Harissa Chicken (Spicy North African Chicken)

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harissa chicken spicy north african chicken ig 1.jpg

Harissa chicken thighs are a spicy and flavorful chicken dish with complex flavors using harissa chili paste. You can also adjust the heat, so the whole family can enjoy it!

Harissa Chicken (Spicy North African Chicken)

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❤️ WHY YOU WILL LOVE IT

Harissa chicken is one of my favorite ways to spice up chicken with a different flavor. It has a rich, powerful and complex flavor and can be made as spicy as you like.

This flavorful and delicious recipe is perfect for a quick dinner with roasted vegetables and is perfect for meal prep. It can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer, and leftovers can be used in soups, salads, stir-fries, and more.

💭 What is Harissa?

Harissa is a hot paste made from roasted peppers, tomatoes, spices and garlic cloves used in North African and Middle Eastern cooking. Bold spices in the Harissa Spice Blend include Coriander Seeds, Hot Chili Peppers, Cumin and Caraway Seeds.

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This spicy North African chili paste can be served in many ways and makes an excellent marinade for chicken, fish, lamb or steak dishes. Especially great with black meat!

🧾Ingredients used

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boneless chicken breast, harissa seasoning, spices

Only a handful of ingredients are needed for this easy harissa chicken recipe.

Chicken thigh: This recipe uses skinless chicken thighs, but you can use any chicken breast or chicken part.
spices: cumin, smoked paprika, harissa powder. These spices form the spicy harissa he paste and are the main ingredients that give this harissa chicken thigh its wonderful flavor. You can get harissa powder on Amazon or Mediterranean grocery stores, but my homemade version is super easy!
Olive oil: i use Olive oil Make the harissa powder into a paste for the marinade. You can use your favorite cooking oil instead.
lemon juice: Loosen the chicken with lemon juice and allow it to absorb the juices of the harissa paste. You can use lemon peel if you like.

🔪 How to make easy recipes

Mix oil, harissa powder, lemon juice and other spices in a small bowl to form a thick paste.
Rub the paste all over the chicken thighs, or place the paste and chicken in a large bowl or airtight bag. Shake or roll so chicken is covered.
Marinate for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 425F.
Line a baking tray or rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper and place the chicken in a single layer on top.
Bake chicken in preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, checking doneness with a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should be at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

🥫 Storing and Reheating

To store leftover harissa chicken, place it in an airtight container and refrigerate.It will keep for 4-5 days.

If you plan to freeze spicy chicken thighs for long-term storage, we recommend freezing them in airtight containers or freezer bags. This way it can be stored for up to 3 months.

To defrost the chicken, place it in the refrigerator overnight to let it defrost naturally. Then bring it to room temperature and reheat it in the microwave, oven, or air fryer.

💭 Tips and variations

Although harissa is made from chili peppers, you can control the level of spice by using as much or as little chili pepper as possible in your harissa marinade.
If you have the time, marinate the chicken for 3-6 hours or longer.
Harissa paste can be stored in the freezer for months, so you can always make it in bulk so you always have it on hand.
Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before cutting the chicken after searing.

🍽️ What can I eat this recipe with?

This delicious harissa chicken recipe is versatile and goes well with almost any side dish you choose.

You can also shred chicken thighs and make a vegetable salad. Mix with cherry tomatoes, broccoli, mushrooms, green peppers, olive oil, salt and pepper. Good finger licking!

This easy harissa recipe can be enjoyed with white or brown rice, but I like to have it with cauliflower rice on a low-carb diet.

👩‍🍳 FAQ

what does harissa have?

Harissa is great with steak, lamb, chicken, or fish dishes. It can also be used to marinate whole chicken or as a marinade for grilled dishes.

How spicy is the harissa sauce?

Harissa is hot chili sauce, so you can definitely feel the heat! If you don’t like spicy food, use less harissa paste for the marinade.

Harissa has varying degrees of heat. It depends on how you make it. If you use store-bought harissa, it depends on the brand you buy. If you’re unsure about the heat, try adding a bit of flavorful sauce to your meal and taste it before adding more.

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