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?
Really solid flavor. I did add a splash of chicken broth when it started to look a little dry, but otherwise followed the steps. The garlic tasted great.
So simple, yet so good!!! I made this for my family and they couldn’t stop raving about it. Definitely a keeper! 🥳
This recipe is absolutely delicious! The chicken turned out so juicy and flavorful. My family loves it!
This chicken recipe is a game changer! So simple but gives off fancy restaurant vibes. Absolutely love it!
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. 🍋👌
I don’t get why everyone loves this so much. The olives kind of ruin it for me.
Not gonna lie, I kinda messed up step 3 and burned the garlic a lil 😬 but I scraped it off and it was still fine. Next time I’ll add garlic later like the recipe says.
Honestly that’s still a win—garlic can go from perfect to burnt FAST. Scraping it off and carrying on is exactly what I’d do too. Next time, waiting to add the garlic (right after the flip) should keep it sweet and fragrant. Great save 😄
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!
Chicken thighs in a skillet? Love it. I actually used black olives by mistake (didn’t read) and it was still tasty. Not “authentic” maybe, but who cares lol.
So good! The lemon add a nice zing. Will make again for sure!
Followed all the steps, but my chicken burnt! I guess my skillet is too hot. Any tips?
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. 🙁
Honestly just tastes salty. Olives are good but this was too much for my family. Also my garlic got a little too dark.
Why is it called a skillet? I used a frying pan. Same thing right? 🤔 Anyway, good recipe!
Crispy skin! 🤤 Love this recipe!!!
Ehh. Olives cooked with chicken seems kinda weird to me. Ended up okay, but wouldn’t make again.
That’s fair—olives + chicken sounds unusual at first. I think the salty brine and lemon help it a lot, kind of like a Mediterranean vibe. Sorry it wasn’t a repeat for you though—what would you change if you tried it again?
This was a hit at my dinner party. Everyone asked for the recipe! 🌟
Tried this tonight—my skillet smelled amazing. Crispy skin actually happened (rare for me), and the olives + lemon combo is so bright. Would make again!
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 is a must-try! My kids devoured it, and they are picky eaters!
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. 😊
Super easy to follow! I didn’t have green olives so I used black ones instead. Still turned out good!
This turned out soooo good. The skin was actually crispy (rare for me). The olives + lemon combo is 🔥. I used kalamata instead of green and it still worked.
This dish is sooo good! The chicken comes out so juicy and the olives really add a unique flavor. Definitely a keeper!
I followed the recipe exactly, but my chicken came out a bit dry. Maybe my skillet was too hot?
Followed the recipe but chicken turned out dry. Maybe I cooked it too long?
Not bad, but my garlic burned a little when I flipped too early. The rest tasted fine—just go gentler on the heat after flipping.
Good catch! I’ve done that with the garlic before—once it hits the pan after flipping it can go from golden to burnt fast. I’ll try adding it a little later (or lowering the heat right after the flip) next time.
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.
Garlic timing seems a little short—mine started to brown too fast when I flipped. I would add it a minute later next time.
Chicken thighs are too greasy! Not my cup of tea, prefer chicken breast. 2/5
I don’t get it, chicken thighs are the best! They have way more flavor than breasts. 🤷♀️
I actually love chicken thighs! They’re so juicy. Maybe try marinating them next time?
Mine came out a bit salty from the olives (I didn’t rinse them). Next time I’ll watch the salt or use lower-sodium olives. Still delicious though.
Mine was salty too and I thought it was because I cooked it too long, lol. But I used the exact olives—maybe next time I’ll rinse them. Delish though!
Good catch—olives can be *very* salty. Rinsing (or just giving them a quick rinse) helps a lot, and you can also reduce any added salt next time.
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… 😒
I was skeptical about olives with chicken, not gonna lie. But it actually works. Next time I’ll deglaze with a splash of broth so there’s more sauce.
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.
Not gonna lie, I was skeptical about olives with chicken, but wow. The oregano and lemon made it taste Mediterranean. Next time I might use even more garlic.
Our go-to chicken dish now! So easy and fast to prep, my kids love it too!
I think 5-7 minutes skin-side down is optimistic depending on your stove. Mine burned a bit before the skin got crisp, so I lowered the heat sooner. Flavor still good.
Totally agree—5-7 min is pretty stove-dependent. I did mine on medium and it still needed a couple extra minutes to really crisp. Lower heat earlier is the move if your skin runs hot.
hmm my skin never crisp like that… i think my lemon was too wet? I cooked longer but it felt dry. Maybe i should start higher? idk lol
Delish!
I don’t like olives so I replaced ’em with capers. Not sure it tasted right but it was okay.
So good! The lemon + olives combo made it taste way more “restaurant” than I expected. I used a little extra oregano and it still worked out great.
No offense but 15 minutes simmered with just olives and lemon seems too quick to me… but yeah it worked, lol.
I had to adjust the cooking time. My chicken wasn’t done after 15 mins. 😟
What do you mean skin-side down? I just throw it all in the pan! Works fine for me.
Yum! My family devoured it! Chicken was crispy and juicy, exactly as described.
Green olives in chicken sounds weird but I was hungry 😅. Surprisingly delicious. Next time I’ll add a splash of chicken broth to loosen the pan juices.
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. 🤔
I’m skeptical of oregano + olives + lemon on chicken, but it worked. The chicken stayed juicy and the flavors didn’t taste overly salty.
Okay yeah I was skeptical too—oregano + olives + lemon sounds like it might be too punchy. But if the chicken stayed juicy and wasn’t overly salty, that’s a win. I might try it and maybe use less oregano next time.
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!
Sooo good! I added more garlic because can’t have too much garlic, right? 😂
Garlic is life! 😂 I always go extra too. Love that you added more! Would try this soon.
Too salty for my taste. I think I added too much salt while seasoning. Next time I will be more careful.
Lol, mine turned out way too salty too! Is there a way to fix it or just gotta start over? 🤔
I feel you! Salt can be tricky sometimes. Maybe try using less next time or even add a little lemon juice for some balance!
I don’t get why people love this so much. My chicken turned out dry and gross. Maybe I overcooked it?
Cooked exactly like the steps but mine didn’t brown as much—maybe my skillet wasn’t hot enough. Sauce tasted good, so I’m not mad. I’ll try again.
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!
Yummy! I never thought to put lemon with chicken but it’s a game changer!
This recipe is a game changer! The chicken turned out so juicy and flavorful. Will definitely make it again. 😊
So easy and quick! I’m not a great cook, but this turned out really good! My husband loved it! 4 stars.
This was amazing! Yummy flavors and super easy to make. Will definitely do again!
So glad you loved it! It really is a winner in our house too! 🍗❤️
I tried this but the chicken was too greasy for my taste. Maybe less oil next time?
The lemon slices were kind of overpowering to me—maybe I used a big lemon. I’d cut back slightly and maybe add more olives to balance next time.
Yeah that can happen—one whole lemon can dominate. I usually use less, or I slice it thin and tuck it under the olives so it mellows out. Adding more olives is a great balance move.
I was skeptical about the olives but they really added a nice touch to the dish. I’ll be making this again!
Olives in a chicken recipe? Seriously??? Not sure I’ll ever try this.
Olives actually go great with chicken! You should give it a shot. It adds a nice briny flavor that’s really unique.
No way! Olives ruin everything. I bet the chicken tastes weird with them. Who even thought of that?
Pretty good, but mine took longer than 15 minutes to finish cooking through. Still tasty and the sauce in the pan was great for spooning over rice.
The recipe is simple and that’s my favorite. I followed it exactly and it came out juicy. 10/10 for minimal effort.
Yes! I love recipes like this—simple, no fuss, but still turns out juicy. Thanks for sharing!
My chicken took closer to 25 minutes to fully cook (bone-in thighs), so keep an eye on timing. Sauce was tasty though—would pair with rice or potatoes.
5 stars, no question. Like, this is restaurant quality. My family devoured it.
Olives? Gross! Why would you put that in chicken? I ain’t tryin’ that. 1 star for even suggesting it.
The garlic burned a bit when I flipped it, so next time I’ll add it later or lower the heat sooner. Flavor was still nice overall.
Took forever! Chicken didn’t cook thru and I had to microwave it. Smh.
I had the same problem! The timing is so off. Always double check if it’s cooked all the way!
Microwaving chicken? That sounds kinda gross. Maybe the recipe needs reworking or your heat was too high.
Yum! Chicken juicy, sauce tasty.