Eastern Mediterranean garlic chicken cooked in one pan is a dish that beautifully captures the essence of the region’s cuisine. The recipe is a harmonious blend of simplicity, vibrant flavors, and a rustic cooking style that brings out the best in each ingredient.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken thighs
• 2 medium red onions, quartered into wedges
• 2 garlic bulbs, halved
• 2 lemons, halved
• 1/3 cup olive oil (plus extra for drizzling)
• 1 ½ cups Greek yogurt
• 3 tablespoons za’atar
• Fresh thyme sprigs (optional)
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon lime zest

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 370°F.
2. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and generously salt them.
3. In a parchment-lined baking dish, add the Greek yogurt, 1/3 cup olive oil, za’atar, allspice, lemon zest, lime zest, and the chicken thighs. Mix everything well to coat the chicken.
4. Arrange the garlic halves (cut side down), lemon halves (cut side down), and onion wedges in the pan. Do not mix them into the yogurt sauce—this will allow them to get charred.
5. Drizzle additional olive oil over the garlic, lemon, and onion.
6. Roast in the oven for about 60 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and falls off the bones.
7. Optionally, garnish with fresh thyme sprigs before serving.