Harissa Chicken Recipe

This Harissa Chicken Recipe is slightly sweet, smoky and packed full of flavor. The chicken thighs are cooked in a skillet to create tender, juicy chicken. You can have this dish on your table in less than 30 minutes.

Harissa paste is something I enjoy cooking with and today’s Harissa Chicken Recipe is a great way to use it. I know some people might not know what it is or used it before but it can be a great addition to an easy dinner.

You might be wondering what harissa paste is? Harissa paste is a spicy, smoky and slightly sweet condiment often used in North African cuisine. It is often seen in countries like Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. 

It is made from a combination of dried red chili peppers, garlic, olive oil, spices, and sometimes additional ingredients like coriander seeds, caraway seeds, and cumin.

The paste has a complex flavor and helps create a spicy chicken. I would describe it as a rich, smoky, and fiery flavor profile with varying levels of heat, depending on the type and amount of chili peppers used.

As with many recipes the exact recipe can vary depending on the regional variations of harissa. 

I love bold flavors which is probably why I love harissa so much. It is a comfort food for me.

We eat chicken at least one night of the week so it is nice to keep things interesting and use unique flavors in my recipes. 

We often rotate between this Harissa Chicken Recipe, Moroccan Chicken Thighs, Lebanese Chicken Kebabs, Coq Au Vin and this Margarita Grilled Chicken.

Why You Will Love This Harissa Chicken Recipe:

• Full of flavor – This delicious chicken is packed full of smoky and sweet flavors from the Harissa marinade. You will love the combination of flavors. 
• Easy to make – An easy dish to make that can be brought together in less than an hour if needed. Ideal for those warm summers day when you want to use the BBQ. 
• Simple ingredients – Six simple ingredients bring this recipe to life. If you are looking for an easy chicken recipe using minimal ingredients, this is the dish for you.
• Introduce new flavors – A great way to introduce your family to new and exciting flavors. 

Recipe Ingredients

• Chicken Thighs: I used chicken thighs in this recipe because I think they are the most tender, juiciest option but you can use any cut of chicken you like. Chicken breasts work great but you will have to cook them longer. You also could use chicken tenderloins.
• Harissa Paste: I used a store-bought harissa paste for this recipe. If you want to make a homemade version that would work also.
• Lemon: The lemon helps balance the flavors in this dish.
• Honey: You will love the sweetness that honey adds to the sauce. I think the honey really balances all of the flavors.
• Garlic Cloves: Garlic isn’t necessary but adds great flavor. Try to use fresh garlic if you can.

How to Make This Healthy Harissa Chicken

Now that you have all your ingredients, it is time to make the simple and tasty harissa grilled chicken. 

Step 1. Make the Marinade: In a large bowl mix the harissa chile paste, lemon, honey, garlic, salt and pepper. 

Marinade chicken thighs in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to 2 hours.

Step 2. Sear the Chicken: Heat the 2 tablespoons of olive oil on medium-high heat in a non-stick skillet. Sear the chicken skin down in the skillet for 6 minutes.

Step 3. Finish Cooking the Chicken: Flip the chicken and cook for another 6 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F on a meat thermometer. Remove the chicken from the heat.

Step 4. Serve with Garnishes and Rice: Garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro and serve with brown rice or cauliflower rice.

Recipe FAQ

Ways to Modify These Harissa Chicken Thighs  

• You can use store-bought Harissa Paste. Or make your own homemade harissa using this harissa sauce recipe here. 
• This harissa marinade will work with other meats like steak or even just vegetables that you grill, roast, or BBQ. 
• You can add this marinade to a whole chicken, skinless chicken thighs, chicken breasts, chicken tenderloins or wings. Just make sure to adjust the cook time depending on the cut of chicken. 
• Instead of lemon juice you could substitute it with lime juice instead. If you want extra citrus flavor add lemon zest or lime zest. 
• Fresh herbs would be nice to add to the marinade. Try adding chopped parsley or cilantro. 
• If you want more spices try adding a touch of hot sauce.

How do I Store Leftovers?

Leftovers can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. 

What Can I Do With the Leftovers?

Leftover Harissa Chicken can be served in many ways. I like to chop up the leftover chicken and store it for meals throughout the week. You also could batch book by doubling or tripling the recipe for meal prep and use the chicken for lunches and dinners.

I like adding it to a hummus bowl, to a hummus platter, add it on top of this Mediterranean Zucchini Pasta Salad or this  Mediterranean Eggplant Salad. 

Chop up any cooked chicken and add it to a tomato pasta sauce and pair it with pasta. You could even create a creamy sauce for pasta or rice and serve the cooked chicken in that to balance out the flavors.

How Should I Serve the Harissa Chicken?

• The spicy, smoky chicken works great with a cool sauce to add on top or to dip the chicken in. Try yogurt sauce, this Creamy Dill Sauce or this Tahini Yogurt Dressing drizzled over the chicken.
• This chicken works great with salads like this Summer Orzo Pasta Salad, Mediterranean Bean Salad, Tomato Cucumber Feta Quinoa Salad, Persian Tomato Cucumber Salad or this Easy Lebanese Salad. 
• Other side dish I like to serve this chicken with are these Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables, 4 Ingredient Cheesy Orzo, Spicy Lebanese Potatoes or these Roasted Balsamic Mushrooms. 

Other Chicken Recipes:

• GREEK MARINATED CHICKEN KABOBS
• SUN-DRIED TOMATO FARRO CHICKEN BAKE
• RANCH CHICKEN THIGHS
• YOGURT MARINATED CHICKEN TENDERS
• AIR FRYER MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN THIGHS
• CHICKEN SOUVLAKI 
• CHICKEN KOFTA