African Chicken Harissa with Mint Yogurt Sauce

pieces of African chicken harissa in a roasting pan

5 from 6 votes

African Chicken Harissa with Mint Yogurt Sauce

African Chicken Harissa with Mint Yogurt Sauce is a delicious main dish that's packed with flavour! Make this easy chicken recipe spicy or mild, in under 30 minutes!

Course Main Course, Main Dish

Cuisine African, Chicken, Middle Eastern, North American, Spicy

Keyword chicken harissa, easy chicken recipe, Easy Harissa Chicken

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Servings servings

Calories 414kcal

Author Chrissie

Ingredients

For the chicken:

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons dry harissa seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, or add more if you wish)
6 large bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
4 small red onions sliced
2 cloves garlic chopped

For the mint yogurt sauce:

2 cloves garlic finely minced or pressed
1 tablespoon fresh mint finely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh parsley finely chopped
a pinch or two of sea salt
1 cup Greek yogurt

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Heat a large oven-safe skillet (cast iron is best) over medium-high heat and add the olive oil.
In a large bowl, combine the harissa seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, salt and cayenne (if using).
Add the chicken thighs to the spice mixture and toss well to coat the chicken thighs completely.
Add the chicken thighs skin-side down and let them brown just until a nice golden brown crust forms (about 5-6 minutes).
Flip the chicken thighs and add the sliced onions and garlic around the chicken thighs in the pan.
Let the second side brown for just a few minutes and then add the pan to the oven preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake for about 15 minutes or until the thickest part of one of the chicken thighs reaches an internal temperature of 74 degrees Celsius (165 Fahrenheit).
Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for about 5 minutes before serving.

For the Mint Yogurt Sauce:

While the chicken is in the oven, add the garlic, mint, parsley and salt to a small bowl and mash with a fork.
Add the Greek yogurt and stir together well until everything is combined.

Notes

To make this recipe with boneless-skinless chicken thighs or chicken breasts, follow the recipe as directed ensuring the chicken reaches the appropriate internal temperature when baking (use an instant-read thermometer for best results) and ensure the chicken does not over-cook.

Nutrition