Start by preheating your oven to 400°F and adjusting the oven rack to the center position. Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel and generously season them with salt and black pepper.

In a 10-inch cast iron skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken thighs skin-side down, searing until the skin achieves a golden, crispy texture—this takes about 5 minutes, and note that the thighs won't be fully cooked at this stage.

Once the skin is crispy, flip the chicken over. If excess fat is released, remove it with a spoon. Add butter to the skillet, and when melted, introduce minced garlic. Stir the garlic in the pan for about 30 seconds.

Transfer the entire skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

After the chicken is cooked, generously spoon some of the garlic butter sauce over each chicken thigh. Finish by garnishing with parsley before serving.