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If you’re a garlic lover, this chicken with 20 cloves of garlic recipe is about to become your new obsession! Inspired by the classic French “chicken with 40 cloves of garlic,” this version keeps things simple yet incredibly flavorful. As the chicken roasts, the garlic softens into a buttery spread, perfect for slathering onto crusty bread or mixing into the luscious pan juices. Creamy white beans soak up all the rich flavors, while lemon, capers, and fresh herbs brighten each bite. It’s cozy, effortless, and just fancy enough to impress—whether it’s a laid-back family dinner or a special gathering with friends.

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.
Top Tips
Marinate for extra flavor: If you have time, marinate the chicken with the mustard, herbs, and capers for a few hours or overnight. Chicken that’s marinated overnight results in a deeper flavors and this makes the dish even more delicious.
Sear for a golden crust: Before roasting, quickly sear the chicken in a hot pan with olive oil to develop a golden-brown crust. This adds a richer flavor and helps render excess fat.
Layer the ingredients properly: Place the beans, capers, lemon slices, and garlic on the bottom of the baking dish so they absorb the juices from the chicken as it roasts, making them extra flavorful.
Let the chicken rest: After roasting, let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving to help retain its juices.
Garnish for freshness: A sprinkle of fresh parsley and dill at the end brightens up the dish and balances the richness of the roasted garlic and chicken.
Roast Chicken with 20 Garlic Cloves FAQs
No, leaving the garlic cloves in their papery skins helps them roast gently, creating a soft, buttery consistency that’s perfect for spreading on bread or mixing into the beans. You will find they’re easy to squeeze out of the skins after roasting.
Roasted garlic is incredibly versatile! If you love its mellow, sweet flavor, add a few extra cloves to the dish and save the rest to spread on toast or add into other recipes. You might prefer to add 40 cloves of garlic to the casserole dish instead of 20, so you have enough over!
20 Cloves of Garlic Roast Chicken Recipe
Chicken with 20 Cloves of Garlic
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Cans white beans, 15-ounce cans, drained and rinsed
- 3 Tablespoons capers, with brine
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 8 chicken thighs, about 2 Pounds, skin-on, bone-in
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon butter, melted
- 3 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
- ½ Teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ Teaspoon dried thyme, or 3 or 4 fresh sprigs
- 1 lemon, large, zested and thinly sliced
- 2 or 3 Heads garlic, cut in half horizontally
- 1/3 Cup white wine, optional
- 1/3 Cup chicken broth
For Garnish:
- 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley, coarsely chopped
- 2 Teaspoons fresh dill, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- In a baking dish, spread the drained and rinsed white beans.
- Add the capers with their brine and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels.
- In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of the olive oil with the melted butter, Dijon mustard, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Rub this mixture all over the chicken.
- Nestle the chicken thighs, skin side up, on top of the white beans.
- Scatter the lemon slices and halved garlic heads throughout the dish.
- Drizzle the remaining olive oil over the garlic heads.
- Pour the white wine (if using) and chicken broth around the chicken to keep everything moist and flavorful.
- Put the baking dish in the oven and roast for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the chicken is golden brown and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Optionally, you can broil it for an 2 or 3 minutes at the end to get extra crispy skin.
- Sprinkle the chopped herbs on top and serve immediately.
Notes
Sear for a golden crust: Before roasting, quickly sear the chicken in a hot pan with olive oil to develop a golden-brown crust. This adds a richer flavor and helps render excess fat.
Layer the ingredients properly: Place the beans, capers, lemon slices, and garlic on the bottom of the baking dish so they absorb the juices from the chicken as it roasts, making them extra flavorful.
Let the chicken rest: After roasting, let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving to help retain its juices.
Garnish for freshness: A sprinkle of fresh parsley and dill at the end brightens up the dish and balances the richness of the roasted garlic and chicken.
Nutrition
This 20 garlic clove chicken recipe is simple to prepare and really delicious. If you enjoy chicken and you’re a firm fan of garlic, then you’re going to love it. Chicken thighs come out juicy and tender, and then you have the sweetness of the roasted garlic with a zip of lemon juice, some fresh herbs, and a splash of white wine. Served with mashed potatoes, this dish is truly a delight! Twenty cloves of garlic might sound like a lot but trust me – if you love garlic you’re going to find this dish to be just perfect.
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
The garlic melts into pure magic. Absolutely perfect with crusty bread!