Ready to spice up your chicken dinner? This quick harissa chicken recipe is your ticket! Chicken thighs coated in harissa chile paste, garlic, onion and a few warm spices. Savory, smoky, with a little spice kick!
Be sure to check out the video and tips below.
In an earlier post, I showed you how to make harissa. And if you've been looking for ways to use up this savory, sweet, smoky, spicy chile paste, I highly recommend you start with this easy grilled harissa chicken!
This easy chicken recipe is all the flavor, thanks to a quick marinade with a few tablespoons of harissa paste, garlic, onions, and a couple warm spices.
What is Harissa?
I covered this question earlier, but it bears repeating for those who are new here.
Harissa sauce or harissa paste is a North African chile paste, originally from Tunisia. It is typically made of dry red chiles, garlic, citrus, extra virgin olive oil and a few warm spices including cumin, coriander and caraway seeds.
Why this Grilled Harissa Chicken Works?
The goal of this recipe is to create a quick chicken dinner that is exciting and loaded with flavor. We're not necessarily after spicy chicken, but we do get enough of a kick here.
And, I love that there is so much flavor in these harissa chicken thighs that, if you don't have the time, you don't need to let the chicken marinate for any amount of time.
You can basically have this grilled chicken on the table in 15 minutes!
How to make it
First, the chicken takes on a quick coating of homeamde harissa sauce (mine is mild with just enough kick, sweet, smoky, and a little bit tangy), along with fresh garlic, and a few warm spices: coriander, cumin and smoked paprika.
You can cook the chicken thighs over medium-high heat on an outdoor grill OR an indoor griddle or skillet!
A quick note. Harissa can be made in advance to keep in the fridge for use with this harissa chicken, fish, meats or even veggies. Store-bought harissa paste will work in a pinch, but it can vary in flavor. If using store-bought, it's a good idea to start with less of it in this recipe, since it is more salty and can also be more spicy.
What to serve along
For an easy dinner, I like to serve these harissa chicken thighs over quick couscous, adding a side salad (something like cooling Cucumber Radish Salad, hearty Mediterranean bean salad,, or this lazy cucumber and tomato salad).
But it's also great with: baked zucchini; grilled vegetables; Skordalia; or roasted cauliflower. Or, if you can multitask at the grill, up your BBQ game with Grilled Romaine Salad.
More chicken recipes you may like:
- Juicy Grilled Whole Chicken
- Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Kabobs
- Easy Lemon Chicken
- Harissa Honey Chicken
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Grilled Harissa Chicken
Ingredients
- 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 2 lb)
- Kosher salt
- 10 large garlic cloves minced
- ½ red onion sliced
- 1 ½ teaspoon coriander
- 1 ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (or 1 teaspoon sweet paprika)
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon cayenne or more to your liking
- 5 to 6 tablespoon homemade harissa paste (I use this recipe for harissa. See notes if using store-bought harissa)
- Juice 1 lemon
- Generous drizzle of olive oil
Instructions
- Pat the chicken dry and season with kosher salt on both sides.
- Place the chicken in a bowl and add garlic, onions, spices, and harissa paste. Add lemon juice and a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
- Heat an outdoor grill or an indoor griddle to medium-high heat (between 400-450 degrees Fahrenheit) and be sure to lightly oil the grates. Grill for 6 to 7 minutes or so on each side or until the chicken is fully cooked (using an instant read thermometer chicken's internal temperature should register 165 degrees F at the thickest part).
Video
Notes
- Cook's Tip: For best results, use this homemade harissa paste. Harissa can be made in advance to keep in the fridge for use with this harissa chicken, fish, meats or even veggies. Store-bought harissa paste will work in a pinch, but it can vary in flavor. If using store-bought harissa, it's a good idea to start with less of it in this recipe, since it is more salty and can also be more spicy.
- Option to Marinate: If you have the time, allow the chicken to marinate in the harissa paste and spices for a bit. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes and up to 2 hours. But if you do not have the time, go ahead and grill the chicken as instructed, it will still be delicious.
- Visit our Online Shop to browse quality Mediterranean ingredients including olive oils and spices used in this recipe.
Nutrition
This post originally appeared on The Mediterranean Dish in 2018 and has been recently updated with new information and media for readers' benefit. Enjoy!
This chicken is absolutely amazing! My family would LOVE it!
This chicken is full of amazing flavors!! I can't wait to try it!
This is a must-make this grilling season! Everyone at my house loved it!
Yummy! I am sure that my husband will go crazy over this chicken!
Enjoy 🙂
This quick harissa chicken looks incredibly delicious!
Thanks, Erin!
This is the perfect week night dinner! My family loves chicken and I can't wait to give this a try!
I think you'll love it!! 🙂
Hands down one of the BEST grilled chicken recipes we've tried this summer! Homemade harissa made all the difference.
So glad to hear it!
Oh my word! I first made your awesome harissa paste and was so excited to try it on this grilled chicken! The flavors are UNBELIEVABLE! I've used store-bought harissa before, and you're right, it is saltier and sometimes too spicy. This was the perfect balance of flavors. There was nothing left of this chicken dinner!
Awesome, Cindy! Thank you so much for sharing
Hello Suzy
Hubby came home from Gourmet Warehouse with jar of Moroccan green Harissa made with green chili peppers, green peppers, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, salt, cumin and citric acid instead of the Red harissa from Tunisia that I always buy. I know homemade is best but since I'm not as sharp with prepping for very long in the kitchen like I used to as a young woman I will at times cheat and buy a few condiments/sauces I like to have at the ready that are used more often than others.
That said.
My question would be, have you ever ventured off your original recipe and made your grilled harissa chicken with green harissa or would the taste be so different it wouldn't be worth making unless I buy my favourite red harissa again.
Thank you
Hi Jocelyn, I have not personally tried green harissa, but this recipe is quite forgiving and if you like the taste of green harissa, I would say you can give it a try here knowing that you may adjust the rest of the spices accordingly.
I made this last night and it was FABULOUS! I did use boneless chicken breasts, flattened to a consistent thickness. I used the Harissa spice mix from you. It was my first experience of the blend. Delicious. The drizzle of dressing on those syrupy grill peaches was just the bomb. I posted a picture in a couple of Facebook foodie groups I am in and got much great feedback.
Hubs said to keep the recipe close by so we can make it again. Thanks so much for helping us eat more healthfully.
Your adoring sous chef,
Awesome, Judith! I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe. And love hearing that you're enjoying the Harissa blend as well. It's one of our new blends, and your feedback is so appreciated!
Five stars from both hubby and me. Awesome combination of flsvors. We will definitely have this again. This is the first time I used the Harissa spice mix I bought from you. It is delicious.
Yay! Thank you!
I've been trying to make my own harissa at home. Hopefully it compares to store bought!
I just ordered a 6-pack of spices & can't wait to try this & a few other recipes ( Za'tar & Aleppo Pepper recipes would be appreciated 😉 )........so Thank you Suzy, I'll be trying this this weekend !!!
Awesome, Terry! I can't wait to hear once you've tried the spices! And yes, the recipes will keep comin!
This is the perfect summer dinner - so many great flavors and the grilled veggies are perfect!
Amazing flavors. Those pops of color together are a feast for the eyes!
Yay! Thank you!
Love the depth of flavor in this chicken dinner! Totally a must-make!
You'd love it, girl!