One Pan Crispy Chicken Thighs with Lemon Couscous
Updated Sep 10, 2025, Published on Apr 05, 2022
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
One Pan Crispy Chicken Thighs with Lemon Couscous is a flavorful dinner that’s easy enough for weeknights but special enough to serve guests. Juicy chicken thighs are seared until golden and crisp, then baked with pearl couscous that absorbs all the savory pan juices. Fresh lemon juice, zest, and parsley brighten the dish for a balanced, delicious finish.
Looking for more easy one pan dinners? Try my Coconut Curry Salmon or One Pan Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Orzo!
Watch how to make it here!
Why You'll Love this Chicken Recipe
- One pan dinner: Everything cooks together in the same skillet for easy cleanup.
- Crispy chicken skin: Perfectly golden and crackly every time.
- Pearl couscous base: Tender and chewy, it soaks up all the pan juices.
- Bright flavors: Lemon and parsley balance the richness of the chicken.
- Weeknight-friendly: Simple ingredients and hands-off once it's in the oven.
Recipe FAQ's
Yes! Boneless, skin-on chicken thighs work well. Reduce the cooking time slightly since they cook faster.
This recipe uses pearl couscous (also called Israeli couscous), which is actually a small pasta. Regular couscous won’t work the same way here.
If you prefer not to use wine, substitute with extra chicken broth.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For the best results, reheat the chicken thighs in a skillet over medium heat or in a 375°F oven until warmed through so the skin stays crispy. Reheat the couscous separately on the stovetop with a splash of chicken broth or water to loosen it back up, or microwave in short intervals, stirring and adding liquid as needed.
Did you try this One Pan Crispy Chicken Thighs with Lemon Couscous recipe? Leave a Review!
If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear what you think! If you enjoyed it, please consider leaving a rating and review. And don’t forget to tag me on Instagram or TikTok so I can see your creations!
One Pan Crispy Chicken Thighs with Lemon Couscous
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Butter, I used ghee (clarified butter)
- 2 pounds Bone-In Skin-On Chicken Thighs
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1½ cups Pearl Couscous, uncooked
- ⅓ cup White Wine, a dry white such as Sauvignon Blanc
- 2½ cups Chicken Broth
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 Lemon, juice & zest
- ½ cup Fresh Parsley, roughly chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Trim chicken thighs if needed, pat dry, and season generously with salt and pepper.
- Heat butter in a large oven-safe pan with high sides over medium heat. Place chicken thighs skin-side down and sear for 10 minutes without moving, until the skin is golden and crispy. Flip and cook 5–8 minutes more. Transfer chicken to a plate.
- In the same pan, sauté garlic in the remaining butter and chicken fat for 1 minute, stirring often. Add couscous and toast for 3 minutes, stirring to coat.
- Pour in white wine and scrape up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Simmer until mostly absorbed.
- Stir in chicken broth, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, then cook a few minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Return chicken to the pan, skin-side up. Transfer pan to the oven and bake 15 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.
- Remove from oven. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon over the top, then sprinkle with lemon zest and fresh parsley. Serve with extra lemon wedges and parsley if desired.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What a great flavor combo! I really love pearl couscous. The contrast with the crispy chicken thighs is great too!
This has been in my regular rotation all year. I like to add a finely diced shallot before the garlic.
Yum, I love the idea of adding shallot to this dish! Thank you so much for leaving a review!
so quick, easy, and delicious! a great thing to throw together on a weeknight!
We loved this chicken and couscous. Lemony, fresh, husband wants it again.
I’m so glad you both loved this recipe! Thank you for leaving a review 🙂
Great recipe, I saw it initially on tiktok and have made it a number of times in the past year. This is my go to dish if in need of a dinner that is easy on the stomach. Thank you for sharing this recipe with us!
Thanks for the nice comment! So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
An excellent recipe. A little fancy but not too complicated. The cous cous has a wonderful depth of flavor and the chicken get nice and crispy. It’s on our regular dinner rotation now. AA
Thank you for leaving this comment! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe and honored that it earned a spot in your dinner rotation!