🧄🌿🐔🥔🍋🧀 Creamy Garlic Greek Chicken & Crispy Potatoes with Lemon-Spinach Pesto Alfredo
This vibrant and incredibly flavorful bowl brings the essence of the Mediterranean to your table, featuring succulent crispy garlic-herb chicken thighs and perfectly golden garlic potatoes. The entire experience is enveloped in a lush lemon-spinach Alfredo, enriched with a splash of basil pesto and generously crowned with tangy feta cheese and fragrant roasted lemon wheels. A truly gourmet and deeply satisfying meal!
Yields: 2-3 servings
Prep time: 25 minutes (plus chicken marinating time)
Cook time: 30-35 minutes
Ingredients:
🐔🧄🌿 Crispy Garlic-Herb Chicken Thighs:
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs
2 tbsp olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced 🧄
1 tbsp fresh oregano, chopped 🌿 (or 1 tsp dried)
½ tsp dried thyme
Salt & freshly cracked black pepper to taste
🥔🧄 Golden Garlic Potatoes:
2 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 tbsp olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced 🧄
1 tsp dried rosemary (or Italian herbs)
Salt & freshly cracked black pepper to taste
🍋🌿🧀 Creamy Sauce: Lush Lemon-Spinach Pesto Alfredo with Feta & Roasted Lemon Wheels:
2 tbsp butter 🧈
2 cloves garlic, minced 🧄
5 oz fresh spinach
1 ½ cups heavy cream
¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese 🧀
2 tbsp store-bought or homemade basil pesto 🌿
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice 🍋
Salt & freshly cracked black pepper to taste
Twist Toppings:
1 small lemon, thinly sliced into wheels (for roasting)
4 oz crumbled feta cheese 🧀 (for generous topping)
Fresh basil leaves for garnish
Instructions:
Prepare Golden Garlic Potatoes & Roasted Lemon Wheels:
Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F).
In a large bowl, toss potato cubes with 2 tbsp olive oil, 4 cloves minced garlic, dried rosemary, salt, and pepper.
Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Arrange lemon wheels on the same baking sheet (or a separate small one).
Roast potatoes and lemon wheels for 25-30 minutes, or until potatoes are golden brown, tender, and crispy, flipping halfway through. Lemon wheels should be lightly caramelized.
Marinate & Cook Crispy Garlic-Herb Chicken Thighs:
While potatoes roast, in a bowl, toss chicken thighs with 2 tbsp olive oil, 4 cloves minced garlic, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper. Let marinate for at least 15 minutes.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken thighs, skin-side down first if there's any skin, and cook for 6-8 minutes per side, or until cooked through (internal temperature of 74°C / 165°F) and beautifully crispy and browned. Remove from skillet, let rest briefly, then slice.
Prepare Lush Lemon-Spinach Pesto Alfredo:
In the same large skillet (or a clean one) over medium heat, melt butter.
Add 2 cloves minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Add fresh spinach to the skillet and cook until wilted, about 2-3 minutes.
Pour in 1 ½ cups heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
Stir in basil pesto and 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice. Whisk until well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste. (If you prefer a smoother sauce, you can transfer the spinach/garlic mixture to a food processor with a splash of cream, blend, then return to the skillet to finish the Alfredo). Keep warm over very low heat.
Assemble & Serve:
Add the sliced crispy garlic-herb chicken thighs to the lemon-spinach pesto Alfredo sauce and gently stir to coat.
Divide the golden garlic potatoes among bowls.
Spoon the creamy Lemon-Spinach Pesto Alfredo with chicken generously over the potatoes.
Finish by artfully arranging the roasted lemon wheels on top and sprinkling generously with crumbled feta cheese. Garnish with fresh basil leaves.
Serve immediately and revel in this spectacular and flavorful fusion meal!
Tips for Success:
Lemon Wheels: Roasting the lemon wheels mellows their tartness and brings out a wonderful sweetness and aroma.
Chicken Thighs: Thighs stay juicier than breasts and develop a lovely crispy exterior.
Feta Quality: Use good quality crumbled feta; its distinct salty and tangy flavor provides a crucial counterpoint to the rich sauce.
Sauce Consistency: If the Alfredo sauce seems too thick, thin it with a splash of warm water or chicken broth until it reaches your desired consistency.
Fresh Herbs: Using fresh oregano, thyme, and basil will elevate the flavors significantly.
Enjoy this vibrant and incredibly satisfying dish!