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Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Chicken

Roasted Harissa Chicken

Updated: May 11, 2021 · Published: Feb 3, 2020 · Written by Dannii Martin · This post may contain affiliate links which earn us commissions if purchases are made · 40 Comments

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Diet: Gluten Free / Low Carb
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Harissa Roasted Chicken title picture
Harissa chicken with a text title overlay.

* This is a sponsored post for Thermapen *
We have given roast chicken a spicy, but simple, makeover with this harissa and garlic sauce. Perfectly crispy skin with a kick of heat  - why not change things up for your next Sunday roast and give this Roasted Harissa Chicken a try. You can even shred it up to add to tacos, salads or sandwiches too.

Roasted Harissa Chicken in a baking dish next to flatbreads and dip.

Roast dinners are a Sunday tradition in households across the world. If you are anything like my family growing up, then roast dinners didn't stray too far from the norm. It was usually a plain roast chicken or beef and then turkey at Christmas of course.

Now we have our own little family, we still stick with the roast dinner on a Sunday tradition, but we try to make something a little different, like this harissa chicken.

We wouldn't cover it with gravy, as you need to let the harissa flavour shine, but it's a great roast chicken alternative. A traditional roast chicken doesn't get much different than with a harissa glaze! Our love of harissa knows no bounds! We even have a recipe for homemade harissa.

Jump to:
  • Why you will love it
  • Step by step
  • Where does harissa come from?
  • Is this spicy?
  • How to cook chicken perfectly
  • FAQs
  • Extra tips
  • More chicken recipes
  • Recipe
  • Feedback

Why you will love it

  • A great Sunday roast alternative
  • Just 360 calories a serving
  • Leftovers are delicious in tacos, sandwiches and salads
  • Great for feeding a crowd
  • An easy way to use harissa

Step by step

One: Mix together the harissa, honey, oil and lemon juice with some minced garlic.

A glass bowl containing harissa paste, oil, honey and garlic.

Two: Smother it on the whole chicken.

A whole raw chicken in a roasting tin smothered in harissa marinade.

Three: Put it in the oven and roast for about an hour and a half, until the chicken is cooked through.

Roasted Harissa Chicken in a roasting tin.

Where does harissa come from?

If you haven't tried, or even heard of, harissa before, then you need to head to the supermarket immediately and stock up on some.

This North African hot red chilli paste can usually be found in a small jar next to the ready made pastes/lazy chilli garlics or in a tube in the world food aisle.

Is this spicy?

The main ingredient is roasted red peppers and that is mixed with chillies, garlic, herbs and spices with a little rose and some oil, so it does have a little bit of a kick to it. It really is a unique flavour and a little goes a long way, so you can use less if you don't like a lot of spice.

Harissa Roasted Chicken covered in chopped herbs.

How to cook chicken perfectly

Cooking a roast chicken can be a bit of a risk, as you can't see if it is cooked on the inside without hacking in to it and that will spoil your beautifully roasted chicken.

But you don't need to cut into it to see if it is perfectly cooked, you just use a Thermapen to check that it is the perfect temperature.

What is a thermapen?

Using a Thermapen to check that it is the correct temperature, means perfect chicken every time. “With a Thermapen thermometer, you can be sure about the timing of every step and the "done-ness" of every piece of meat you cook.

A key part of the Thermapen’s popularity is its simplicity and ease of use. No buttons to use, no switches to press. Just unfold, probe and read the temperature – very accurately and very FAST!”

Roasted Chicken with thermapen.

Since using a Thermapen, we have never had a undercooked piece of chicken. So, if you are cooking a lot of meat this Christmas, then it is a must. It’s not only meat that it can be used for - it can be used to check the temperature of cakes, caramels, tempering chocolate and so much more, so even more essential for Christmas.

What we also use it for it to check the temperature of leftovers when we have reheated them, to make sure they are not in the bacterial “danger zone”.

We all love leftovers at Christmas, don't we? A Thermapen is a simple but essential kitchen must have, so head on over and order one! You don’t want to be making your Christmas guests sick, do you?!

Will you be having the traditional roast turkey this Christmas? Or do you fancy something a little bit different? Add some of our Easy Roast Potatoes and some roasted carrots to this, and it would make a delicious alternative Christmas dinner. I think we'll make this on Christmas Eve, and then the leftovers will be good for Boxing Day too.

Harissa Roasted Chicken and flatbreads.

FAQs

What to serve harissa chicken with

We would serve this with some mini roasted potatoes and some freshly steamed vegetables and a creamy dip like our homemade tzatziki on the side. Have some flatbreads or pita handy to stuff everything in to.
Got some chicken left? There is so much that you can do with the leftovers of this harissa roast chicken. We have shredded it up and added it to soft tacos with some slaw and goats cheese. It also goes well in pasta for a quick weeknight meal, or thrown together with some salad for an easy take-to-work lunch.

Do I need a whole chicken?

For ease, we used a whole chicken, but you don't have to. You could use the same sauce and put it on chicken breasts or thighs, but cooking time would vary.
Another way to cook this would be to chop up some chicken breasts, mix the marinade in them and thread on skewers and put them on the BBQ.

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Extra tips

• If harissa isn't your thing, then you can use any kind of spice blend and follow the recipe in the same way. Pesto chicken works really well.
• Got lots of leftovers? Make tacos or enchiladas with them.
• There is a little bit of spice to this, so if that isn't your thing then use less of it.
• You can use chicken breasts or thighs instead of a whole chicken, but cooking times will vary.

More chicken recipes

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  • Four marinated chicken skewers on a wooden board.
    Marinated Chicken Skewers
  • A piece of Healthy KFC on a plate with fries and slaw.
    Healthy KFC

If you’ve tried this Harissa Chicken, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

Recipe

Roasted Harissa Chicken in a serving dish with a flatbread next to it.

Harissa Roasted Chicken

By: Dannii Martin
We have given the roast chicken a spicy, but simple makeover. This Harissa Roasted Chicken has perfectly crispy skin with a kick of heat.
A circular logo saying GF.
Gluten Free
The words low carb in a white circle.
Low Carb
4.74 from 61 votes
Pin Print Save recipe Saved!
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: North African
Prep: 5 minutes mins
Cook: 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
Total: 1 hour hr 35 minutes mins
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 360kcal
Allergens:
An illustration of a cow's head.
Meat

Ingredients

  • 1.3 kg (3 lb) Whole chicken
  • 2 tablespoon Harissa
  • 1 tablespoon Runny honey
  • 1 tablespoon Olive oil
  • 0.5 Lemon - (juice only)
  • 2 Garlic clove - crushed
  • 1 pinch Sea salt and ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 200°C/180°C(fan)/400°F/Gas 6.
  • In a bowl, mix together 2 tablespoon Harissa, 1 tablespoon Runny honey, 1 tablespoon Olive oil, juice of 0.5 Lemon, 2 Garlic clove and 1 pinch Sea salt and ground black pepper.
  • Place 1.3 kg Whole chicken in a baking dish and pour the mixture onto it, rubbing it in well.
  • Put the chicken into the oven and cook for around 90 minutes, or until cooked through.

Recipe Tips

  • If harissa isn't your thing, then you can use any kind of spice blend and follow the recipe in the same way. Pesto chicken works really well.
  • Got lots of leftovers? Make tacos or enchiladas with them.
  • There is a little bit of spice to this, so if that isn't your thing then use less of it.
  • You can use chicken breasts or thighs instead of a whole chicken, but cooking times will vary.

Nutritional Information

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 360kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 153mg | Sodium: 979mg | Potassium: 6mg | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 300IU | Vitamin C: 8.3mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 2.2mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.

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Comments

  1. Uncle Bill says

    September 12, 2023 at 6:26 pm

    Why are y'all rating a recipe without cooking it first? Silly gooses

    Reply
  2. Anita says

    February 08, 2020 at 12:21 pm

    5 stars
    I've never tried using harissa before, but that roasted chicken looks mouth watering. I'm going to look for the spice and make this ASAP. :)

    Reply
  3. Scarlet says

    February 04, 2020 at 11:39 pm

    I love harissa and it sounds lovely on the roasted chicken. So flavorful!

    Reply
  4. Christina says

    November 30, 2017 at 3:27 pm

    5 stars
    Oh, snap! I've never heard of harissa before but after googling it, discovered I love the taste of all the spices! This roasted chicken recipe is right up my alley! I bet these flavors would be incredible couple with grilled beer can chicken. Have you ever tried that?

    Reply
  5. sue | theviewfromgreatisland says

    November 29, 2017 at 5:29 pm

    5 stars
    I adore harissa, so I'll have to try this chicken asap, and I totally rely on my instant read thermometer, it makes all the difference!

    Reply
  6. chris says

    November 29, 2017 at 4:58 pm

    5 stars
    Oh my goodness this looks unbelievably mouthwatering!! Nothing better than harissa & chicken, thanks for the awesome recipe!

    Reply
  7. Sarah says

    November 29, 2017 at 4:28 pm

    Wowzers- that chicken looks incredible with the bright red rub and the green!!

    Reply
  8. Yvonne says

    November 29, 2017 at 4:28 pm

    5 stars
    We love roast chicken, but also get bored of having it the same way all the time. I can't wait to give this a try. The leftovers would be great in tacos.

    Reply
  9. Danielle says

    November 29, 2017 at 4:26 pm

    That chicken looks perfect. I have never had harissa before, but I definitely want to try it after seeing this.
    This thermometer will make a great stocking filler for my husband, he never cooks chicken properly.

    Reply
  10. Charli Bruce says

    November 27, 2017 at 8:17 pm

    5 stars
    I love roast chicken and am always looking for ways to change it up, I think adding the harissa sounds amazing x

    Reply
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My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.

Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

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