Harissa Chicken Traybake (Print Version)

Sheet-pan harissa chicken with chickpeas and roasted peppers for a bold, weeknight main in under an hour.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
02 - 2 tablespoons harissa paste
03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
04 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
05 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
06 - 1 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
09 - Juice of 1 lemon

→ Vegetables & Chickpeas

10 - 1 can (15 oz / 400 g) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
11 - 1 red bell pepper, cut into bite-sized pieces
12 - 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into bite-sized pieces
13 - 1 red onion, cut into wedges
14 - 1 medium zucchini, sliced
15 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
16 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
17 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Garnish

18 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
19 - Lemon wedges, to serve

# How to Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper or lightly oil it.
02 - In a large bowl, combine harissa paste, olive oil, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, pepper, garlic, and lemon juice. Add chicken thighs and toss to coat evenly.
03 - In another bowl, toss chickpeas, bell peppers, red onion, and zucchini with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread vegetables and chickpeas evenly on the sheet pan.
04 - Nestle the marinated chicken thighs skin-side up among the vegetables.
05 - Roast in the preheated oven for 35–40 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F/74°C) and the skin is golden, and vegetables are tender.
06 - Remove from oven. Sprinkle with fresh herbs and serve with lemon wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • This traybake gives you bold flavors and a full meal with almost no fuss—just toss, roast, and serve.
  • Harissa brings a gentle heat that turns basic pantry staples into something special; it became my go-to dish for last-minute guests.
02 -
  • Once I forgot to pat the chicken dry and the skin stayed sadly limp—don’t skip this step if you want crispy bits.
  • Adding the leftover marinade to the pan before roasting made the chickpeas and veggies extra flavorful—I never miss this trick now.
03 -
  • Let the chicken come to room temp before marinating; it soaks up flavors better and cooks more evenly.
  • Slide the tray under the broiler for the last two minutes to crisp up the skin if you love that extra char.
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