This chicken dish is truly Heavenly. Start it on the stove top and finish it in the oven to get a crispy skin on the outside and tender, juicy chicken on the inside.
8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
1 T. smoked paprika
kosher salt, to taste
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
3 T. unsalted butter, divided
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 c. chicken broth or stock
1/2 c. heavy cream
1/4 c. freshly grated Parmesan
freshly squeezed juice of 1 lemon
1 t. dried thyme
2 c. baby spinach, washed and chopped
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Wash and pat chicken dry with paper towels. Season chicken thighs with paprika, salt and pepper, to taste.
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large oven-proof skillet over medium high heat. Add chicken, skin-side down, and sear both sides until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side; drain excess fat; set aside.
Melt remaining butter in the skillet. Add garlic, and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Stir in chicken broth/stock, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice and thyme.
Bring to a boil; reduce heat, stir in spinach, and simmer until the spinach has wilted and the sauce has slightly thickened, about 3-5 minutes. Return chicken to the skillet.
Place into the oven and roast until completely cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 175 degrees F, about 25-30 minutes.
Serve immediately with pasta or rice and a vegetable of your choice. Garnish with more freshly grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Serves 8.