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This easy chicken skillet is a tasty low-carb dinner recipe for busy weeknights. Cripsy skin-on chicken thighs baked with asparagus, lemon juice and balsamic vinegar. Simply delicious!
We're using asparagus — the perfect low-carb vegetable that cooks fast. If you don't like asparagus, you can use other options such as green beans, broccoli or cauliflower.
To keep the skin nice and crispy, these chicken thighs are best served immediately but can be stored in the fridge for a few days if needed.
We all have different dietary needs so it's only natural that you may need to adjust the macros in this recipe. You can make any adjustments directly in the KetoDiet App by cloning any of the recipes from my blog and customizing them to fit your macros and preferences.
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Hands-on Overall
Serving size 2 chicken thighs + asparagus
Nutritional values (per 2 chicken thighs + asparagus)
Net carbs4.4 grams
Protein30.1 grams
Fat39 grams
Calories489 kcal
Calories from carbs 4%, protein 25%, fat 71%
Total carbs7.6 gramsFiber3.2 gramsSugars3.7 gramsSaturated fat8.6 gramsSodium392 mg(17% RDA)Magnesium45 mg(11% RDA)Potassium542 mg(27% EMR)
Ingredients (makes 2 servings)
- 4 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs (450 g/ 1 lb) or boneless chicken thighs (300 g/ 10.6 oz)
- sea salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp ghee or avocado oil, divided (30 ml)
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice, divided (45 ml)
- 300 g trimmed asparagus spears (10.6 oz)
- 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
- Optional: fresh herbs such as parsley, to taste
Instructions
- Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. You can either use 4 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs (about 450 g/ 1 lb) or 4 boneless chicken thighs (about 300 g/ 10.6 oz).
- Preheat the oven to 220 °C/ 430 °F (fan assisted), or 240 °C/ 465 °F (conventional). Heat a skillet greased with half of the avocado oil (or ghee) over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken thighs, skin side down, and cook for about 5 minutes, until the skin is lightly browned and crisped up. Flip the chicken on the other side and cook for another minute. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to the hot pan to deglaze it. Add the asparagus spears and toss to combine. Top with the crisped up chicken thighs, skin side up, and drizzle with the remaining lemon juice, avocado oil (or ghee) and balsamic vinegar.
- Transfer into the oven and bake for about 10 minutes (for boneless chicken thighs) or up to about 15 minutes (for bone-in chicken thighs).
- Serve while still warm. This meal is best eaten fresh but can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Lemon Chicken & Asparagus
Step by Step
Ingredients
- 4 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs (450 g/ 1 lb) or boneless chicken thighs (300 g/ 10.6 oz)
- sea salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp ghee or avocado oil, divided (30 ml)
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice, divided (45 ml)
- 300 g trimmed asparagus spears (10.6 oz)
- 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
- Optional: fresh herbs such as parsley, to taste
Instructions
- Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. You can either use 4 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs (about 450 g/ 1 lb) or 4 boneless chicken thighs (about 300 g/ 10.6 oz).
- Preheat the oven to 220 °C/ 430 °F (fan assisted), or 240 °C/ 465 °F (conventional). Heat a skillet greased with half of the avocado oil (or ghee) over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken thighs, skin side down, and cook for about 5 minutes, until the skin is lightly browned and crisped up. Flip the chicken on the other side and cook for another minute. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to the hot pan to deglaze it. Add the asparagus spears and toss to combine. Top with the crisped up chicken thighs, skin side up, and drizzle with the remaining lemon juice, avocado oil (or ghee) and balsamic vinegar.
- Transfer into the oven and bake for about 10 minutes (for boneless chicken thighs) or up to about 15 minutes (for bone-in chicken thighs).
- Serve while still warm. This meal is best eaten fresh but can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition (per serving, 2 chicken thighs + asparagus)
Calories489kcal
Net Carbs4.4g
Carbohydrates7.6g
Protein30.1g
Fat39g
Saturated Fat8.6g
Fiber3.2g
Sugar3.7g
Sodium392mg
Magnesium45mg
Potassium542mg
Detailed nutritional breakdown (per 2 chicken thighs + asparagus)
| Total per 2 chicken thighs + asparagus |
| 4.4 g | 30.1 g | 39 g | 489 kcal |
| Chicken thighs, boneless, skin-on, raw |
| 0 g | 26.7 g | 24.8 g | 329 kcal |
| Salt, sea salt |
| 0 g | 0 g | 0 g | 0 kcal |
| Pepper, black, spices |
| 0.1 g | 0 g | 0 g | 0 kcal |
| Avocado oil, extra virgin |
| 0 g | 0 g | 14 g | 124 kcal |
| Lemon juice, fresh |
| 1.2 g | 0.1 g | 0 g | 4 kcal |
| Asparagus, raw |
| 2.7 g | 3.3 g | 0.2 g | 30 kcal |
| Balsamic vinegar, dark (excludes sweet, syrupy vinegar) |
| 0.5 g | 0 g | 0 g | 2 kcal |
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