Harissa Chicken Traybake (Printable)

One-pan harissa chicken with chickpeas and colorful veggies, roasted until golden for a quick, spicy Mediterranean meal.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
02 - 2 tablespoons harissa paste
03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
04 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
05 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
06 - 1 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
09 - Juice of 1 lemon

→ Vegetables & Chickpeas

10 - 1 can (15 oz / 400 g) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
11 - 1 red bell pepper, cut into bite-sized pieces
12 - 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into bite-sized pieces
13 - 1 red onion, cut into wedges
14 - 1 medium zucchini, sliced
15 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
16 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
17 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Garnish

18 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
19 - Lemon wedges, to serve

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper or lightly oil it.
02 - In a large bowl, combine harissa paste, olive oil, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, pepper, garlic, and lemon juice. Add chicken thighs and toss to coat evenly.
03 - In another bowl, toss chickpeas, bell peppers, red onion, and zucchini with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread vegetables and chickpeas evenly on the sheet pan.
04 - Nestle the marinated chicken thighs skin-side up among the vegetables.
05 - Roast in the preheated oven for 35–40 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F/74°C) and the skin is golden, and vegetables are tender.
06 - Remove from oven. Sprinkle with fresh herbs and serve with lemon wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The spicy-sweet aroma will make people gravitate toward the oven—promise.
  • Minimal dishes plus maximum flavor makes it a weeknight hero worth repeating.
02 -
  • Leaving too much marinade on the sheet pan can cause the bottom of the chicken to go soggy—scrape most marinade onto the chicken itself.
  • Piling veggies too close together ends up steaming them, not roasting; a single layer really does make a difference.
03 -
  • Marinate the chicken for up to a day ahead for seriously boosted flavor, even if just for an hour.
  • Always check the doneness with a thermometer; golden skin can be misleading!
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