieMichele Co., a lifestyle company that helps women create lives they love where they can be authentic.
and
Linda Frahm
Linda Frahm has been a copy editor and fact checker working with food and nutrition content for the past 30-plus years for consumer print and online publications.