Cooked with onions, garlic, lemon and olives and seasoned with bold Moroccan spices, this chicken recipe is incredibly flavorful.
Ready in about an hour, the reasonable time investment in this recipe is well worth the delicious results.
As much as I enjoy beef, I seem to make chicken recipes the most for my family of four. Chicken is tasty and affordable, and everyone around here likes it.
Many of my chicken recipes are simple. Baked chicken thighs, grilled chicken breast - you get the picture.
But when I want to make something truly wonderful, something that's definitely company-worthy but also perfect for a family dinner, I make this Moroccan chicken. It's incredibly flavorful, and despite its complex flavor profile, it's not difficult to make.
Jump to:
Ingredients
You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this recipe. The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:
- To season: In addition to salt and pepper, I use paprika, cumin, and cayenne pepper.
- Chicken: I use bone-in skin-on chicken thighs in this recipe.
- Oil: I use olive oil. It's my favorite oil to cook with.
- Aromatics: Onions, garlic, and ginger.
- Chicken broth: Homemade if you have some, but store-bought is fine too.
- To finish the dish: Lemon slices, pitted green olives and chopped cilantro.
Instructions
Making this Moroccan chicken recipe is not difficult. Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here's an overview of the steps:
Your first step is to season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper (make sure to season them on both sides), then brown them in olive oil.
Remove the chicken to a plate and cook the onions in the same pan. Next, add the garlic, ginger, and spices.
Add the broth and use it to deglaze the bottom of the pan.
Add the chicken back to the pan, plus the lemon slices and olives. Cover the pot and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, 20-30 minutes. Garnish with cilantro and serve.
Expert tip
Depending on the size of your pan, you might need to brown the chicken pieces in two batches. I use a fairly small Dutch oven to make this recipe, so I brown four of them first, then the remaining ones.
Frequently asked questions
I don't recommend that. Thighs are fattier and juicier. Chicken breasts will be drier and not as flavorful. You could use chicken drumsticks. But thighs work best in this recipe.
Yes, but you'll need to brown and cook them for a shorter time. Brown them for 2 minutes per side and cook them for 20 minutes, then check to see if they're done. Their internal temperature should read 165°F.
In addition to salt, Moroccan cooking typically utilizes cumin, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, coriander, and cayenne pepper.
Variations
I love this recipe as is and almost always make it as written. But in case you'd like to vary the basic recipe, here are a few ideas for you:
- Add ½ teaspoon of coriander to the spice blend.
- Try smoked paprika - this is definitely nontraditional but very good.
- Cook the chicken and onions in ghee instead of olive oil.
- Use Vidalia onions - this is a sweet variety that works well in this recipe.
- Use Meyer lemons, which are milder and sweeter than regular lemons.
Serving suggestions
This is a saucy dish, so you'll want to serve it on top of something to absorb those yummy juices. The traditional bed for Moroccan chicken is couscous, but I often go with one of the following:
You can also serve this dish on top of raw baby spinach leaves. The hot cooking juices will wilt the spinach just enough to lightly cook it.
Of course, there's nothing wrong with serving it with no sides at all, in which case I serve two per person in shallow bowls with soup spoons in addition to knives and forks:
Storing leftovers
You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 4 days. Reheat them gently, covered (to prevent splatters), in the microwave on 50% power.
Related recipes
👩🏻🍳 I typically publish a new or an updated recipe once a week. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe! You can unsubscribe at any time.
Recipe card
Moroccan Chicken
INGREDIENTS
Spice mix:
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Chicken:
- 2 lb. chicken thighs bone-in, skin-on (6 thighs)
- 2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion sliced
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger root minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 lemon thinly sliced
- ½ cup green olives pitted
- 2 tablespoons cilantro chopped
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a small bowl, mix together the spices. Set aside.
- Season both sides of the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large heavy-bottomed deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Add the chicken pieces, skin side down, in a single layer (work in batches if necessary). Cook them until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Flip the chicken pieces over and brown the other side for about 3 more minutes. If the pan gets too hot, reduce the heat to medium. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set it aside.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the onion slices and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. If the pan becomes too dry, add 1-2 tablespoons of water.
- Add the minced garlic, ginger, and spice mix. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Stir in the broth, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to loosen any browned bits. Add the chicken back in, skin side up. Nestle the lemon slices and olives around the chicken pieces. Bring back to a steady simmer.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, 20-30 minutes. Garnish with cilantro and serve.
WATCH THE VIDEO:
NOTES
ADD YOUR OWN NOTES
NUTRITION PER SERVING
❤️ Let's connect! Follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter.
Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. 