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    Home » Main Dishes » Chicken Recipes

    Harissa Chicken Thighs With Olives and Tomatoes

    LAST UPDATED: January 8, 2020 PUBLISHED: January 8, 2020 By Pam Greer 26 Comments As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Harissa Chicken Thighs with Olives and Tomatoes is an easy baked chicken recipe that is filled with flavor and spice!  Tender juicy chicken with a spicy harissa paste are baked with tomatoes and olives for a warm and comforting dish easy enough for a weeknight, but fancy enough for company! 

    Baked chicken with olives and tomatoes in a large baking dish.

     

    What is Harissa Paste?

    If you've read my blog for any length of time, you know that I love harissa paste!   If you've never used harissa paste you are in for a treat. 

    Harissa paste is a spicy red chili paste used in North African and Middle Eastern Cuisine.  You can kind of think of it as the sriracha sauce of that region. 

    It is made of a combination of hot chile peppers, garlic, oil, vinegar, tomatoes and spices.  Some common spices used in it are cumin, coriander, caraway and mint.   Rose petals are also found in a lot of the versions. 

    Each region can have a similar, but different recipe, so I like to try different varieties of harissa paste.  Some are hotter and on some the spices are more prominent.  They are all a little bit different and you might find that you like one a little more than another.   

    I used to order it from Amazon exclusively, but lately some of the regular grocery stores has started carrying it in the International food aisle. 

    Ingredients to make harissa chicken thighs.

    Ingredients to Make Harissa Baked Chicken Thighs

    There are two parts to the this recipe.  The first part is the harissa baked chicken thighs and the second part is the fresh and tangy gremolata that is sprinkled on at serving.

    • Harissa Paste - try different varieties to find the one that you like best.  They can very in heat level and spiciness. 
    • Brown Sugar.
    • Chicken Stock - I use homemade, but canned will be fine. 
    • Olives - a mix is nice, but all of one kind will also work.  I use pitted  because I don't want people to bite into pits.
    • Garlic cloves.
    • Tomato Paste - after ending up wasting a lot in the cans, I've switched to using the tubes.  Especially for recipes that don't use that much.
    • Tomatoes - any kind will work, roma are my favorites.
    • Chicken thighs - bone in, skin on.  Can use boneless, skinless, but reduce the initial cooking time.

    Photo collage showing the chicken thighs in a pan with the olives and harissa sauce mixed in a bowl.

    How to Make Chicken Thighs with Olives and Tomatoes

    Preheat the oven to 350.

    Place the chicken, garlic and olives in a baking dish.  They can fit snugly.  

    In a small bowl, combine the harissa paste, brown sugar and chicken stock. 

    Photo collage showing chicken thighs before and after roasting.

    Pour the harissa mixture over the chicken.  Cover with aluminum foil and roast for one hour. 

    Remove from the oven.  Turn the oven heat up to 400 and uncover the chicken.

    Two baking dishes with baked chicken thighs, one topped with gremolata.

    Cut the roma tomatoes into halves or fourths and add them to the chicken.  Roast for an additional 30 minutes.  

    Top with the gremolata for serving. 

    Cilantro, lemon, garlic, parsley for gemolata.

    How to Make a Gremolata

    This recipe is finished with a sprinkling of a gremolata.  A gremolata is basically a dressing made with parsley, lemon and garlic.  This version includes cilantro.  

    To make the gremolata, chop the parsley and the cilantro and add to a bowl.    I like to finely chop mine.   Mince the garlic and add to the bowl.  Add the 1 tablespoon of lemon zest and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to the bowl and stir to combine.

    Bowl of couscous topped with harissa baked chicken thighs.

    These baked chicken thighs are soooo good!  The harissa and brown sugar creates a sweet and spicy glaze on the crispy skin.  The olives and tomatoes cook in the rich red sauce.  Topped with a fresh and tangy gremolata. 

    I served it with couscous and it was unanimously declared the best dinner ever! 

    More Harissa Recipes:

    If you have any leftover harissa paste, be sure and try these other yummy recipes using harissa paste.

    • Harissa Roasted Squash
    • Harissa and Yogurt Baked Chicken
    • Harissa Beef Skewers
    • Harissa Lamb and Spinach Pizza

    If you make this I would love it if you would leave a star rating!

    You can also follow me and tag me on Pinterest | Instagram | Facebook

    Bowl with harissa chicken thighs.
    Print Pin Save Saved!
    4.96 from 47 votes

    Harissa Chicken Thighs With Olives

    Harissa Chicken Thighs with Olives - chicken gets spicy with harissa paste, olives, and tomatoes. 
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Mediterranean
    Prep Time 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time 1 hour hour 50 minutes minutes
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 616kcal

    Ingredients

    • 8 chicken thighs bone in and trimmed
    • 8 cloves garlic unpeeled (mine were peeled)
    • 1 cup olives mixed
    • ¼ cup tomato paste
    • 1 tablespoon harissa paste
    • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
    • ½ cup chicken stock
    • salt and cracked black pepper
    • 14 oz roma tomatoes preferably on the vine

    Gremolata

    • ½ cup flat-leaf parsley chopped
    • ½ cup cilantro leaves chopped
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 1 tablespoon lemon zest shredded
    • 2 cloves garlic crushed

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350.
    • Make the gremolata by combining the ingredients in a bowl, and then set aside.
    • Place the chicken, garlic and olives in a large baking dish. Combine the harissa, sugar, and stock and spoon over the chicken, garlic and olives. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
    • Cover tightly with foil and roast for one hour.
    • Increase the temperature to 400. Uncover and add the tomatoes and roast for an additional 30 minutes. Serve with the gremolata.

    Notes

    There are many varieties of harissa paste, try different ones to see which one you like the best.  Some are hotter than others and some are more heavily spiced. 

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 616kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 43g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 222mg | Sodium: 933mg | Potassium: 1000mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2175IU | Vitamin C: 32.1mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 3.1mg

    This recipe was originally published in 2014 (found in an old Donna Hay magazine) and has been updated or 2019.

    Harissa Chicken with Olives and Tomatoes

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Heidi says

      May 23, 2023 at 12:07 am

      This is a family favorite!! Thank you 😊

      Reply
    2. Cathy says

      March 31, 2020 at 6:13 pm

      4 stars
      Very excited to try this in about half an hour, love all of the ingredients. One question, was the tomato paste supposed to be mixed in with harissa paste? It was listed in the ingredients but not in the steps.

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        March 31, 2020 at 6:25 pm

        Oh my gosh, thank you for catching that!! Yes the tomato paste gets mixed together with the harissa paste and the other ingredients.

        Reply
        • Cathy says

          March 31, 2020 at 6:44 pm

          No problem, it will be sans tomato paste tonight but will throw it in next time. Thanks for sharing this recipe!

    3. Tanya says

      January 21, 2020 at 4:31 pm

      Using the bone-in chicken thighs makes the dish so much more decadent. I love the combination of salty and spicy too!

      Reply
    4. Candice says

      January 20, 2020 at 12:52 am

      5 stars
      A flavor-packed one-pan wonder that I'm excited to put in the regular rotation. So much yum, and can't believe how easy it is to make.

      Reply
    5. Tammy says

      January 19, 2020 at 11:10 pm

      5 stars
      I love spicy dishes and this one is right up my alley! Perfect winter meal for the weeknights...this looks out of this world!

      Reply
    6. Debbie says

      January 19, 2020 at 9:06 pm

      5 stars
      This Harissa Chicken is absolutely divine. All of the fresh flavors bake wonderfully together and the skin crisp up perfectly . This is a new family favorite for sure.

      Reply
    7. kita says

      January 19, 2020 at 12:41 am

      5 stars
      I adore harissa. This dish sounds so incredibly comforting and I am adding it to my menu plan this week! Will remind me of my travels <3

      Reply
    8. GUNJAN C Dudani says

      January 18, 2020 at 12:45 pm

      5 stars
      I have been looking for recipes with harrissa and finally i found your recipe that suits my requirement perfectly 🙂

      Reply
    9. Veronika says

      January 17, 2020 at 1:39 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe looks so delicious, I'm craving it right now! Perfect for a comforting meal and do easy to make!)

      Reply
    10. Anna says

      January 17, 2020 at 3:57 am

      5 stars
      I got so hungry just by looking at these photos! Your chicken looks cooked to perfection, and I can only imagine how great it tastes with all these wonderful spices added!

      Reply
    11. Sharon says

      January 13, 2020 at 8:55 pm

      5 stars
      A one-pan chicken dinner that's full of flavor, yes please! The Gremolata is a great topping for it too.

      Reply
    12. Amanda says

      January 13, 2020 at 8:13 pm

      5 stars
      What an impressive recipe! The harissa adds such incredible flavor, and it couldn't be easier to make. I'm definitely making this again!

      Reply
    13. Miz Helen says

      September 16, 2017 at 12:08 pm

      5 stars
      I just pinned your Harissa Chicken with Olives, I can almost taste this delicious chicken! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday,we are so happy to have you join us. Have a wonderful week and come back to see us real soon!
      Miz Helen

      Reply
    14. Ann says

      September 09, 2017 at 9:50 pm

      Sydney has a substantial population of peoples from the Middle East and Africa. These flavours have been popular for some time.

      Reply
    15. Jacob Nordman says

      January 24, 2016 at 10:41 pm

      Can this be done in a slow cooker?

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        January 25, 2016 at 8:19 am

        Yes, but it wouldn't get the nice roasted skin.

        Reply
    16. Lisa @ Panning the Globe says

      September 24, 2015 at 10:13 am

      I love Harissa - your chicken with tomatoes and olives looks amazing. I, too am a big fan of Donna Hay! Cant wait to try this recipe.

      Reply
    17. Miz Helen says

      September 09, 2014 at 11:49 am

      5 stars
      Your Harissa Chicken with Olives look fantastic! Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
      Come Back Soon!
      Miz Helen

      Reply
    18. Kimberly says

      September 08, 2014 at 1:53 pm

      This looks incredible! Pinned. Lou Lou Girls

      Reply
    19. Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch) says

      September 06, 2014 at 5:20 pm

      Pinned.

      Reply
    20. Robyn @ simply fresh dinners says

      September 04, 2014 at 7:50 am

      5 stars
      This dish looks fantastic, Pam, and I love your photography. I have wanted to make this for a long time and you've inspired me to do so - and now I've got a great recipe too! Visiting from Miz Helen's party today. Hope you're having a great week 🙂

      Reply
    21. Marjie says

      September 03, 2014 at 3:56 pm

      I'll take your regular tomatoes any day! At least they are the right size for one bite! This chicken looks really good.

      Reply
      • Michelle Warren says

        June 10, 2023 at 3:29 pm

        I only have powdered Harissa....what would you use to make it into a paste? Just add it into the tomato paste and up that by a spoon or so?

        Reply
        • Pam Greer says

          June 11, 2023 at 11:09 am

          I would just add it to the tomato paste and increase the tomato paste by a bit. But I really encourage you to find harissa paste if you can, I can usually find it at Walmart or any of my local grocery stores. It's in the International food section.

    4.96 from 47 votes (34 ratings without comment)

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    Pam Greer from Sidewalk Shoes

    Hi, I'm Pam. I'm the person who plans whole vacations around where to eat and drink. Beautiful scenery is optional.

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