Best Baked Zaatar Chicken Thighs Recipes

ONE SHEET PAN ROASTED ZA'ATAR CHICKEN AND POTATOES

Steps:

• Position a rack near the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 400ºF. You can line a sturdy baking sheet with heavy duty foil for easier clean up if you'd like.
• Combine the olive oil, lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of za'atar seasoning, and garlic powder in a zip-top bag. Give the marinade a taste. If if the seasoning is salt-free like mine was, add in 1 teaspoon or as desired. Add the chicken pieces and the potatoes to the bag. Seal the bag and give it a good shake so the marinade evenly coats the chicken and potatoes. Allow the chicken and potatoes to marinate for 20 minutes or up to 3 hours (see notes).
• Spread the chicken and potato pieces out onto the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle the remaining tablespoon of za'atar on the chicken and potatoes. You could even sprinkle some chopped fresh thyme on top of you'd like.
• Bake the roasted za'atar chicken for 35-45 minutes or until the internal temperature registers 165ºF, you may need to turn the baking sheet half way through the baking if your oven has heat spots. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and lemon slices or wedges, serve warm.

ZA'ATAR CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Place chicken in a bowl and coat with olive oil. Season liberally with sea salt and black pepper on all sides.
• Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken thighs, skin-side down, to the hot skillet. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon za'atar immediately over each chicken thigh. Cook chicken, without turning, until skin is crispy and browned, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Turn chicken so skin side faces up and remove skillet from heat. Sprinkle remaining za'atar quickly and evenly over each chicken thigh. Spoon some of the rendered chicken fat from the pan over the top of the za'atar.
• Place the skillet in the preheated oven and roast until juices run clear and chicken is no longer pink near the bone, about 15 minutes.

ZA'ATAR CHICKEN THIGHS WITH PEARL COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Season the chicken generously with salt. Mix together 3 tablespoons za'atar, the sumac and 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large bowl. Add the chicken and toss to coat.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the chicken skin-side down and cook until lightly browned and crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Flip and continue cooking until lightly browned on the other side, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove to a plate.
• Reduce the heat to medium and add the red onion to the pan. Cook until lightly browned and tender, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the raisins and couscous and cook, stirring, until lightly toasted, about 30 seconds. Add the chicken broth and parsley, then return the chicken to the pan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover and cook until the couscous is tender and the chicken is cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, stir the remaining 2 tablespoons za'atar and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a small bowl. Divide the chicken and couscous among plates. Drizzle the chicken with the za'atar oil and top the couscous with the mint and pomegranate seeds.