Best Zaatar Chicken Thighs Recipes

BAKED ZA'ATAR CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a bowl, mix together the za'atar, salt, and olive oil until the consistency of a thick paste. Add chicken thighs to the bowl, and toss to coat liberally on all sides. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 40 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

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

Steps:

• Prepare the chicken. Clean the chicken to remove excess fat and slimy bits. Cut four slits in to the chicken legs. Place the chicken in a baking dish or on a sheet pan.
• Flavour the chicken. Using half a lemon squeeze a little juice on each leg of chicken. Once the lemon juice has been add to each chicken leg, then gently rub the lemon peel against the chicken legs (be careful not to rip the skin) Remove 1/4 tsp from your garlic paste and set aside for the za'atar sauce. Equally, distribute the garlic to each chicken leg, then rub the garlic all over the chicken.
• Sprinkle the za'atar. Your going to sprinkle 1/2 tbsp of za'atar on to each chicken leg (if using sumac, add 1/2 tsp for the leg) Lightly pat the za'atar to ensure equal distribution of the spice but don't rub it or you'll end up without any spice in patches.
• Drizzle the oil. Quickly drizzle your olive oil over each chicken leg, your looking for a light drizzle not a bath of oil.
• Marinate. Cover your chicken, and place in the fridge for 30 minutes up to 6 hours. But no longer than 6 hours or you'll end up with tough chicken.
• Preheat oven. Heat to 400ºF. Once you've turned on the oven, take out the chicken from the fridge, this gives a chance for the chicken to lose some chill from the refrigeration before cooking.
• Bake. Bake the chicken for 40 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165º. Once the chicken is cooked allow to rest 5 minutes before serving, this will allow the chicken to redistribute its juices and allow the za'atar sauce to infuse with the chicken.
• Make za'atar sauce. Mix together the za'atar sauce, well, the chicken is cooking. In a small bowl add the lemon juice, reserved garlic, za'atar and olive oil. The sauce should be a paste-like consistency and may thicken slightly once resting. If the sauce is too thin add more za'atar, if it's too thick add more olive oil. Taste for saltiness, you may not need any and if you do just add a pinch.
• Serve! enjoy this recipe with your family and friends

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.

MIDDLE EASTERN-INSPIRED HERB AND GARLIC CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine chicken with all but 1 teaspoon of the grated garlic (save that teaspoon for the yogurt sauce), the zest and juice of 1 lemon, oil, parsley, mint, thyme, oregano, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and the sesame seeds and sumac, if using. Cover and marinate for 15 to 30 minutes at room temperature; you can refrigerate it for up to 24 hours.
• Heat grill or broiler. If grilling, cook chicken over high heat until charred in spots, 4 to 7 minutes. Flip pieces and continue grilling until just cooked through, another 4 to 7 minutes. If broiling, arrange a rack 3 to 4 inches from flame. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and spread chicken out in a single layer. Broil chicken, turning halfway through cooking, until well colored and charred in spots, 4 to 7 minutes per side. Be careful that it doesn't burn.
• While chicken cooks, place yogurt in a small bowl. Stir in the reserved grated garlic and lemon zest and season to taste with salt. Serve the chicken drizzled with olive oil, remaining lemon juice to taste, black pepper, parsley and sesame seeds and sumac, if using, with the yogurt alongside for dipping.

ZA'ATAR CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first 6 ingredients. Add chicken; toss to coat., Arrange olives, apricots and plums on the bottom of a 4- or 5-quart slow cooker. Add 1/4 cup water; top with chicken. Cook, covered, on low until chicken is tender, 5-6 hours. If desired, serve with rice.

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.

GRILLED ZA'ATAR CHICKEN WITH GARLIC YOGURT AND CILANTRO

Steps:

• In a large bowl or container, stir together 5 of the grated garlic cloves, half the lemon zest, 1/3 cup yogurt, the cilantro, oil, za'atar, oregano or marjoram, salt and black pepper. Add chicken and toss until well coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
• When ready to cook, light the grill to medium or heat your broiler with the rack 3 inches from the heat source. Remove chicken from bowl, shaking off any excess marinade, and grill or broil on one side until charred in spots, 5 to 8 minutes. Flip the chicken and grill or broil for another 5 to 8 minutes, until just cooked through.
• While the chicken is cooking, place remaining 2/3 cup yogurt in a small bowl. Stir in the reserve grated garlic clove and lemon zest, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Cut one zested lemon in half and set aside for serving (save the other zested lemon for another use).
• To serve, place chicken on a serving platter and drizzle with olive oil and a large squeeze of the zested lemon. Top with cilantro and oregano or marjoram sprigs and serve with yogurt sauce.