One-pan Chicken Thigh And Lentil Recipe

Everyone wants to prepare something delicious in a short time with the least and least work. That’s why everyone loves one-pan or you can say one-pot meals, especially when they are superbly tasty and gorgeous. This is the main reason why I, along with my readers, love this chicken thigh and lentil recipe too much.

It’s not just a fast one-pan meal, but it is superbly delicious. The look is also gorgeous. And the best part? It’s so easy, and I have described the whole process so easily that anyone can make it. So, if you are someone who is looking for a dish that is superb, easy to make, but still delicious to cook on busy weeknights or the weekends, then this recipe will not disappoint you at all.

So, let’s jump in.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here are all the ingredients that you’ll need to make this recipe:

1. 2 Teaspoons of Extra Virgin olive oil.
2. 4 Skinless and Boneless Chicken Thighs
3. Salt And Pepper
4. 1 Head of fennel, cored and thinly sliced
5. 2 Cloves of garlic (Minced)
6. 2 teaspoons of Dried Oregano Leaves
7. 4 plum tomatoes chopped
8. 3/4 cup of fresh orange juice
9. 2 Cups of canned lentils, drained and rinsed
10. Finally, 1/2 cup of fresh basil leaves, chopped finely.

So, that’s all you will need for making this recipe. Once you’ve collected all of them, let’s move on to the next part:

How To Make This Chicken Thigh And Lentil Recipe?

Now, we will talk about the process or the instructions you will need to follow to properly make this recipe:

1. First of all, bring the chicken thighs to a plate, chop them into pieces, and season them properly with salt and pepper. Season them completely to your taste. It depends on you.
2. Now, put the pan in the oven and keep the heat to medium-high. Put a little bit of olive oil and the seasoned chicken thighs in the pan and sear them for 2 minutes on each side.
3. After searing, remove the chicken from the pan. Now, you’ll see that there’s some fat left in the pan and some olive oil as well.
4. In the same pan, put the garlic and the fennel and cook for about 1 to 2 minutes until the garlic starts to get fragrant. After that, add all the tomatoes and dried oregano.
5. Stir the whole mixture for about five minutes at high heat.
6. After five minutes, add the orange juice, bring to a boil, and put the seared chicken and lentils in as well. Now, cook until the chicken is cooked properly. And, when it’s cooked thoroughly, you have your delicious chicken thigh and lentil recipe that is ready to be served.

For serving suggestions, you can check the dedicated section or paragraph for it below on this page.

Recipe Card

Tips For Cooking This Recipe

I have already discussed how to cook this recipe to perfection in the main areas, but here are also a few more “TIPS” or Nuggets that you can follow to get an even more delicious, hearty, and healthy dish for anyone:

1. This recipe has already significantly flavored chicken thighs. But if you want even more, then you can simply change the searing time. Currently, as I said, you have to sear it for around 2 minutes per side. But if you want more flavor, then simply brown it for at least 3 to 4 minutes per side. And in this way, you’ll develop more caramelization, which adds a deeper flavor to the entire dish.
2. Also, while searing the chicken thighs, don’t overcrowd the pan. As I have previously mentioned, this same thing happens in my chicken thigh bell pepper recipe, where overcrowding the pan with thighs can trap moisture, and as a result, you will not sear them as well as you could if you did it in small batches.
3. When I said to put the heat too high while adding the tomatoes and all, you have to put the heat to low to medium-low while adding the garlic. The reason for it is pretty clear. See, garlic can burn very quickly, and if you keep the heat high, then this will be burnt. Burnt garlic turns bitter and can throw off the whole balance of flavors.
4. After cooking the whole thing, turn off the heat and let the dish rest covered for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. This will give the lentils as well as the chicken time to absorb more flavor. It especially helps the chicken to be tender.

FAQs related to this Chicken Thigh Recipe With Lentils

Can I Use Canned Lentils Instead Of Cooked Or Dried Ones?

Yes, you can. Even in this recipe, I have clearly mentioned that you’ll need to have canned lentils. All you need to do is rinse and drain them well and make sure they don’t have much sodium already added, as this can disbalance the taste.

Can I use Chicken Breasts Instead Of Thighs?

Chicken thighs add more flavor and stay juicy, especially the bone-in and skin-on ones. But due to the type of recipe, we have to use boneless and skinless chicken thighs. But if you want and like, then you can use boneless chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs. Just reduce the cooking time slightly so they don’t dry out.

How Can I Store And Reheat The Leftovers?

If you have any leftovers, you can easily store them and reheat them to enjoy later. For storing, you’ll need to let the dish cool down completely. After that, put that in an airtight container and you can now easily store it for around 4 to 5 days.

But if you want to store it for more, then you can put it in the freezer, and that’s it.

For reheating the dish, the stovetop would be the best method as it will maintain the moisture and keep the chicken tender as well. First off, transfer the leftovers to a skillet or saucepan. Add a splash of water or chicken broth, or orange juice ot prevent it from drying out. Now, cover with a lid and reheat over medium-low heat for 7 to 10 minutes, and in the meantime, stir the whole thing occasionally until heated through.

Serving Suggestions

Here are some of the serving suggestions that I think would be a perfect side dish for this recipe. Note that I haven’t tried them all, but I think they could be the perfect fit. So, let’s dive in:

1. You can top it with freshly chopped basil just before serving for a mixture of color and make it more attractive, and also for herby freshness. I have personally tried it and I can clearly say, this looks and tastes awesome.
2. You can also serve it with crusty sourdough bread, toasted garlic baguette, or over a bed of couscous or quinoa.
3. You can also add a spoonful of Greek Yogurt on the side or a squeeze of lemon for brightness.
4. Also, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil before serving for a Mediterranean touch.

Other Recipes

If you want to try some of my other chicken thigh recipes, then you can go check out this all-time-favorite recipe of my readers:

1. Chicken Thigh Bell Pepper Recipe
2. Lemon Pepper Chicken Thigh Recipe
3. Chicken Thigh Recipe With Ranch Dressing
4. Kid-friendly boneless skinless chicken thigh recipe
5. Chicken Thigh Recipe For Diabetics

And if you want to go for some creamy dishes, then you can go for my coconut chicken thigh recipe, creamy mushroom chicken thigh recipe, or one of my latest recipes, Creamy chicken thigh pasta recipe.

Conclusion

So, now you have gotten this whole Mediterranean-type chicken thigh and lentil recipe. If you have tried the serving suggestions or the whole recipe, then please let me know in the comments section. Also, if you have tried some kind of variations or something, then also, don’t hesitate, I would love to hear them in the comments.

For today, thanks for reading and happy cooking!