There are some recipes that instantly earn a permanent spot in your weeknight dinner rotation, and this Garlic Mushroom & Bacon Chicken Thigh dish is one of them. It was born out of a busy evening when I wanted something comforting, full of flavor, and speedy enough to get on the table without hovering over the stove for hours. I reached for chicken thighs—my go-to protein for dependable tenderness—and paired them with mushrooms, garlic, and bacon for a little smoky richness. The balsamic reduction ties everything together with just the right amount of brightness, creating a meal that feels special but requires remarkably little work. This easy chicken skillet has now become a staple in our household, and it’s one of those dishes that tastes like it came from a cozy bistro but uses only one pan and everyday ingredients.
Comment is long overdue! I’ve been making this dish for a few years now and it’s a household fav! I make this every few months and everyone loves it 🙂 one thing I do different than recipe is add a bit of salt to everything. Delicious!
Table of Contents
Why You Will Love This Garlic Mushroom & Bacon Chicken Thigh Dish
- Ready in less than 30 minutes: This will quickly become a weeknight favorite for evenings when you want something delicious fast.
- It’s a true one-pan meal: Everything cooks in the same skillet, so clean-up is a breeze.
- Uses simple, wholesome ingredients: Chicken, mushrooms, bacon, and basic pantry staples come together to make a restaurant-quality meal at home.
- Reheats beautifully: Make it early and warm it up later without losing flavor or texture.
- This chicken thigh recipe checks all the boxes for many dietary lifestyles—it’s Paleo, Whole30, Keto, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, SCD Legal, and Grain Free, so almost everyone at the table can enjoy it.
Ingredients You Need:
- Chicken thighs: Naturally juicy and tender, perfect for quick cooking. I prefer using boneless skinless chicken thighs for this recipe because of their flavorful dark meat, quick cook time and the nice crust they develop when seared, but boneless skinless chicken breasts also work well, the cook time will just need to be increased by a few minutes.
- Bacon: Adds smoky richness and fat that flavors the mushrooms.
- Button Mushrooms: White, cremini, or mixed mushrooms work well and soak up all the delicious juices.
- Chicken Broth: Helps build the delicious sauce and keeps everything moist.
- Balsamic Vinegar: Reduces to a concentrated glaze that balances the richness of the dish.
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- Large skillet (preferably cast iron or stainless steel)
- Tongs or spatula
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Wooden spoon
- Measuring spoons
How to Make These Chicken Thighs
- Season the chicken thighs with salt, black pepper, onion and garlic powder and sear them in olive oil in a large skillet. Cook the chicken for 3 minutes per side until golden. Remove and set aside.
- Add the chopped bacon to the skillet and cook for about 5 minutes until crisp. Transfer the crispy bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain
- Add mushrooms to the same pan with the bacon fat, sprinkle with a bit of salt, and cook for 2 minutes. Pour in the balsamic vinegar and simmer for about 5 minutes until the vinegar reduces and the mushrooms soften.
- Stir in butter or ghee, minced garlic, and parsley, cooking for another 2 minutes until fragrant. Add chicken stock and cooked bacon.
- Return chicken thighs to the pan and let everything simmer for 5 minutes until heated through. Spoon the bacon mushroom sauce over the chicken. Garnish with more parsley and serve.
How To Modify:
- Swap the dried thyme with an equal amount of dried oregano, dried rosemary or mixed herbs. Alternatively you can use 2 tsp fresh thyme.
- The balsamic vinegar can be replaced with 2 tbsp of red wine vinegar or 1/2 cup of white wine.
- If you don’t eat bacon, then it can easily be left out, just increase the amount of salt in the recipe by 1/2 teaspoon. Alternatively the bacon can be substituted for pancetta or prosciutto which has been crisped up on the stove for a few minutes.
What to Serve With This Recipe
This versatile chicken skillet pairs well with a variety of sides depending on your dietary needs:
- Scalloped potatoes or mashed cauliflower for a cozy comfort food packed meal
- Green beans, asparagus, or broccoli
- Roasted root vegetables such as carrots, or sweet potatoes
- Simple side salad or mixed greens for a fresh contrast
- Rice or cauliflower rice for soaking up all the delicious sauce
Common Questions:
Absolutely. This is a fantastic make-ahead meal and a great option if you like prepping dinner earlier in the day. You can cook the dish completely, keep it covered in the skillet or transfer to an airtight container and simply reheat in the same pan before serving
The flavors actually deepen as the sauce sits, so preparing it a few hours ahead won’t hurt one bit. In fact, it can make it taste even better.
Leftovers store wonderfully and hold their flavor without drying out. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3–4 days. Warm gently on the stovetop over medium-high heat or microwave in 60-second increments until hot. Add a splash of chicken stock if needed.
You can freeze fully cooked chicken thighs in the sauce for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat in a skillet with a bit of liquid to loosen the sauce.
If you don’t have chicken thighs on hand, this delicious recipe is easy to adapt for other cuts. Large chicken breasts work beautifully, though they cook a bit faster, just sear them until golden, then simmer in the sauce until cooked through, being careful not to overcook so they stay juicy. Bone-in thighs or drumsticks can also be used, but they will need a longer simmer time, typically 10–15 extra minutes, to ensure they cook all the way through. If you prefer chicken tenders, treat them just like breasts but reduce the cooking time slightly, as they cook quickly. No matter which cut you choose, the method stays the same: sear first for flavor, build the sauce in the pan, then finish everything together for the perfect saucy, skillet-cooked chicken.
Here are a few more easy chicken recipes that you will love:
- Creamy Mushroom Chicken
- Honey Mustard Chicken
- Balsamic Chicken With Figs
- Coq No Vin
- Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Chicken
If you make this recipe let me know in the comment section below, I would love to hear what you think or take a photo and tag me (@everylastbite_) on Instagram, I love seeing your photos!
Garlic Mushroom & Bacon Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 5 strips chopped into small pieces bacon
- 9 ounces mushrooms thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp butter or ghee
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley + more for garnish
- 1/4 cup chicken stock
Instructions
- Season the chicken thighs on both sides with thyme, salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil on medium high heat in a large skillet and cook the chicken for 3 minutes per side until seared and golden in colour. Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Add the bacon to the pan and cook for 5 minutes until crisp. Once the bacon is cooked transfer to a paper towel and set aside.
- Add the mushrooms to the pan, sprinkle with salt and leave to cook for 2 minutes before adding in the balsamic vinegar and cooking for 5 minutes until the mushrooms have softened and the vinegar has reduced to a thick consistency.
- Stir in the butter or ghee, garlic and parsley. Cook for 2 minutes until the garlic becomes fragrant and then stir in the chicken stock and bacon. Once well mixed, return the chicken thighs to the pan and leave everything to cook for 5 minutes. Garnish with additional parsley before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Tried This Recipe?
Leave a comment below and let us know how it was!
This is the second time I am making this wonderful dish! Love it!
Comment is long overdue! Iโve been making this dish for a few years now and itโs a household fav! I make this every few months and everyone loves it ๐ one thing I do different than recipe is add a bit of salt to everything. Delicious!
Made it twice now, first time we thought balsamic was a little bit powerful for our taste, maybe it was the balsamic we used? The second time I made it I mixed balsamic 50% with water it made a more pleasing flavour for our tastes, will be making it again.
What a delicious recipe! ๐So flavorful and easy for me to follow. thank you!
This was so easy and so tasty! Layers of flavor!ย
Very easy and tasty recipe!!
Delicious! Highly recommend. Easy but very, very flavorful
This is really easy to make and it tast awesome. Im making this more often
Absolutely delicious! Very simple to make. Uses ingredients that most people have on hand normally. Impressive enough to entertain company, but perfect for an any day of the week meal. New favorite in our meal rotation! I had bone-in thighs, so used those. So good!ย
Great flavor and so easy! ย This is impressive enough for company but easy enough for a week night meal. The whole family loved it.ย