Air Fryer Harissa Chicken

Air fryer harissa chicken is a flavorful and spicy dish. The air fried chicken is tender and juicy after being marinated in a blend of harissa paste and other aromatic spices. It can be served with a variety of side dishes such as roasted vegetables, couscous, or salad.

Air fryer harissa chicken is light, bright, and the perfect amount of spicy from the harissa. It also has a slight sweetness from the honey.

This is an easy air fryer chicken recipe to make, and it cooks up in only 14-16 minutes, so it's quick and easy enough for a weeknight dinner or easy lunch.

Ingredients

• Boneless skinless chicken thighs
• Harissa
• Lemon juice
• Honey (optional)
• Garlic powder
• Salt

What is harissa?

Harissa is a spicy and flavorful North African condiment that is commonly used in Tunisian, Moroccan, and Algerian cuisine.

It is made from a blend of dried hot peppers, garlic, olive oil, and various spices, such as cumin and coriander.

Harissa has a deep red color and a rich, smoky flavor with a noticeable heat that can range from mildly spicy to extremely hot, depending on the type of peppers used.

It is often used as a marinade for meat and seafood, a flavor enhancer for stews and soups, and a dipping sauce for bread and vegetables.

Where to find harissa?

Harissa has gained popularity in recent years and can now be found in many grocery stores and online retailers, making it easy for anyone to enjoy the complex and delicious flavors of North African cuisine.

I can typically find harissa in my regular grocery store, and Trader Joe's has a version too.

Don't have harissa but still want to make this recipe? Check out these substitutes for harissa.

How to customize

It's easy to customize this recipe! You can also choose either mild, medium, or spicy harissa depending on your desired level of spice.

Also, if you've come across this recipe, hopefully you have harissa! If not, here are some substitutes for harissa if needed.

What to serve with the chicken

I love this harissa chicken as a main dish served alongside air fryer Mediterranean vegetables, air fryer roasted tomatoes, or air fryer lemon zucchini.

It's also delicious sliced up and served in CAVA copycat bowls alongside some spicy feta dip.

How long to cook chicken thighs in the air fryer

For boneless skinless chicken thighs, it takes 14-16 minutes to fully cook in the air fryer. However, this time may vary based on the size of your chicken thighs and your air fryer.

Chicken thighs should be cooked at minimum to 165 degrees F (when measured with a meat thermometer) to be safe to eat. However, chicken thighs are most delicious and juicy when cooked to 175-195 degrees F.

Recipe notes

• This recipe is for boneless skinless chicken thighs. If cooking chicken breast or bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, cook time will likely need to be increased.
• All air fryers cook differently. Adjust cooking times as needed. Chicken thighs are best cooked to a temperature of at least 165 degrees F when measured with a meat thermometer.
• The spice level of this dish may vary based on the spice level of the harissa you are using.
• This recipe does call for at least 30 minutes of marinating time for the best flavor.

How to make air fryer harissa chicken

To a large bowl, add lemon juice, harissa, garlic powder, salt, and honey.

Stir them together.

Add chicken thighs to the bowl and mix together so chicken thighs are completely coated in the harissa mixture.

Marinate for at least 30 minutes, but up to two hours covered in the refrigerator.

Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes. Add chicken thighs to air fryer basket and cook for 14-16 minutes at 400 degrees F, flipping halfway through.

Plate and enjoy!

More recipes using harissa

• Creamy harissa pasta
• Harissa butter
• Air fryer harissa salmon
• Harissa tomatoes
• Harissa honey chicken
• Harissa vinaigrette
• Harissa acorn squash

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