Skillet chicken with olives is a simple yet delicious dish that brings together tender, juicy chicken with the briny richness of olives, creating a meal that’s both comforting and full of vibrant flavors. The savory chicken is cooked in a single skillet, making it easy to prepare and clean up afterward. This dish is perfect for busy weeknights when you want something flavorful but don’t have a lot of time to spare.
To start, boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs are seasoned with salt, pepper, and a mix of herbs such as thyme, rosemary, or oregano, which pair perfectly with the Mediterranean-inspired olives. After searing the chicken in a hot skillet with a bit of olive oil, the chicken becomes golden brown on the outside while remaining tender and juicy on the inside. The skin-on thighs work wonderfully if you prefer a crispy, flavorful skin, but boneless breasts are just as great for a quicker meal.
Once the chicken is browned, the real magic happens when you add the olives. A mix of green and black olives works well, but you can choose your favorites. The olives add a burst of briny, tangy flavor that balances beautifully with the richness of the chicken. Along with the olives, you can add sliced onions, garlic, and a splash of white wine or chicken broth, which helps to create a flavorful sauce that envelops the chicken. A squeeze of lemon juice or a few sprigs of fresh herbs like parsley or thyme can brighten up the dish and add a touch of freshness.
The chicken and olives simmer together for a few minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the chicken to absorb the savory sauce. The dish is then ready to serve, and the olives and sauce add a wonderful depth of flavor to the chicken.
Skillet chicken with olives pairs well with a variety of sides, such as roasted vegetables, rice, or couscous, to soak up the flavorful sauce. It’s a Mediterranean-inspired meal that’s simple to make, full of flavor, and guaranteed to satisfy. Whether you’re cooking for your family or a small group of friends, this dish is sure to be a hit with its balance of savory chicken, briny olives, and aromatic seasonings.

Ingredients
- 4 pieces chicken thighs bone-in, skin-on
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup green olives pitted
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 whole lemon sliced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper and place them skin-side down in the skillet. Cook until the skin is crispy, about 5-7 minutes.
- Flip the chicken and add the garlic to the pan. Continue to cook for another 3-4 minutes.
- Add the olives, oregano, and lemon slices to the skillet. Lower the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
- Serve the chicken hot, garnished with additional lemon slices and fresh herbs if desired.
I tried this recipe, but my chicken ended up dry. Did I cook it too long? Maybe should’ve added more oil??
Skillet chicken with olives? Sounds weird, but it turned out nice! Surprise surprise.
This was delish! The lemon really enhanced the flavors of the chicken and olives. Will make again!
This simple chicken recipe changed my life! How could something so easy taste so good?
So simple, yet so good!!! I made this for my family and they couldn’t stop raving about it. Definitely a keeper! 🥳
I don’t understand why you would use skin-on when skinless is so much healthier. Just saying.
But skin-on chicken is way juicier! Just take it off before eating if you’re worried about health. Don’t know why people overthink it!
I get what you’re saying, but skin-on chicken adds so much flavor! Plus, it’s not all about health—sometimes you gotta enjoy the taste!
I substituted black olives because that’s all I had, and it was still yum! Just wow, I never thought of lemon and chicken like this.
Yum. Just Yum. 🍋👌
Skillet chicken? More like skillet awesomeness! The crispy skin is just perfect! Yum!
Lemon slices on chicken? Who knew! This was a surprisingly good combo, I love it. Whole fam approved!
So good! The lemon add a nice zing. Will make again for sure!
I ain’t never cooked with olives before. I was skeptical, but this was better than I thought. Easy peasy!
Meh, I’ve had better chicken recipes. Nothing special, honestly.
What a weird combo. Olives and chicken? Who thought of this? Not for me. 😣
Next time I’ll add more lemon and maybe some capers too. Think that would work? 🤔
Chicken with olives sounds weird, but I gave it a shot. Not for me. 🙁
Why is it called a skillet? I used a frying pan. Same thing right? 🤔 Anyway, good recipe!
Crispy skin! 🤤 Love this recipe!!!
This was a hit at my dinner party. Everyone asked for the recipe! 🌟
Very easy to follow, but my skillet was nowhere near big enough haha!
really easy recipe. i like that. but the garlic was too much for my taste buds.
I followed the recipe step by step but my chicken ended up so dry. Maybe I cooked it too long? Not sure if I’ll try again.
I’ve made this recipe several times and my chicken always turns out juicy. Maybe check your heat? Don’t cook it too long after flipping.
I forgot the olives and used pickles instead. It was not the same but surprisingly okay.
Interesting swap! Pickles bring a tangy twist! Maybe I’ll try it that way too next time.
This recipe is a game changer! The chicken turns out so tender and the olives add a unique flavor. Definitely making this again!
I totally agree! This recipe is amazing! I never thought olives could taste so good with chicken. Yum!
Followed it but mine burnt. Must’ve left it too long on heat??? A lil sad!
Didnt have olives, so I used pickles instead. It was weird but kinda good lol!
Super easy and fun! I added some capers too. My family loved it. Thumbs up from me! 👍
I don’t know about adding capers, seems strange with chicken. But glad your fam liked it.
Sounds delicious! I love capers too. I will definitely try adding them next time. 😊
This dish is sooo good! The chicken comes out so juicy and the olives really add a unique flavor. Definitely a keeper!
Followed the recipe but chicken turned out dry. Maybe I cooked it too long?
OMG I can’t stand olives!! What can I use instead? 😩
You could try using capers or even artichoke hearts instead of olives! They’ll give you a nice flavor without that olive taste. 😊
This sounds easy, but who likes olives? Not my thing. Maybe will use capers instead, anyone tried that?
Yum! Best chicken dish I ever made, can’t wait to make this for my friends!
I think my chicken took longer to cook than you said. I ended up with some raw bits, ew..
Not a fan. The olives tasted too salty for me. I guess I prefer my chicken plain with just salt and pepper.
Delicious! I added some paprika for an extra kick and it was still fantastic. Chicken thighs are so juicy!
I don’t know man, chicken thigh? Isn’t that kinda fatty? I prefer breast meat myself.
Glad you enjoyed it! Paprika sounds like a great addition! Do you think it would work with other spices too?
This was absolutely delicious! I loved the flavor of the olives with the chicken. 😍
This was absolutely delicious! The lemon and olives gave it a nice zing.
I don’t see how this can taste good. Olives on chicken? That’s just wrong… 😒
This recipe got my kids to try olives! Miracle! Thanks!
This is delish! Can’t believe how easy it was to make. My family loved it!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! It’s super simple and quick, right? Perfect for busy nights.
Our go-to chicken dish now! So easy and fast to prep, my kids love it too!
Delish!
I don’t like olives so I replaced ’em with capers. Not sure it tasted right but it was okay.
I had to adjust the cooking time. My chicken wasn’t done after 15 mins. 😟
Yum! My family devoured it! Chicken was crispy and juicy, exactly as described.
Not sure about the olives and lemon together. Was kinda sour for me.
I know what you mean! Olives and lemon can be a weird combo. I think they clashing tastes can be tough for some folks.
Just give it a try, it might surprise you! I liked it even tho it sounded strange at first.
I followed the recipe but forgot the garlic… still turned out alright. Just kinda bland. 😐
Chicken and olives? Weird combo – but surprisingly good! LOL!
I thought the same thing! But it really works, right? Perfect amount of tangy with the chicken. YUM!
I followed the recipe but my chicken turned out dry. Maybe I cooked it too long? Not sure if I would make it again.
Oregano? Never heard of using that in chicken! Sounds weird but I’ll try. Wish me luck!
WOW! Best chicken I’ve ever made. Mmm, I might just eat it all myself!! 😋
I’m so glad you loved it! This recipe has been a game changer for my weeknight dinners! 😍
Best chicken? Are you sure? It seems kinda basic to me. 🤔
Just made this and it was ok. I don’t think I like olives much, but the chicken was still decent.
Glad you tried it! Have you thought about leaving out the olives next time? They can be hit or miss for people.
I really loved this recipe! The olives added a nice kick. Will def make again!
I don’t get why people love this so much. My chicken turned out dry and gross. Maybe I overcooked it?
Tried this last night and it was a total disaster. Smoke everywhere. 😱
Why not just bake the chicken? Seems easier than all this skillet fuss.
Baking is fine, but skillet cooking gives it a different flavor! You should try it, it’s worth the effort!
Why cook in a skillet when you can just put it in the oven?? Makes no sense!
This recipe is a game changer! The chicken turned out so juicy and flavorful. Will definitely make it again. 😊