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The sweet and savory combination of chicken thighs with peaches makes an over-the-top delicious one-pan meal! This easy dinner idea pairs rich, savory chicken with the juicy sweetness of peaches and a sprinkle of fresh herbs for a bright, aromatic touch.
Why I love this recipe
My favorite meals are the ones with simple and unusual flavor combinations, and here’s one that’s a perfect summer dinner idea: chicken thighs with peaches!
This one-pan meal is beautiful and beyond delicious, pairing the rich and succulent flavor of chicken thighs with juicy peaches and fresh summer herbs. The first bite has a real “wow” factor that becomes even more impressive when you hear how quickly you can make it.
This meal comes together in about 30 minutes, including a delicious pan sauce that tastes like it’s been cooked for hours. Serve it with rice and a summer salad for a laid-back patio meal!
Ingredient notes
This recipe comes together simply in about 30 minutes! Here are a few notes on the ingredients:
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs: Chicken thighs are more flavorful than chicken breasts because of their higher fat content. I suggest boneless thighs here because they cook faster. You can substitute bone-in thighs; just cook them longer in the final step.
- Peaches: Use only ripe, sweet peaches for this recipe! The flavor won’t come out if the peaches are sub-par.
- Balsamic vinegar, butter, and brown sugar: These are the keys to bringing out that sweet and savory combination of flavors. If your peaches are very sweet, you can omit the brown sugar.
- Herbs: I like using a combination of basil and thyme. Any savory herb works well here, like tarragon, oregano, parsley, or rosemary.
How to ripen peaches
To check ripeness of a peach, give it a gentle squeeze. It should be slightly soft to the touch. If it feels firm, it will need a few days to ripen. Here’s how to ripen peaches:
- Place the peaches in a paper bag.
- Add a banana inside the bag. The banana emits ethylene gas, which helps the peaches ripen at the same time.
- Gently close the top of the bag and wait 1 to 3 days, depending on the ripeness of the peaches. Check each day by gently squeezing the fruit to see if the flesh feels soft.
Fresh peach substitutes
I like this recipe best with fresh peaches, but canned peaches work too! You can use either “no sugar added” or sweetened peaches. If desired, you can consider omitting the brown sugar if they are sweetened.
Other options are frozen fresh peaches or frozen peaches, though I find that store-bought frozen peaches don’t have great flavor for recipes like this one. (I like them in a peach smoothie, though!)
Serving suggestions
This one-pan dinner makes a simple meal, served with rice or a salad! Here are a few ideas for what to serve with chicken thighs with peaches:
- White rice, basil rice, or lemon rice
- Seasoned quinoa
- Pasta like orzo, couscous, or butter noodles
- Green salad, like strawberry salad, romaine salad, arugula salad, or butter lettuce salad
- Green beans like green beans almondine or sautéed green beans
- Broccoli, like sauteed broccolini, roasted broccolini, or roasted broccoli
More peach recipes
When it’s the season, it’s an excuse to make all the peach recipes. Here are a few favorites:
Dietary notes
This chicken thighs with peaches recipe is gluten-free. For dairy-free, use olive oil or vegan butter.
Frequently asked questions
Rosemary, oregano, or tarragon would also complement the flavors of this dish.
While it’s best enjoyed fresh, you can cook the chicken and peaches ahead of time and reheat them gently before serving.
Chicken Thighs with Peaches
The sweet and savory combination of chicken thighs with peaches makes an over-the-top delicious one-pan meal!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Main dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Chicken
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 2 pounds, see Notes)
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 ripe peaches, sliced
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 handful fresh basil and thyme, chopped plus more for garnish (or other fresh herbs; see Notes)
Instructions
- Remove any excess fat on the chicken thighs and place them on a cutting board.
- Stir together the salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and oregano.
- Sprinkle the seasoning mix on all sides of the chicken thighs.
- Add the olive oil to a large skillet and heat over medium-high heat.
- Place the chicken thighs smooth side down and cook until golden brown, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove to a plate.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the balsamic vinegar and butter to the pan.
- Scrape the pan to pick up flavor bits, then add the peaches in a single layer and sauté for 1 to 3 minutes, until slightly softened. (Timing depends on the texture of the peaches.)
- Stir the brown sugar and herbs into the peaches, and return the chicken thighs with their juices to the pan.
- Cook for another 6 to 7 minutes until peaches are tender and chicken internal temperature is measured at least 165°F on a food thermometer.
- Remove from heat and rest 5 minutes before serving for maximum juiciness.
Notes
You can substitute bone-in chicken thighs, but you’ll need to add a few minutes to the cook time in Step 4. Any savory herb works well here, like tarragon, oregano, parsley, or rosemary. Store leftovers up to 3 days refrigerated.
This recipe was delicious,I used bone in chicken thighs,but was amazed how much longer they took to cook,being a gourmet cook for many years,I definitely will make it again, and i will saute the chicken and bake it in the oven till almost done,will transfer them to a baking dish,to save the pan drippings for the peaches ,brown sugar and balsamic.,,used my cast iron skillet and the skin was so great and crispy with those seasonings,, what a delight with the fresh peaches!!!
So glad you enjoyed! Yes, the bone-in can take a long time!
So simple and delicious, I/we really love your recipes!
Thank you so much!
looks delish! do you only cook on ONE side in step two?
Yes! Just brown the top and then finish cooking later.