What is Harissa Honey Chicken?
Harissa honey chicken is an easy dinner in which chicken is marinated in a mix of harissa, garlic, lemon juice, and honey. The star ingredient of this recipe, harissa, is a North African chili paste made from hot chili peppers, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice and various spices, such as cumin, coriander, and caraway seeds. A short 30 minutes of marinating turns an otherwise bland chicken into a smoky, spicy, and subtly sweet, truly unique dish. Honey harissa chicken can be baked in the oven or grilled, with each cooking method resulting in deeply caramelized, juicy meat. The dish has been famous recently thanks to the popular restaurant chain CAVA.
Chicken: We love extra rich and juicy boneless, skinless chicken thighs, but skinless and boneless chicken breasts can also be used as a leaner option. Seasonings: A simple seasoning of Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper allows the harissa and honey to shine. Harissa: You have a few options when it comes to Harissa. You can make your own Harissa Sauce at home, which allows you to control the heat level and ingredients. If you are short on time, you can use Harissa Powder and make Harissa Paste from Powder. Or, you can save yourself a few steps in the kitchen and purchase a jar from grocery stores. Different brands have varying spice levels, ranging from moderately spicy to intensely hot, so I always like to taste the harissa before making the marinade. My favorite store-bought brand of harissa is Mina Harissa (affiliate link) (also available at Whole Foods), which is mild. There is also New York Shuk Harissa (affiliate link), which is a little more potent, or Trader Joe’s Tunisian Harissa, which is the least expensive. Fresh garlic cloves: While we think fresh garlic delivers the best flavors, you can use garlic powder (¼ teaspoon of garlic powder per 1 clove of garlic) if you prefer a milder garlic flavor. Fresh lemon juice & lemon zest: We used freshly squeezed lemon juice in the recipe, but apple cider vinegar can be substituted. Honey: Honey and harissa are a delicious combination because the sweetness of the honey balances and enriches the spicy chilis in the harissa without making it sweet. We felt that ¼ cup honey was a good amount for two pounds of chicken but feel free to add more or less depending on how spicy you want the chicken.
Make Ahead: You can marinate the chicken a day in advance. Simply make the marinade, add the chicken, cover it tightly, and refrigerate until ready to bake. Storage: Cool the chicken to room temperature. Then, store the leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Freeze: Depending on your preference, you can freeze harissa honey chicken cooked or uncooked. Freezing cooked chicken: Allow the cooked chicken to come to room temperature. Transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Freezing raw chicken: To get ahead for meal prep, place the raw chicken thighs and harissa marinade in a freezer-safe plastic storage bag, portioning as desired. Push out as much air as possible, seal, label, date, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw: Whether cooked or uncooked, thaw the frozen chicken overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat: If reheating cooked chicken, reheat in a low oven (~300 degrees F) until warm, about 10 minutes. If cooking the raw chicken, remove it from the fridge 30 minutes beforehand, then bake as instructed in the recipe below.
With Mediterranean condiments: Treat yourself to a restaurant-quality meal and serve it CAVA bowl style. Our favorite copycat CAVA harissa honey chicken bowls recipe includes Brown Rice, Tzatziki, Hummus, Crazy Feta or feta cheese, pickled onions or red onion, and avocado. Don’t forget to drizzle the whole thing with Harissa Vinaigrette for a refreshing dimension of flavor. Finish with fresh herbs like cilantro, and enjoy with warm pita bread on the side. Grain bowls: Make it a grain bowl, Middle-Eastern style, and serve this hot honey harissa chicken over a bed of Bulgur Pilaf, Quinoa, or Rice with Vermicelli. Salad (cooling side dishes): Harissa pairs beautifully with tangy and cooling ingredients, which helps to mellow its heat while enhancing its aromatic qualities. That’s why we love to serve it with a fresh seasonal salad such as Yogurt Cucumber Salad, Greek Cucumber Tomato Salad, or Spring Mix Salad.
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