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Elevate your weeknight dinners with this easy and flavorful harissa chicken sheet pan meal. Featuring tender chicken thighs marinated in a sweet and spicy harissa sauce and roasted to perfection alongside potatoes and onions for a completely satisfying sweet and spicy dinner.

Overhead shot of a sheet pan of Harissa Chicken with Onions & Potatoes on a red linen with a fork and spoon in the bottom corner and a glass bowl of yogurt in the upper corner of the shot.

Hiiii-ya friends! Happy almost weekend!

AND happy second day of March!

⬆️️ I know, say whaaaa?

Seriously. WHERE does time go? I feel like it was just Christmas .2435 seconds ago. Right? Or, is my concept of time completely out of wack?

Don’t get me wrong though, I’m SO NOT complaining that it is March 2nd, because that means we are exactly EIGHTEEN days away from spring!

And spring happens to be my favorite season. 🌻

Plus, 18 just so happens to be my favorite number.

So, I’m nothing but jazz hands, dance party in the USA, type of happy over here.

Bring on SPRING!!

But, maybe don’t bring on the pollen? My sinuses aren’t the biggest fan.

Any-who, since I have a seconds-to-spring countdown to continue, we are going to hop (just like the Easter bunny who is approximately 2 clicks from making an appearance) right into today’s delicious dish…

Overhead shot of all the ingredients to make Sheet Pan Harissa Chicken with Potatoes & Onions neatly organized on a gray surface. Straight on shot of sheet pan of chicken thighs, with a hand holding a pastry brush and brushing harissa marinade on a single chicken thigh.

Table of Contents

About this recipe for one sheet pan harissa chicken

Aka cluckin’ delicious spicy chicken and ‘taters.

Crispy skinned, juicy, tender, succulent chicken thighs smothered and covered in a smoky, savory, sweet and spicy harissa-honey sauce; paired with crispy roasted potatoes and flavorful, golden onions. Finished with a sprinkling of fresh, herbaceous cilantro and a generous dollop of cool, tangy yogurt.

This dish is like WHOA for your taste buds.

For those of you who are not familiar with harissa, you need to stop what you are doing and come on ride this tasty train.

*Scroll down for more information on harissa!

Overhead, up-close shot of part of a sheet pan of Harissa Chicken with Onions & Potatoes with the focus on one chicken thigh; there is aa red linen, lemon wedges, parsley and a glass bowl of yogurt in the upper corners of the shot.

What is Harissa?

Harissa is simply a spicy, aromatic hot chili pepper paste and a traditional accompaniment with Moroccan and North African food.

The hot chili pepper paste is as popular a condiment in Morocco and North Africa as ketchup and mustard are here in the states.

The condiment is quite versatile and can be served with everything from eggs and burgers to couscous and soups!

What is Harissa paste made of?

Harissa is made up of roasted red peppers, Baklouti pepper, serrano peppers, and other hot chili peppers, spices and herbs.

It’s downright delicious and can be found in the ethnic isle of most grocery stores.

45 degree angle, up-close shot of a Harissa Chicken Thigh on a sheet pan with more chicken thighs, Onions & Potatoes blurred in the background on the pan.

How to make harissa chicken on a sheet pan

First you need to make the harissa honey sauce by combining some harissa and honey (duh) with a bit of garlic, a splash of lemon, a touch of cumin, a drizzle of oil and a generous sprinkle of salt and pepper. Whisk it real good and then set aside.

Line a baking sheet with non-stick aluminum foil for easy clean up, and then place a bunch of lemon slices around the middle of the pan (this will be like a ‘bed’ for your chicken). Place the chicken thighs, SKIN SIDE UP, on top of the lemon slices and then brush the harissa mixture liberally on top.

Arrange the potatoes and onions around the chicken. Drizzle them with a bit of oil and season with salt and pepper.

Transfer the sheet pan into the oven and roast everything for 40 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the taters are golden brown.

While everything is roasting, quickly whip together the yogurt dip. Don’t worry, this step is SUPER easy. Simply combine some yogurt with a bit of lemon juice, a minced clove of garlic and cilantro. Stir and season to taste. BOOM. Yogurt done.

To serve, top the chicken with a generous dollop of yogurt and sprinkle with some chopped cilantro. Finish it off with some extra wedges of lemon on the side.

Easy-peasy sheet pan meal to your hectic work week rescue!

45 degree angle, extreme up-close shot of a Harissa Chicken thigh, with Onions & Potatoes blurred in the background.

Tips for the best baked harissa chicken recipe

  1. I used bone-in, skin on chicken thighs for this meal, but you can substitute chicken breast or bone-less, skinless chicken thighs. You will just need to adjust the cooking time down, because your chicken won’t take as long to cook. I recommend if you do substitute the type of chicken, you start the potatoes in the oven and then add the chicken to the baking sheet after 10 minutes or so. If you adjust the cooking time down, but don’t pre-roast the potatoes for a few minutes, they won’t turn out golden brown, crispy and delicious.
  2. You can make your own harissa or use store bought. I like either Mina Harissa (spicy) or Mediterranean Gourmet Moroccan Harissa (100% natural with pickled lemon). You can find harissa in the ethnic isle of most grocery stores.
  3. If you want chicken with a TON of flavor, you can marinate the chicken thighs in the harissa-honey mixture for a few hours, or up to overnight, instead of just brushing it on the chicken.
  4. The recipe below calls for Fage Greek yogurt, which is just Greek yogurt that has been strained. You can substitute regular Greek yogurt and strain it yourself. Simply place the Greek yogurt in a cheesecloth and suspend it over a bowl. Place it in the refrigerator for AL LEAST 30 minutes to strain.
  5. If you aren’t a fan of cilantro, you can absolutely substitute fresh parsley.
  6. If you are looking to add a little more greens to your meal, this chicken pairs really nicely with peppery arugula!

Overhead shot of part of sheet pan of Harissa Chicken with Onions & Potatoes topped with herbed yogurt and a glass bowl of yogurt in the bottom corner of the shot.

Effortless and easy, yet downright delicious, this Sheet Pan Harissa Chicken with Potatoes is the answer to your weeknight dinner woes!

Until next week friends, cheers – to spicy sustenance.

XOXO

Cheyanne

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Overhead, up-close shot of a Harissa Chicken thigh topped with herbed yogurt; there are Onions, Potatoes, lemon slices and more chicken thighs surrounding the shot.

More sheet pan chicken dinners!

Are you looking for more easy one pan meals? Try these delicious family favorites next!

Sheet Pan Harissa Chicken with Onions & Potatoes recipe👇

Sheet Pan Harissa Chicken with Onions and Potatoes

5 from 9 votes
Author: Cheyanne Holzworth
Total Time: 55 minutes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4
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This Sheet Pan Harissa Chicken with Potatoes and Onions is jam packed with bold, savory, smoky, spicy flavors and perfectly balanced with a dollop of lemony yogurt! Effortless and easy, yet downright delicious, this complete sheet pan meal is the answer to your weeknight dinner woes!

Ingredients 

  • 2 Lemons – one sliced into rounds and one juiced
  • 3 TBS Harissa Paste *
  • 2 Cloves Garlic – minced and divided
  • 1 TBS Honey
  • 1 TBS Extra Virgin Olive Oil , plus more for drizzling on potatoes & onions
  • ½ tsp Cumin
  • Sea Salt and Ground Black Pepper , to taste
  • 1 ½ - 2 Pounds Bone-in, Skin-on Chicken Thighs (about 4 total)
  • 1 Pound New Potatoes – quartered or halved
  • 1 Yellow Onion – cut into 8 wedges
  • Yoghurt Dip:
  • ½ Cup Strained Greek Yogurt *
  • 2 tsp Cilantro – finely chopped
  • Serving Options: Arugula, Cilantro, Lemon Wedges

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with non-stick aluminum foil.
  • For the marinade*: In a small bowl combine, 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice, harissa, 1 clove of minced garlic, honey, oil, cumin, sea salt and pepper. Mix to combine.
  • Place the lemon slices in the middle of the prepared baking sheet. Place the chicken, skin-side up, on top of the lemon slices. Rub the chicken all over with the harissa marinade *. Arrange the potatoes and onions around the chicken on the baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Season generously with salt and pepper.
  • Roast for 35-45 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (165 degrees F) and everything is golden brown and crisp.
  • Meanwhile, make the yogurt dip: In a small bowl combine the yogurt with the remaining lemon juice, garlic and cilantro. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Serve the chicken and potatoes with yogurt dip, arugula, cilantro and lemon wedges. Enjoy!

Notes

1. I used bone-in, skin on chicken thighs for this meal, but you can substitute chicken breast or bone-less, skinless chicken thighs. You will just need to adjust the cooking time down, because your chicken won’t take as long to cook. I recommend if you do substitute the type of chicken, you start the potatoes in the oven and then add the chicken to the baking sheet after 10 minutes or so. If you adjust the cooking time down, but don’t pre-roast the potatoes for a few minutes, they won’t turn out golden brown, crispy and delicious.
2. You can make your own harissa or use store bought. I like either Mina Harissa (spicy) or Mediterranean Gourmet Moroccan Harissa (100% natural with pickled lemon). You can find harissa in the ethnic isle of most grocery stores.
3. If you want chicken with a TON of flavor, you can marinate the chicken thighs in the harissa-honey mixture for a few hours, or up to overnight, instead of just brushing it on the chicken.
4. The recipe calls for Fage Greek yogurt, which is just Greek yogurt that has been strained. You can substitute regular Greek yogurt and strain it yourself. Simply place the Greek yogurt in a cheesecloth and suspend it over a bowl. Place it in the refrigerator for AL LEAST 30 minutes to strain.
5. If you aren’t a fan of cilantro, you can absolutely substitute fresh parsley.
6. If you are looking to add a little more greens to your meal, this chicken pairs really nicely with peppery arugula!

Nutrition

Calories: 563kcal    Carbohydrates: 35g    Protein: 33g    Fat: 32g    Saturated Fat: 8g    Cholesterol: 167mg    Sodium: 300mg    Potassium: 1017mg    Fiber: 5g    Sugar: 9g    Vitamin A: 210IU    Vitamin C: 55.3mg    Calcium: 78mg    Iron: 2.7mg
Course: entree, Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean

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*Recipe inspired by NYT Cooking.

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Overhead shot of a sheet pan of Harissa Chicken with Onions & Potatoes topped with herbed yogurt on a red linen with a fork and spoon in the bottom corner and lemon wedges, ramekin of salt, and a glass bowl of yogurt in the upper corners of the shot.