Harissa honey chicken is slightly spicy and slightly sweet. It is perfect addition to salads, grain bowls, or pastas. The chicken is coated with a delicious honey harissa sauce and sautéed to perfection.
The spicy-sweet combination of harissa and honey is just so craveworthy. I first had harissa honey chicken in bowls from Cava, and immediately knew I needed to make my own version to enjoy.
My version of harissa honey chicken is so easy to make, requires minimal ingredients, and can be used in so many dishes, or just eaten on its own. I cut mine in bite-sized pieces, so that I could easily enjoy in salads, grain bowls, and pastas after it's cooked in the sweet spicy glaze.
Ingredients
- Chicken breast
- Salt
- Garlic powder
- Olive oil
- Harissa
- Lemon
- Honey
What is harissa?
Harissa is a North African paste made from red chili peppers. It usually also has a slightly citrusy flavor, adding to the brightness. It can be found jarred like a condiment in the form of a harissa paste, or in a dry spice blend. Both are delicious.
I've fallen head over heels in love with harissa and love using it to spice up so many recipes. I've added it to zucchini chips, made a creamy harissa pasta, and even made a harissa butter!
And if you're looking for how to make a harissa paste from powder, I've got ya covered. It's not as good as fresh, but will do in a pinch!
Where can you buy harissa?
You can buy harissa at most grocery stores, but depending on the store, you may need to check the International section. Trader Joe's has a jarred version, and the Mina brand is easy to find many places. You can often also find it at World Market.
I can also find the ground harissa powder at my regular grocery store, Sprouts, and Whole Foods. You can also find it online here.
Serving ideas
This harissa chicken is so good served on a simple salad, in a grain bowl, or a grains and greens bowl. For a little extra brightness, serve with lemon wedges for squeezing or some fresh lemon zest.
I've also frequently been adding it to pastas, especially creamy ones. The heat of the harissa paste pairs so nicely with the creamy pasta. (Sidenote, I also just love making a creamy harissa pasta).
Customizations
The harissa honey chicken can be customized based on your preferences!
The chicken breast can be swapped out for chicken thighs if you prefer dark meat to white meat.
If you prefer, you can also marinate the chicken in some Greek yogurt and lemon juice before cooking. I usually skip this step, but if you want to make sure your honey harissa chicken stays moist, this is a great idea!
And if you want to increase the spice level, you can either use a spicier harissa, add a dash of hot sauce, or red peppers.
Recipe tips
- Slice the chicken to a similar thickness so it cooks evenly. If needed, you can slice a bit smaller so it's more bite-sized, depending on how you want to use it.
- Don't crowd your pan when cooking the chicken, otherwise it will steam rather than sear. Cook in batches if needed.
- I used a medium-spice harissa in this recipe. Depending on your preferred spice level, you could also use a mild or spicy harissa.
How to make harissa honey chicken
First, prepare your harissa sauce. Add your harissa, lemon juice, and honey to the bowl.
Stir to combine to create the harissa honey sauce.
Next, slice your chicken breast into bite sized pieces and add to a medium bowl. Season with salt and garlic powder and then toss to combine.
Heat a drizzle of olive oil in your skillet, then add the chicken in a single layer and cook for 3-4 minutes without stirring. Cook an additional 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently until the chicken is cooked through. Add the harissa honey mixture and cook until mixture is hot and slightly thickened.
Serve as desired! Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Other recipes using harissa
- Harissa roasted acorn squash
- Air fryer harissa salmon
- Harissa vinaigrette
- Harissa roasted tomatoes
- Harissa butter
- Harissa scrambled eggs
- Harissa cauliflower with tahini
- Creamy harissa pasta
Harissa Honey Chicken Bites
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breast
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 Tablespoons harissa
- 4 Tablespoons honey
- 1 lemon medium
- olive oil
Instructions
- Add the harissa, honey, and the juice from one lemon into a small bowl and stir to combine.
- Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and add to a medium bowl.
- Add the garlic powder and salt to the chicken and toss to combine.
- Add a drizzle of olive oil in a large pan over medium heat and heat until hot. Add the chicken in a single layer. Let cook for 3-4 minutes without stirring. Then cook an additional 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently until chicken is cooked through.
- Add the harissa honey sauce to the skillet and stir to combine. Cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently, until harissa sauce is hot and slightly thickened.
Notes
- Slice the chicken to a similar thickness so it cooks evenly. If needed, you can slice a bit smaller so it's more bite-sized, depending on how you want to use it.
- Don't crowd your pan when cooking the chicken, otherwise it will steam rather than sear. Cook in batches if needed.
- I used a medium-spice harissa in this recipe. Depending on your preferred spice level, you could also use a mild or spicy harissa.
Nutrition
Nutrition values are based on an online calculator and are estimates. Please verify using your own data.
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