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    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Chicken

    Roasted Harissa Chicken

    Published: Feb 3, 2020 · Modified: May 11, 2021 by Dannii · This post may contain affiliate links · 40 Comments

    1355 shares
    • 336
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Diet: Gluten Free, Low Carb
    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!

    Jump to:
    • Why should you try 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 should you try 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.

    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

    • Sticky Chicken Tray Bake
    • Easy Chicken and Leek Pie
    • Marinated Chicken Skewers
    • Healthy KFC

    If you’ve tried this Harissa Chicken, or any other recipe on the blog, then let us know how you got on in the comments below, we love hearing from you!
    Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - we love sharing photos when people make our recipes. You can use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

    DON’T FORGET TO RATE THE RECIPE ↓

    Recipe

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

    Harissa Roasted Chicken

    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
    4.62 from 52 votes
    Author: Dannii
    Pin Print
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: North African
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
    Allergens:
    An illustration of a cow's head.
    Meat
    Servings: 8 people
    Calories: 360kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    UK Metric Measures - US Customary Measures
    • 1.3 kg whole chicken
    • 2 tablespoon harissa
    • 1 tablespoon runny honey
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 0.5 Lemon (juice only)
    • 2 garlic cloves crushed
    • 1 pinch Sea salt and black pepper

    Instructions

    • In a bowl, mix together the harissa, honey, oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper.
    • Place the chicken in a baking dish and pour the mixture on to it, rubbing it in well.
    • Put the chicken in a preheated oven at 200C and cook until the Thermapen registers the chicken at 74C (around an hour and 30 minutes).
    • Serve with some Flatbreads, tzatziki and sprinkle some fresh chopped mint over the chicken.

    Notes

    • 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
    DisclaimerThe 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.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. The London Mum

      November 23, 2017 at 6:44 pm

      5 stars
      I've never really known how to use harissa, but that chicken looks amazing so I'll give it a whirl!

      Reply
    2. colleen kennedy

      November 23, 2017 at 1:29 pm

      This looks SO good! Love the flavor of harissa and yes a thermometer is a must a quality one even better! Checking this one out!

      Reply
    3. Katherine Hackworthy

      November 23, 2017 at 8:02 am

      I'm not a fan of chicken meat but this looks delicious!

      Reply
    4. Patrick

      November 23, 2017 at 3:57 am

      5 stars
      I have a electric range and while I know some folks hate those,I have no problem with mine. The two main dishes I cook are frozen pizzas and baked chicken. I can certainly understand the importance of making sure your food cooked right,a indoor temp gauge should be used if you're not sure if the dish is undercooked.

      Reply
    5. Sarah Bailey

      November 22, 2017 at 11:48 pm

      5 stars
      Oh yum now that looks like a delicious chicken, I really need to step out of my comfort zone with cooking and give something like this a try!

      Reply
    6. Tyra

      November 22, 2017 at 9:30 pm

      5 stars
      Oh my that looks soooo delicious. I know what will be on our menu soon.

      Reply
    7. Rebecca | AAUBlog

      November 22, 2017 at 8:13 pm

      5 stars
      This looks incredible! I am a big fan of harissa but have never used it on a roast chicken before :)

      Reply
    8. hannah Wood

      November 22, 2017 at 5:04 pm

      5 stars
      My Husband would love it if I made him this as he is so into chicken like this, hmmmm now it is a thought I might surprise him with doing this recipe .

      Reply
    9. Rhian Westbury

      November 22, 2017 at 4:48 pm

      Roast chicken is one of my favourite things to eat and this sounds so yummy. I've made a few dishes with chicken and honey and it gives it such a nice glaze x

      Reply
    10. Christy

      November 22, 2017 at 4:20 pm

      That looks lovely, and such a great tip to use a thermometer to check the temperature rather than cut it open to check. For Christmas dinner my family is very traditional with a basted turkey, but I would love something a little bit more spicy and flavourful myself!

      Reply
    11. Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy

      November 22, 2017 at 4:04 pm

      5 stars
      What a fantastic looking bird. This is perfect for the holidays...everyone doesn't want to cook a turkey. The spice profile is amazing....and that skin....OMG!!!

      Reply
    12. Adam East

      November 22, 2017 at 3:52 pm

      5 stars
      Looks amazing! How did it taste? The Chicken looks perfectly cooked and juicy!
      I Will have to try to make some this weekend! Alternatively have a look at https://blastmydeals.com/food/latest

      Reply
    13. Joyce

      November 22, 2017 at 2:54 pm

      5 stars
      These flavours look absolutely fantastic on this chicken! I totally agree with you, you can't go wrong with a meat thermometer - it really does make a HUGE difference and takes the guessing out of making the perfect chicken!! :)

      Reply
    14. Lisa | Garlic & Zest

      November 22, 2017 at 2:47 pm

      I have a harissa chicken recipe, but it only uses the thighs -- this one looks amazing.

      Reply
    15. Julia

      November 22, 2017 at 2:04 pm

      5 stars
      This is one good looking roasted chicken :) Love the crispy skin!

      Reply
    16. Annie @ Annie's Noms

      November 22, 2017 at 2:04 pm

      5 stars
      Yep, we keep out roasts pretty boring! - I don't know why though, I guess we just think "Oh we'll have a roast on Sunday" and then we just roast the meat and have all the same sides - it can get a bit samey. I am loving the look of this Harissa chicken though - it looks so tasty and succulent and I love the addition of honey too!

      Reply
    17. Susie @ Suzlyfe

      November 22, 2017 at 1:22 pm

      YOu know i love me my harissa...

      Reply
    18. Renee

      November 22, 2017 at 1:19 pm

      5 stars
      I am definitely trying this next Sunday for our roast. I have never had harissa before, but I love spicy food.

      Reply
    19. Iris

      November 22, 2017 at 1:18 pm

      5 stars
      What a great idea. I am so bored of plain dry turkey for Christmas, so I might make this. You wouldn't have gravy with it though would you?

      Reply
    20. WillFlirtForFood

      November 22, 2017 at 11:57 am

      5 stars
      Oh my goodness this looks so good. I usually make a roast chicken on a sunday but am going to mix it up and try this!

      Reply
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    Welcome! My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist, along with travel, home and family life and general happiness.
    Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food and lifestyle blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

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