This Roasted Chicken with Chickpeas is a one pot meal that features crisp, moist chicken thighs nestled in a flavorful, spicy tomato sauce that is perfectly mellowed and balanced with hearty chickpeas.
A few days ago a friend texted me asking for an easy and delicious chicken dish to serve dinner guests. Immediately I thought of our family favorite: Roasted Chicken with Chickpeas.
Roasted Chicken with Chickpeas fulfills all of my requirements for the perfect weeknight meal: It’s healthy. It’s easy. And it’s delicious. As an added bonus, it’s also impressive enough to make for guests.
Aside from the savory, satisfying deliciousness of this recipe, I love how easy and quick it is to make. It’s all made in one pan. You start by searing bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (that’s what gives you the crisp chicken). Then toss in the rest of the ingredients. Then shove the whole pan into the oven to roast. The most complicated part is making sure you use an oven-proof pan π
If you’re not familiar with harissa, let me introduce you to one of the most savory, flavor-packed condiments out there. It’s a North African chili pepper paste that’s made with bell peppers, an array of spicy peppers, spices, and vegetable oil (to preserve the spread).
To be upfront and honest with you, harissa can be spicy, very spicy. After all, its main ingredient is pepper. But I have an easy solution if you have a low spice threshold (which my kids do). I like to substitute half of the harissa with sun dried tomato paste. All I do is measure out the desired amount of oil packed sun dried tomatoes, and blend them in the food processor to make a paste. I use that in place of some of the harissa.
You can make your own harissa, but I love the version I get from Whole Foods. It’s a little less spicy, and more importantly it’s packed with just the right spices and herbs.
At dinner, we eat this Roasted Chicken with Chicken with Chickpeas with a loaf of crusty bread. I suppose you could serve it with rice or quinoa, but I feel like the chickpeas provide a substantial amount carbohydrates and bulk to the meal. If you’re looking for an easy, healthy, flavorful meal, you have to try this one pan Roasted Chicken with Chickpeas. It is the perfect well-balanced, weeknight meal that’s impressive enough to serve to guests.
- 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- salt and freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 2 tbs tomato paste
- 2, 15-ounce cans of chickpeas
- 2 tbs harissa paste
- 2 tbs sun dried tomato paste (see the post on how to make this)
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- Lemon wedges for serving
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Season chicken with salt and pepper.
- Heat an ovenproof pan over medium heat on the stove.
- Working with 4 pieces of chicken at a time, once the pan is hot, sear the chicken on each side for about 5 minutes per side. Start with the skin side down first.
- Repeat with the next 4 thighs.
- Place the seared chicken on a plate while continuing he recipe.
- Drain all but 1 tbs of chicken fat from the pan.
- Add the onion and cook until soft, stirring often.
- Add the garlic. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute or two.
- Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring until it darkens (about 1 minute).
- Add the chickpeas, harissa, sun dried tomatoes, and broth. Bring to a simmer.
- Nestle the chicken, skin side up, in the chickpeas.
- Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven.
- Roast until the chicken is cooked through, 20 to 25 minutes.
- Top with parsley and serve with fresh lemon squeezed over and lemon sliced.
This post is linked to these awesome parties.
Kristen Chidsey says
I love harissa and I love easy meals like this–winner, winner chicken dinner!
Aida Arain says
Me too Kristen! Easy, flavorful, and healthy – perfect π
Marye says
This looks so good and so filling!
Aida Arain says
Thanks Marye! It is so filling, and it’s all healthy. It’s a win, win π
Kelly says
What a yummy & simple combination for a spectacular comfort-food dinner! Thanks for posting the recipe!
Aida Arain says
Thanks Kelly! Yup -it’s totally my kind of comfort food π
Cara says
This looks amazing! I’ve never tried chickpeas but I definitely will after seeing this! π
Aida Arain says
Cara, chickpeas are so darn delicious – plus they’re so healthy. They’re high in fiber, calcium, magnesium, and iron. And you can eat them in salads, as dips (hummus is made with them), or cooked. I hope you give them a try π
Hannah says
This looks so good, and I actually have chicken defrosting that I need to use. Maybe I’ll try making this tonight!
– Hannah, http://www.thecatsandcoffee.com
Aida Arain says
What perfect timing, Hannah! I hope you give it a try – it’s so easy and delicious π
Annie says
MMM this looks delicious! I am not one to eat chickpeas very often but I may have to try this recipe π
Aida Arain says
Annie, I hope you give this a try! It’s so good. I suppose you could substitute the chick peas for another bean – perhaps cannellini beans. I bet it would still be delicious!
Chrissa - Physical Kitchness says
OH my gosh this looks so tasty! I love one-pot meals. This is a perfect recipe for dinner for the family!
Aida Arain says
Thanks, Charissa! I also love one pot meals – they make clean up so much easier π
Ruthie says
Would you believe, I have never thought to combine these two ingredients?!! Amazing!!
Aida Arain says
Ruthie, I hadn’t thought about it either until my obsession with chickpeas started a few years ago. Then my dad told me that there’s a really traditional Indian dish that’s made with chicken and chickpeas. I guess I was late to the chicken and chickpeas party!
Kristen says
this looks amazing! I love chickpeas but don’t often cook with them! And I dont know what harissa paste is, but after this recipe, I want to try!
Aida Arain says
Harissa is a flavorful pepper paste from North Africa that’s packed with herbs. It’s so amazing! You can find it at an ethnic grocery store or a place like Whole Foods. It can be a little spicy, so check out the post on how I mellow out the spice for my family! I hope you give it a try Kristen! It’s so delicious π
Kristin says
I think this just went on my dinner list for next week. This looks so good!
Aida Arain says
Yay! Kristin, I hope your family loves it as much as mine does π
Ashley says
This looks absolutely delicious! I love getting as many roasted chicken recipes as I can and the addition of chickpeas is an added bonus. Thanks for sharing π Pinning!
Aida Arain says
Thanks for the share, Ashley! I love chicken, and this recipe is so easy and nutritious π
Heidi ~ morethan3wishes.com says
This recipe looks delicious! Too bad my partner doesn’t like chick peas. No worries, though. I will make it for a girl’s night. Can’t wait!
Aida Arain says
Heidi, my husband didn’t like chickpeas either. So I’d always make something separate for him. Eventually he started eating the chickpeas, and now he loves them! But definitely try the recipe for a girls’ night. It’s so easy and delicious!
Patricia @ Grab a Plate says
Oh, wow! This looks FAB! I love chickpeas, and harissa. This combination with the crispy chicken looks and sounds divine!
Cait says
This looks so good!
Aida Arain says
Thanks so much Cait π
Jenn Slavich says
This looks so delicious! I love one pot meals. Easy and delicious. Thanks for sharing.
Aida Arain says
Thanks Jenn! I love one pot meals – it’s easy and less clean up π
Warren @ Blog to Taste says
This looks amazing. I love the rules for a week night dinner too. Easy is number one!
Aida Arain says
Thanks, Warren. And I completely agree – easy is so important π
Claire says
Oh wow! This looks so good and healthy. I am going to try this for dinner tomorrow. Thanks so much!
Aida Arain says
Thanks Claire π I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
ARIN says
This looks beyond YUMMY! http://www.heartofchic.com
The Southern Thing says
Yum! I love roasted chicken. Yours looks good!