This one pot za’atar chicken dinner has a lemony Mediterranean flavor and is so easy to make. The za’atar dressing has garlic, herb, and lemon flavors and makes the chicken thighs juicy and tender.
Za’atar is one of my favorite middle eastern spices that I use in many of my dishes—it reminds me of the street markets in Israel where you can find it fresh and sprinkled on a fresh Jerusalem bagel with labneh cheese.
Za’atar can be used as a rub on chicken, fish and lamb. You can also sprinkle it over hummus, salad or just on a pita with olive oil.
This dish is suitable for dinner in a quick pinch, as the preparation time is minimal. All you have to do is place the fresh ingredients in an oven safe pot and bake it in the oven for slow cooking.
You won’t regret serving this delicious dish for your next dinner!
Ingredients
- Olive oil
- Pinch salt
- Handful parsley leaves
- 1 sweet onion cut into slices
- 10 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 5-6 celery sticks cut into quarters
- 1 leek cut into circles (just the white part)
- 1 cup pitted kalamata olives
- 1/2 lemon without the seeds, cut in slices
- 3 garlic clove sliced
Za’atar dressing:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 3 tablespoons za’atar
- 1 teaspoon ras el hanut
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- Juice from 1/2 lemon
- 1 tablespoon date syrup
Nutritional Facts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F/200°C.
- In a 12-inch saute pan pour olive oil, salt, fresh parsley and sliced onions.
- Place the chicken thighs over top.
- Add between the chicken pieces the celery sticks, sliced leeks, Kalamata olives, slices of lemon and garlic.
- Prepare the dressing by combining olive oil, turmeric, za’atar, ras el hanut, garlic, lemon and date syrup. Mix well and pour over the chicken.
- Cover the pot and bake in the oven on 400°F/200°C for 50 minutes.
- Remove the lid and transfer to convection broil on 450°F for 7-8 minutes to get a nice golden color.
- Garnish with chopped parsley.
- Enjoy!
This dish was fabulous. I used honey as date syrup is not available where I live (Spain).
So glad you liked it even with honey
What is ras el hanut and where do I get it in the U.S.?
Ras el hanut is a Moroccan spice blend. You can get it from Amazon or just use cumin.
Yup!
You can make your own. Google it and you can find what spices to mix together.
I’ve bough from Oakland spice company but I think Penzies sells it too.