Lemony Chicken Thighs With Chickpeas and Dates

Published Jan. 21, 2025

Lemony Chicken Thighs With Chickpeas and Dates
Mark Weinberg for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Maggie Ruggiero.
Total Time
40 minutes
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
50 minutes
Rating
5(182)
Comments
Read comments

This flavor-packed, one-pan dinner harnesses the full power of bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. By gently searing the chicken skin, you get the crispiest skin possible, plus a pool of chicken fat. Use that fat to soften and season the chickpeas, jammy dates, onions and garlic that round out the dish. Sprigs of rosemary and strips of lemon peel perfume the chicken as it gently cooks in the oven, while a squeeze of fresh lemon juice adds a bright finish at the table.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • 2 to 2½pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (4 to 6 pieces)
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1medium red onion, cut into 1-inch wedges
  • 4garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 1(15-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed
  • 6medjool dates, torn in half and pitted
  • 2rosemary sprigs
  • 1lemon
  • Yogurt, for serving
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

549 calories; 25 grams fat; 6 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 11 grams monounsaturated fat; 5 grams polyunsaturated fat; 59 grams carbohydrates; 11 grams dietary fiber; 31 grams sugars; 27 grams protein; 749 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Season chicken all over with salt and pepper.

  2. Step 2

    Pour oil in a large, high-sided skillet and heat over medium. Using tongs, place chicken thighs into the skillet, skin-side down, and cook, pressing to encourage the skin to brown, until the skin is crisp and deep golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer chicken thighs to a plate, skin side up.

  3. Step 3

    Add onion and garlic to the skillet and cook until the onion and garlic have slightly softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the chickpeas, dates and rosemary; season with salt and pepper. Using a vegetable peeler, remove all the peel from the lemon in 2-inch strips and add to the pan. Quarter the remaining lemon then hold onto the wedges for serving.

  4. Step 4

    Nestle the chicken thighs back into the pan on top of the chickpea mixture, setting them skin side up. Pour in enough water to just barely come halfway up the chicken (1 to 1½ cups).

  5. Step 5

    Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the chicken is cooked through and the liquid has thickened, 16 to 20 minutes. Divide among shallow bowls and top with a dollop of yogurt. Serve with lemon wedges, for squeezing on top.

Ratings

5 out of 5
182 user ratings
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Comments

I didn't have chickpeas so I substituted cauliflower florets. They worked very well with the dates and lemon peel. The chicken was tasty. I would use chicken broth instead of water in the pan. The liquid was very bland--could have used more salt. I would have liked to do the whole thing on a sheet pan in the oven to avoid the grease spattering all over the stove.

Made this with some seemingly necessary modifications and it turned out great. I seasoned the chicken with turmeric and cumin as well as the salt and pepper the recipe calls for. Also added turmeric and cumin to the onions and garlic and waited until the onion was cooked down a bit to add garlic. And last but not least I used bone broth instead of water. Loved. Plan to continue making this recipe, but my way.

Meh. Desperately needs spice. Waited to add garlic til after onions softened so it wouldn’t burn. Sauce never thickens in the oven.

This was really yummy but I made some modifications. I didn’t have lemon on hand so I skipped it and used boneless skinless chicken thighs. I also added mushrooms and potatoes to use up some veggies, used chicken stock instead of water per other commenters, and added way more seasonings. It was really good! Tastes great over rice.

This was delicious, but I adjusted quantities somewhat. I upped the rosemary & onion, and cooked it uncovered on the stovetop for the liquid to reduce further to get a slightly thicker sauce. This lengthens the cooking time (it took approximately 40 minutes on medium) but embalms your kitchen with the smells of a Provençal summer evening. :) I also grated half a bouillon cube (I live in Paris where liquid stock isn’t readily available in supermarkets) to add a bit of depth to the dish and it worked well too.

The dish was tasty with the interesting combination of flavors. The broth did not thicken; I might try this again using the technique for Chicken Provencal (coat chicken in flour, skip the browning step, and baste once)--that dish always has great thickened sauce.

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