40 Cloves Garlic Chicken

This 40 cloves of garlic chicken is a quick, French-inspired recipe with tender chicken thighs in a buttery garlic sauce that’s perfect for dipping with bread or pairing with mash.


40 Cloves Garlic Chicken in a skillet.
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Jump to: ℹ️ Overview | 🛒 Ingredients | 📷 How To Make | 👩‍🍳 Recipe Tips |  Serving Suggestions | 📝 Full Recipe Card | 🍽 More Similar Recipes


Inspired by classic French flavors, this 40 cloves of garlic chicken recipe (often called 40 clove chicken) is a simplified yet elegant meal with juicy, golden chicken thighs and a buttery, garlic-infused sauce.

Cooking the garlic cloves mellows their flavor into a rich, aromatic sauce that’s delicious served with a baguette, mashed potatoes, or even mashed cauliflower for a low-carb meal.

Perfect for both busy weeknights and special dinners, this chicken dish will be a memorable hit! Hint: this is a great main dish to make for a small Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

👩‍🍳 If you like this recipe, make sure to check out my creamy garlic parmesan chicken, pecan-crusted honey garlic chicken, honey garlic lemon pepper chicken thighs, or this garlic chicken soup.

40 cloves of garlic chicken with a spoon in a skillet.
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What You’ll Need

Here is what you’ll need for this chicken with 40 garlic cloves recipe. Find the full measurements in the recipe card below.

  • Chicken thighs: Juicy and tender, skin-on thighs sear beautifully for added flavor.
  • Garlic cloves: The star ingredient here, with 40 garlic cloves that mellow out as they cook, creating a creamy, flavorful sauce. Get whole, pre-peeled garlic cloves to save on prep time.
  • Butter & olive oil: Butter adds richness, while olive oil is great for searing the chicken; together, they make the sauce silky.
  • Broth & white wine: Adds depth to the sauce and helps deglaze the pan. If you prefer, substitute more broth for the wine.
  • Fresh thyme or dried thyme: Earthy, aromatic thyme pairs perfectly with garlic and chicken.
  • Salt & black pepper: Simple seasoning to enhance flavor—use freshly ground pepper if possible for a hint of spice.

How To Make 40 Cloves Garlic Chicken

Here are some handy step-by-step photos of how to make 40-cove garlic chicken. Find the full recipe and nutritional information below.

  • Season chicken thighs with salt on both sides.
  • Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat, searing chicken thighs for 3-4 minutes on each side. Set aside.
  • In the same skillet, add butter, garlic cloves, and thyme, scraping up any brown bits, and roast for 3-4 minutes.
  • Add broth and white wine, letting it simmer for a minute to deglaze the pan.
  • Place chicken back in the skillet, skin-side up, and cover with a lid. Simmer for 5 minutes, then cook uncovered for another 5-8 minutes, until the sauce has reduced by half.
  • Sprinkle with black pepper, garnish with extra thyme, and serve hot.
Steps showing how to make 40 cloves garlic chicken.
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Recipe Tips

  • Garlic shortcut: Save time by buying pre-peeled garlic cloves.
  • Bone-in thighs: If you prefer bone-in thighs, cook for a few extra minutes until fully done.
  • Broth or wine: White wine adds depth, but if you prefer not to use it, substitute with more broth for a still-delicious sauce. Remember, alcohol does evaporate during cooking.
  • Extra herbs: Swap thyme with rosemary or sage for a slightly different herb flavor.
Garlic chicken with broth in a skillet.
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Serving Suggestions

This garlic chicken dish is wonderful with crusty garlic bread or a baguette to soak up the buttery sauce. Serve it with mashed potatoes or cauliflower mash to keep it classic, or pair it with roasted vegetables for a complete, hearty meal. I also love this with rice or quinoa for something a little different.

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Garlic chicken
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40 Cloves Garlic Chicken

Prep Time: 8 minutes
Cook Time: 22 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Author: Irena Macri
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main
Cuisine: French-American, CuisineFrench
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Calories: 540kcal
Juicy chicken thighs with 40 cloves of garlic make this buttery French-inspired dish a garlic lover’s dream—perfectly tender with garlic mellowed to savory perfection.

Ingredients 

  • 6 skin-on boneless chicken thighs, about 1.7 lb or 800 grams
  • Salt about ⅔ teaspoon
  • 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter use salted or add extra salt if using unsalted
  • 6 thyme sprigs or ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • 40 garlic cloves peeled, whole
  • ½ cup chicken broth 4 fl.oz or 125 ml
  • ½ cup dry white wine 4 fl.oz or 125 ml
  • A pinch of freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Pat chicken thighs dry, and season both sides with salt.
  • In a non-stick skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken thighs, skin-side down, for 3-4 minutes. Flip and sear for another 3 minutes, then set aside.
  • Add butter, garlic, and thyme to the same skillet, scraping up any browned bits. Sauté garlic for 3-4 minutes, until lightly charred.
  • Pour in the broth and white wine, and simmer briefly to deglaze the skillet.
  • Place the chicken back in the skillet, skin-side up. Cover and cook for 5 minutes, then uncover and simmer for another 5-8 minutes, allowing the sauce to reduce by half.
  • Sprinkle with black pepper, garnish with fresh thyme if desired, and serve hot.

Notes

Storage tips: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze for up to 1 month; just allow the chicken to cool fully before freezing.
Meal prep tips: For easier prep, use pre-peeled garlic cloves, or peel the garlic and season the chicken in advance. Both can be kept in the fridge for up to 24 hours before cooking.
Can I use bone-in chicken thighs? Yes! Bone-in thighs work well; just extend the cooking time by a few minutes until fully cooked through.
Do I need to use white wine? White wine adds flavor, but you can swap it for chicken broth if you prefer not to use wine.
What if I don’t have fresh thyme? Dried thyme works perfectly here, or try rosemary for a slightly different flavor.
How do I avoid overpowering garlic? Cooking the garlic cloves mellows their flavor, so the sauce is aromatic rather than sharp or overpowering.

Nutrition

Calories: 540kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 182mg | Sodium: 291mg | Potassium: 505mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 382IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 80mg | Iron: 2mg
Keywords: French chicken, skillet chicken, 40 clove chicken, garlic chicken
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Irena Macri
By Irena Macri

About the author: Hi, I’m Irena Macri. I share delicious recipes that I have cooked and loved. I am a published cookbook author, have been food blogging for over 10 years and have a Diploma in Nutrition. You will find many healthy recipes as well as my favourite comfort food. More about me here | Subscribe to my newsletter and freebies

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