• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
  • Work with Me
  • Subscribe
  • Contact

Two Cloves Kitchen logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Work with Me
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Work with Me
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
×

Home » Meal » Dinner

Published: Oct 4, 2022 by Genevieve · This post may contain affiliate links.

Cast Iron Chicken

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Yummly
  • Flipboard
A golden brown chicken thigh is held with tongs in the foreground above a cast iron pan of chicken thighs with the words Cast Iron Chicken and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
A golden brown chicken thigh is held with tongs in the foreground above a cast iron pan of chicken thighs with the words Cast Iron Chicken and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
A golden brown chicken thigh is held with tongs in the foreground above a cast iron pan of chicken thighs with the words Cast Iron Chicken and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
A golden brown chicken thigh is held with tongs in the foreground above a cast iron pan of chicken thighs with the words Cast Iron Chicken and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
A golden brown chicken thigh is held with tongs in the foreground above a cast iron pan of chicken thighs with the words Cast Iron Chicken and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
A golden brown chicken thigh is held with tongs in the foreground above a cast iron pan of chicken thighs with the words Cast Iron Chicken and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
A golden brown chicken thigh is held with tongs in the foreground above a cast iron pan of chicken thighs with the words Cast Iron Chicken and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
A golden brown chicken thigh is held with tongs in the foreground above a cast iron pan of chicken thighs with the words Cast Iron Chicken and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.

Cooking chicken in a cast iron skillet produces a wonderfully crisp, savory, salty exterior with a tender, juicy interior that can't be matched. Ready in under 30 minutes and using only three ingredients, this Cast Iron Chicken will be your new favorite easy dinner!

Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe
A golden brown chicken thigh is held with tongs in the foreground above a black cast iron pan of chicken thighs.
Jump to:
  • What You'll Need
  • How to Make Cast Iron Chicken
  • Variations
  • FAQ
  • Expert Tips
  • How to Store
  • How to Make a Meal
  • Recipes You'll Love
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

There are a few things that I enjoy most done properly and simply: a seared steak. Fresh corn served with butter. A salad dressed with good olive oil.

These chicken thighs fall into that category. They need nothing more than simple seasoning and correct preparation for a spectacularly delicious result.

Chicken thighs are a favorite for so many reasons: they are relatively inexpensive, more flavorful than other cuts of white meat, and are very hard to get wrong.

Plus, with a target temperature range that offers about twenty degrees of leeway, you don't need to stress over the cooking like you might with other proteins.

The labeled ingredients for Cast Iron Chicken sit on a white marble counter; they include: bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, grapeseed oil, and kosher salt.

What You'll Need

Two Cloves Kitchen, as an Amazon Affiliate, makes a small percentage from qualified sales made through affiliate links at no cost to you.

  • Chicken Thighs I usually buy a 2 to 2.5-pound package, which is about 4 to 6 chicken thighs. You can buy more or less depending on the number of people you're serving. Work in batches if cooking more.
  • Grapeseed Oil If you can't find grapeseed oil, try vegetable oil or another oil with a high smoke point, like avocado oil. I would not use olive oil.
  • Kosher Salt I always recommend kosher salt when cooking. It coats food more evenly, and is less concentrated than table or sea salt, making it harder to oversalt your food.

How to Make Cast Iron Chicken

Step One Pat your chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Season generously on all sides with kosher salt.

Raw chicken thighs dusted with kosher salt sit on a white plate.

Step Two Pour your oil in the cast iron pan.

A cast iron pan is shown with a layer of grapeseed oil in the bottom.

Step Three Place your chicken in the pan, skin-side down. Place the pan on high for about 5 minutes. You will hear and smell the chicken beginning to cook.

Five raw chicken thighs are shown skin side down in a black cast iron pan.

Step Four At the 5-minute mark, turn the heat down to medium. Cook on medium for about 12 minutes, until the chicken skin is golden brown, moving occasionally and checking to ensure the chicken is not getting too dark. Flip.

Cast iron chicken is flipped to cook skin side up.

Step Five Cook on the second side for another 8 minutes, or until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of between 175 to 195 degrees Fahrenheit. Serve right away for the crispiest skin!

A yellow instant read thermometer shows the temperature of a chicken thigh in a cast iron pan.

Variations

Oven Instead of cooking the chicken entirely on the stovetop, you can move it to the oven after the initial 17 minutes.

Dried Herbs Try adding a pinch of dried thyme, Italian seasoning, black pepper, or Herbs de Provence.

Spicy You can add some cayenne or chili powder for a little bit of spice.

FAQ

How do you cook chicken in a cast iron skillet without it sticking?

When cooking chicken in cast iron, ensure your pan is properly seasoned. Use high heat and an oil with a high smoke point (grapeseed, avocado, vegetable). Let your chicken tell you when it's ready to flip - don't force it when the skin hasn't released from the pan.

Here is a great resource on seasoning a cast iron pan.

Can you freeze this?

I don't recommend it. You can freeze raw chicken thighs, but freezing cooked chicken thighs will ruin the texture of the skin.

Can you make this in advance?

I don't recommend making this in advance as the best part is the crispy chicken skin. The skin will not hold its texture once it has cooled.

Are chicken thighs low carb?

Absolutely! Chicken prepared in this way has literally 0 grams of carbohydrates.

What do you serve with cast iron chicken?

See the "How to Make a Meal" section below for ideas!

Expert Tips

  • Salt generously with kosher salt. This is what will give you that wonderfully crispy chicken skin. If you salt appropriately, you won't need any other seasoning.
  • Stove temperatures can vary, so be sure to check your chicken skin a few times during the initial 17 minutes cook time to ensure it is not getting too dark. If it is looking dark, feel free to flip and/or turn down the temperature.
  • Use a splatter guard! After years of bacon grease and oil burns, I got a splatter guard and no longer feel the wrath of hot oil. Plus it makes cleanup easier!
  • The best way to tell if your chicken is ready to flip is the color of the skin and whether it has released from the pan. If the chicken is holding on to the cast iron, it is not ready to flip. If it's easy to move and golden brown like below, it is ready.
Five golden brown chicken thighs sit in a black cast iron pan.

How to Store

Cast Iron Skillet Chicken really is best right out of the pan - the elusive crispy skin will only stay crispy for a short while.

However, you can store this in the fridge for 3 to 4 days in an airtight container. When reheating, I sometimes remove the skin as it can become rubbery.

You can heat in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 15 minutes, or until heated through, or toss it in the microwave for a few minutes if you are short on time.

I don't recommend freezing cooked chicken thighs. You can freeze raw chicken thighs until ready to use, though.

How to Make a Meal

This cast iron chicken recipe will be the star of any plate. Below are some suggestions for flavorful sides to round out your dinner table:

Roasted Vegetables This would be delicious with a variety of roasted vegetables, like this Roasted Tenderstem Broccoli or these Roasted Cherry Tomatoes on the Vine.

Sautéed Vegetables Try these Sautéed Sweet Potatoes, Spicy Roasted Vegetables, or this Sautéed Butternut Squash for some delicious fall flavor.

Potatoes These Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes or these Crispy Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes would be an excellent pairing. For something spicy, try Calabrian Potatoes!

Salad Pair with your favorite salad. Because the chicken is so simply seasoned, any type of salad will be a wonderful side. Try this Lemon Herb Vinaigrette, this Honey Jalapeño Lime Vinaigrette, or this Spicy Ranch! It's also amazing with Bavarian Potato Salad.

Looking for a delicious sauce for this chicken? Try this Southern White Gravy or this Balsamic Reduction.

Recipes You'll Love

Try these other flavorful chicken dishes:

Lemon Chicken Tray Bake

Italian Chicken Cutlets

Chicken and Leek Risotto

Easy Chicken Stirfry

📖 Recipe

A golden brown chicken thigh is held with tongs in the foreground above a black cast iron pan of chicken thighs.

Cast Iron Chicken

Ready in under 30 minutes, this Cast Iron Chicken has a wonderfully crisp, savory, salty exterior with a tender, juicy interior that can't be matched. Meet your new favorite easy dinner!
5 from 38 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Easy Recipe, Easy Weeknight Meal, Easy Weeknight Recipe, Quick
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 438kcal
Prevent your screen from going dark

Equipment

  • Cast Iron Skillet 12 inch
  • Splatter Guard
  • Tongs

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil or another oil with a high smoke point, like avocado oil or vegetable oil
  • 2 ¼ pounds chicken thighs bone-in, skin-on
  • kosher salt to taste

Instructions

  • Pat your chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Season generously on all sides with kosher salt.
  • Pour your oil in the base of the cast iron pan.
  • Place your chicken in the pan, skin-side down. Cover with splatter guard. Place the pan on high for about 5 minutes.
  • At the 5-minute mark, turn the heat down to medium. Cook on medium for about 12 minutes, until the chicken skin is golden brown, moving occasionally and checking to ensure the chicken is not getting too dark. Flip.
  • Cook on the second side for another 8 minutes, or until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of between 175 to 195 degrees Fahrenheit. Serve right away for the crispiest skin!

Notes

  • 2 ¼ pounds chicken will be between 4 to 6 chicken thighs. Purchase enough for 1 to 2 chicken thighs per person, depending on their appetite.
  • Be sure to use the recommended splatter guard to avoid hot oil injuries. 
  • To ensure your chicken doesn't stick to the cast iron, properly season your pan and let your chicken tell you when it's ready to flip - don't force it when the skin hasn't released from the pan.
  • Stove temperatures can vary, so be sure to check your chicken skin a few times during the initial 17 minutes of cook time to ensure it is not getting too dark. If it is looking dark, feel free to flip and/or turn down the temperature.
  • You can store this in the fridge for 3 to 4 days in an airtight container. When reheating, I sometimes remove the skin because it can become rubbery.
  • I do not recommend freezing.
  • To reheat, place in 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for about 15 minutes, or put in the microwave for a few minutes if short on time.

Nutrition

Calories: 438kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.5g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 189mg | Sodium: 148mg | Potassium: 395mg | Vitamin A: 150IU | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg

More Dinner

  • bavarian potato salad in a white dish surrounded by fresh dill.
    Authentic Bavarian Potato Salad with Bacon
  • plate of bloody mary shrimp next to a pan of shrimp with a piece of baguette and a white linen.
    Bloody Mary Shrimp Recipe
  • a plate of slow cooker lamb ragu over pappardelle pasta surrounded by a block of parmesan, a white linen, and torn baguette.
    Slow Cooker Lamb Ragu Recipe
  • an egg and cucumber sandwich with pepper jack cheese, spring mix, and dill sauce is shown on a white plate over a rustic wooden cutting board.
    Egg and Cucumber Sandwiches
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Yummly
  • Flipboard

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Molly Pisula says

    October 04, 2022 at 3:18 pm

    5 stars
    I love how crispy the chicken skin gets with this recipe! So easy and delicious. Will definitely make again!

    Reply
    • Genevieve says

      October 04, 2022 at 3:57 pm

      Thanks Molly! Glad to hear it.

      Reply
  2. Nicole says

    October 04, 2022 at 11:25 pm

    5 stars
    This recipe is a keeper! That crispy skin alone is to die for. Can't wait to have this again!

    Reply
    • Genevieve says

      October 04, 2022 at 11:46 pm

      So happy to hear it! Thanks Nicole!

      Reply
  3. Glenda says

    October 06, 2022 at 1:18 pm

    5 stars
    I don't know what I'd do without my cast iron skillets and Dutch oven. They're my go-to for any kind of frying or stewing. This chicken was spectacular! Of course it crisped up perfectly in the cast iron. Thanks for sharing your recipe!

    Reply
    • Genevieve says

      October 08, 2022 at 1:42 am

      I love my cast iron skillets and Dutch ovens so much, too. They're beautiful and functional and just the best. I'm so glad you enjoyed this, Glenda!

      Reply
  4. Jennifer says

    October 06, 2022 at 2:15 pm

    5 stars
    This is my kind of recipe - 1 pan, few ingredients, big flavor. I loved this! I want to make it again tonight!

    Reply
    • Genevieve says

      October 08, 2022 at 1:41 am

      The best kind of recipes! Thank you so much, Jennifer!

      Reply
  5. Vanessa says

    October 07, 2022 at 12:04 am

    5 stars
    The crispy skin is AH-MAZING! My whole family gave it a thumbs up!

    Reply
    • Genevieve says

      October 08, 2022 at 1:44 am

      Thanks Vanessa! So happy you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  6. Tara says

    October 07, 2022 at 12:48 am

    5 stars
    This chicken looks absolutely fantastic! I love how it comes together in less than 30 minutes and in one pan.

    Reply
  7. Andrea says

    October 07, 2022 at 1:40 am

    5 stars
    Love how crispy this chicken is. Easy to make and tasty. Perfect on a busy weeknight.

    Reply
    • Genevieve says

      October 08, 2022 at 1:40 am

      Thanks Andrea! Definitely great for busy weeknights.

      Reply
  8. Tara says

    October 07, 2022 at 1:57 am

    5 stars
    Wow! I may never make chicken another way. This cast iron chicken came out so flavorful, so juicy and so tender!

    Reply
    • Genevieve says

      October 08, 2022 at 1:40 am

      I'm so happy you enjoyed it! It's definitely on the menu often in our home.

      Reply
  9. Shelby says

    October 09, 2022 at 4:59 pm

    5 stars
    Such an easy meal prep recipe!

    Reply
    • Genevieve says

      October 09, 2022 at 5:46 pm

      Great idea! Thanks Shelby!

      Reply
  10. Rosanna says

    October 11, 2022 at 6:16 pm

    5 stars
    So delicious! I love cooking with chicken thighs they’re so juicy. And they went so crispy!

    Reply
    • Genevieve says

      October 12, 2022 at 5:12 pm

      Thanks Rosanna! I'm glad you enjoyed this.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Photo of a blonde woman in a blue dress with a gray sweater sitting in front of bookcases.

Hi, I'm Gen! Welcome to Two Cloves Kitchen. I am a certified professional cook, lifelong recipe creator, writer, editor, and food lover. I use my culinary knowledge to teach you how to utilize your ingredients and equipment to their fullest potential, turning ordinary meals into something exciting with bold, fresh, innovative ideas and flavors.

More about me →

Follow Me

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Latest Posts

  • chilli scrambled eggs on a white plate surrounded by a cup of coffee, English muffins, and a copper fork.
    The Best Chilli Scrambled Eggs
  • an avocado tartine sits on a blue plate with a vintage silver knife over a peach tile background.
    Easy Avocado Tartine Recipe with Lime
  • closeup of dill sauce in a glass container with a wooden handle on a white marble counter.
    Creamy Dill Sauce Recipe
  • burrata salad with balsamic glaze including spring mix, basil leaves, halved cherry tomatoes, drizzled with balsamic glaze and olive oil.
    Burrata Salad with Balsamic Glaze

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Disclosures

Contact

  • Work with Me
  • Contact

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2023 Two Cloves Kitchen

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Close