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We love this simple and easy-to-make Baked Harissa Chicken recipe. Tender and juicy chicken with each bite that is packed with flavor and perfect for a quick weeknight dinner meal for the family.

top view of 4 baked chicken breasts in harissa seasonings with 4 lemon garnishes in a white baking dish
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Harissa chicken is one of our favorited chicken dishes of all time. Lean boneless and skinless chicken breast that is perfectly seasoned with pantry staples ingredients and harissa paste. The chicken breasts are marinated for 30 minutes with the harissa mixture so that you get the full impact of the flavor of Harissa. You get tender, moist, and juicy chicken with each bite when you make this baked harissa chicken breast recipe. Makes for a perfect main dish to serve will all sorts of sides and is great to add over salads as well.

Why you will love this Recipe

  • Quick and Easy: Making this baked harissa chicken is quite Easy. Once the chicken is done marinating, pop in the oven sit back, and wait. Hassle-free meal.
  • Juicy and Delicious: The chicken turns out super moist and juicy. You will love the flavor for this simple Harissa chicken dish.
  • Healthy: Lean chicken breasts with no cream and made with minimal simple clean and healthy ingredients. No frying was involved and baked in the oven to perfection.
close up of 4 baked chicken breasts that are orange looking in a white baking dish with lemon garnishes

Ingredients you will need

  • Boneless and skinless chicken breasts: if you prefer to use boneless and skinless chicken thighs, go right ahead.
  • Kosher salt and ground pepper, to taste
  • Seasonings: garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and cumin
  • Harissa paste: mild or spicy
  • Lemon: you will need the zest and juice of the lemon
  • Maple syrup: adds a nice touch of sweetness to balance out the seasonings. You may use honey instead.
  • Extra Virgin Olive oil: or you may use avocado oil
ingredients to make baked harissa chicken laid out on a flat surface

How to make Harissa Chicken

First, make the harissa seasoning mix: On a shallow plate, whisk the seasonings with harissa paste, lemon zest, juice, maple syrup, and oil.

Next, season the chicken: Place the chicken thighs into the harissa mixture and move around to evenly coat each piece.

Then, Marinate the chicken: Allow the chicken to marinate for 30 minutes over the counter; Alternatively, you can cover the plate with cling film and refrigerate overnight.

uncooked chicken marinated in a round white plate

Preheat the oven to 375F.

Finally, transfer the chicken to an oven dish and bake for around 30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165F. Serve with some Greek yogurt and rice and enjoy.

top view of 4 baked harissa chicken breasts in a square baking dish

Recipe notes and Tips

  • Do not overbake the chicken or it will turn out dry and rubbery. Also, the best way to check if the chicken is done is to use a food thermometer until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165F.
  • You can use either mild or spicy harissa paste or seasonings. Or just add in some cayenne pepper if you like spicy food.
  • Add in more veggies with the chicken like green beans, asparagus, or even potatoes and carrots. You can then bake it on a baking sheet pan lined with parchment paper and make it a one-pan meal.
  • Swap chicken for other forms of protein like shrimp or salmon.
  • If you prefer using chicken thighs, use boneless and skinless chicken thighs. Just trim out as much fat as you can to keep it on the lean side.
top view of a white baking dish with 3 chicken breasts baked with lemon slices

What to serve with Harissa Chicken

close up image of a baked chicken breast in a dish with lemon garnishes

Frequently asked questions

What is Harissa Chicken?

Harissa chicken is a dish that’s made by marinating or cooking chicken with harissa paste which is a spicy North African chili paste that is made from a blend of roasted red peppers, hot chili peppers, herbs, and spices. It is known for it bold and flavorful taste.

What is Harissa sauce made of?

Known to have originated from Tunisia, Harissa sauce is a chili paste or sauce typically made of dry red chiles, garlic, lemon, e olive oil, and some warm spices like cumin, coriander, and caraway seeds.

What nationality is harissa chicken?

Harissa paste or spices is said to have originated in Tunisia, a country located in the North Africa.

Is Harissa really spicy?

Yes. Harissa tends to be spicy even though milder forms are being made. It all comes down to the type of chili peppers used to make the harissa seasoning or paste. This makes it easy to make milder versions and pretty spicy versions.

What Spice is similar to harissa?

Can’t get your hands on harissa paste or seasoning? You can make something similar by using a combination of cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, and a bit of cumin powder. Other sauces that you may use can be Tabasco, sriracha, or chilli bean paste.

top view of a square baking dish that is white and has 4 baked chicken breasts with lemon garnishes

Storing and reheating Recommendations

  • Storing: Store leftover harissa chicken breasts in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You may freeze for up to 2 months.
  • Reheating: reheat leftovers in the microwave or cover the chicken breasts with foil wrap and bake in a preheated oven at 350F for 6-8 minutes.

Chicken Recipes you may also Like

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5 from 1 vote

Baked Harissa Chicken

By: Rena
Servings: 4
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Marinate: 30 minutes
Total: 1 hour 10 minutes
top view of 4 baked chicken breasts that are orange in color in a white dish with lemon wedges as garnishes
Tender and juicy Baked Chicken breasts seasoned with a variety of pantry-staple seasonings and Harissa paste.

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 4 Chicken Breasts, boneless and skinless
  • Kosher salt and ground pepper, to taste
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1/4 cup harissa paste, pr puree
  • 1 small Lemon, zest, and juice of
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup, or honey
  • 1 tbsp olive oil, or avocado oil

Instructions

  • On a shallow plate, whisk the seasonings with harissa paste, lemon zest, juice, maple syrup, and oil.
  • Place the chicken thighs into the harissa mixture and move around to evenly coat each piece.
  • Allow the chicken to marinate for 30 minutes over the counter; Alternatively, you can cover the plate with cling film and refrigerate overnight.
  • Preheat the oven to 375F.
  • Transfer the chicken to an oven dish and bake for around 30-35 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165F.

Notes

  • Serving size: One chicken Breast
  • Use any oil of your choice
  • You may use boneless and skinless chicken thighs if preferred.
  • Don’t like chicken? Use any other protein like shrimp or Salmon.
  • Make it more spicy by adding a bit of cayenne pepper to the seasoning.

Nutrition

Calories: 333kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 49gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 145mgSodium: 567mgPotassium: 982mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 442IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 36mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: African
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About Rena Awada

Hi, I’m Rena! Welcome to my blog. I am here to help you prepare delicious, light, fresh meals that your whole family will love!

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5 from 1 vote

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4 Comments

  1. I have harissa spice, but not paste. What do you recommend to make the paste, or does it create paste with the other spices and lemon juice?

    1. It will create a paste. I would suggest keeping everything the same, using 2 tbsp of harissa and an additional 1-2 tbsp of tomato paste.