Chicken with 20 Cloves of Garlic

This dish is perfect for a cozy family supper or an impressive yet effortless meal for entertaining dinner guests. If you like chicken and garlic, you’re going to love it.

Also try chicken Florentine, slow cooker Mexican chicken, chicken piccata, chicken Milanese, or Mediterranean chicken and couscous.

Why You’ll Love It

Wonderfully garlicky: This is the kind of dish that will definitely keep those vampires away! The rich, sweet flavor of roasted garlic is perfect with tender, succulent chicken, so the garlic lover in you will definitely appreciate the rich flavors.
Easy to prepare: You simply need to add your ingredients to a baking dish and pop it in the oven. Very soon, your kitchen will smell heavenly.
Great for meal prep: You can assemble the dish ahead and simply put it in the oven when you’re ready to cook (this allows the flavors to marinate and meld before roasting).

20 Clove Garlic Chicken Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Chicken thighs: Choose bone-in, skin-on chicken. This ensures the chicken stays juicy and flavorful while roasting. The skin also crisps up beautifully for added texture.
White wine: For added depth. A splash of dry white wine enhances the sauce, giving it a rich, complex taste.
Capers: These add a pop of briny flavor.
White beans: They deliver a soft, tender texture and a distinctive taste.
Herbs: I like to add oregano and thyme to the garlic chicken recipe, and I find parsley and dill make a nice garnish.
Lemon: Pairs well with the chicken, adding a zesty tang.
Garlic: The all-important ingredient! You’ll need 2 or 3 whole garlic bulbs (heads of garlic) for this dish.

How to Make Roast Chicken with 20 Garlic Cloves

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.

Season the chicken: Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels. Combine olive oil, melted butter, mustard, oregano, thyme, salt and freshly ground black pepper, and coat chicken pieces all over with the mixture.
Assemble the dish: Drain and rinse the white beans, then add them to a baking dish along with the capers. Nestle the seasoned chicken thighs skin side up in the beans and add the halved garlic heads and lemon slices. Drizzle oil over the garlic. Add white wine and chicken broth.
Roast the chicken with 20 cloves of garlic: Roast the dish in a preheated oven until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through. Broil for a couple of minutes to crisp up the skin some more.
Serve and enjoy: Sprinkle chopped parsley and dill on top of the chicken and serve hot.

Substitutions and Variations

Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, use gluten-free chicken broth.
Dairy-free version: Swap the butter for coconut oil, margarine or similar.
White wine: If you prefer not to use wine, substitute with additional chicken broth and a squeeze of lemon, white or red wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar.
Chicken thighs: You could use chicken breasts – just be careful they don’t dry out. They aren’t as forgiving as chicken thighs.
White beans: You can use another type of bean if you prefer, or swap the beans for chopped vegetables such as mushrooms or carrots.
Chicken stock or broth: Substitute vegetable stock or broth.
Add a kick: Some red pepper flakes would add a hint of spice.

Serving Suggestions

Appetizers: Enjoy million dollar deviled eggs to start.
Side dishes: Irish soda bread, mashed potatoes or sweet potato wedges will soak up the flavorful chicken juices and roasted garlic flavors of the main course. Add a lemon and parmesan salad on the side if you like too.
Desserts: Chocolate delight makes a delightful dessert. Or maybe you prefer homemade turtles.

How to Store 20 Clove Garlic Chicken

Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within 3 days.
Freeze: You can freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Defrost it in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheat: You can warm 20 clove garlic chicken back up in the oven.