Here's a quick and simple za'atar chicken recipe that will wow your guests and family! This savory and juicy chicken is marinated in za'atar spice and sumac powder, then baked in a cast iron skillet. Zaatar chicken is an impressive dish that cooks of all skill levels can master!
I recently prepared a fresh batch of bezar spice and wanted to incorporate it into a quick dinner recipe. Using it in combination za'atar, a Middle Eastern spice blend, and sumac, was a big win and got rave reviews from my family!
Most za'atar chicken recipes are only prepared with za'atar | zaatar seasoning, an earthy and warm spice mix made with the combination of toasted sesame seeds, sumac, hyssop or thyme, marjoram, oregano, and salt. So why do I add additional sumac powder to my recipe? Honestly, I just can't get enough of it's lemony-tangy flavor!
You can make the za'atar spice from scratch with my easy recipe, or you can purchase za'atar on Amazon or any Middle Eastern market. Bezar is optional, so if you don't have it, it's totally fine.
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🧐 Why This Recipe Works
- This is a one pot (or pan) recipe that's quick, easy and so delicious!
- Once you buy or make the spice mixes used in this recipe, you'll open the door so many other dish possibilities, for example, sumac chicken, musakhan, manakish, and sambousek!
- This za'atar chicken recipe can be prepared ahead of time by marinating the chicken until you're ready to cook it.
🛒 What You Need For This Recipe
🔖 Ingredients & Substitutions
- Chicken: I used bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, but you can also use boneless chicken which would require less cooking time.
- Olive Oil: Avocado oil can be used instead.
- Lemon: I used 1 rind from one Moroccan preserved lemon because I had recently made a new batch. However, you can substitute the juice and zest of one medium lemon.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic cloves can be substituted with 1 teaspoon garlic powder.
- Seasoning: I used a combination of bezar, za'atar seasoning, and sumac. Both bezar and za'atar can be easily made at home with common ingredients. You can also substitute baharat for the bezar. Sumac can be purchased in most Middle Eastern markets or on Amazon. For my spicy friends, I also recommend adding 1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper or ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper.
*A full list of ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
🍗 How to Make Za'atar Chicken
Step 1: In a small bowl, mix olive oil, lemon juice (or the rinsed and chopped peel from one preserved lemon). Add crushed garlic, salt, za'atar, ground sumac, and bezar. Whisk to incorporate the ingredients.
Step 2: Drizzle marinade over chicken pieces and work into the flesh to infuse the marinade flavor. Place in a large bowl or a plastic ziplock bag and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours or overnight.
Step 3: Preheat oven to 375°F. Arrange chicken thighs into a large cast-iron skillet (or other oven-safe pan or dish). Bake for 45 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. If the skin is not crispy and brown, place chicken under broiler for a few minutes longer.
How to Make Grilled Za'atar Chicken
Another option is to grill the marinated chicken instead of baking it. To do so, grill zaatar marinated chicken thighs over medium high heat until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
🍽 What to Serve with Za'atar Chicken
Sauce Options
Za'atar chicken can be served with chicken yogurt sauce or garlic tahini sauce on the side.
Healthy Sides
For healthier options, try this Lebanese tabouli, a zesty quinoa salad, or this tasty sauteed kale recipe.
Other Sides
Za'atar Chicken also pairs well with vermicelli rice and edamame dill rice.
🤷🏻♀️ Recipe FAQs
Za'atar is tangy, earthy, and nutty. Traditional za'atar is made with a combination of semsame seeds, sumac powder, and hyssop, which grows in the Middle East. Because hyssop is hard to find, most za'atar spice blends replace the hyssop with thyme. Other herbs like oregano and marjoram are also added.
If you don't have zaatar, you can substitute toasted sesame seeds, sumac, and dried herbs (oregano, thyme, and marjoram). A good replacement for the tanginess of sumac is lemon zest.
Za'atar is not hot nor spicy. Most za'atar spice blends do not contain chiles, cayenne, or crushed red pepper, so za'atar is considered to be a mild, yet flavorful-packed seasoning.
👩🏼🍳 Pro Tips
- This za'atar chicken recipe can also be prepared with a whole chicken, drum sticks, and chicken breasts. The baking time would need to be adjusted accordingly.
- Add leftovers to wraps, chicken salad, gourmet pizza, or sandwiches.
- Store leftover zaatar chicken in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
🌶 Related Recipes
If you love this za'atar chicken recipe, you may be interested in the following recipes.
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📖 Recipe
Za'atar Chicken
Equipment
- 1 Cast-iron Skillet (or baking pan)
Ingredients
- 3¾ lbs chicken thighs (10 pieces)
- 4 cloves garlic (crushed)
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 medium preserved lemon (or 1 fresh lemon)
- 2 tablespoon za'atar spice
- 1 tablespoon sea salt
- 2 teaspoon bezar spice (bezar recipe)
- 2 teaspoon sumac powder
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix olive oil, lemon juice (or the rinsed and chopped peel from one preserved lemon). Add crushed garlic, salt, za'atar, ground sumac, and bezar. Whisk to incorporate the ingredients.
- Drizzle marinade over chicken pieces and work into the flesh to infuse the marinade flavor. Place in a large bowl or a plastic ziplock bag and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours or overnight.
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Arrange chicken thighs into a large cast-iron skillet (or other oven-safe pan or dish). Bake for 45 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. If the skin is not crispy and brown, broil for a few minutes longer.
Grilled Za'atar Chicken
- Another option is to grill the marinated chicken instead of baking it. To do so, grill za'atar marinated chicken thighs over medium high heat until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
Notes
- Zaatar chicken can also be prepared with a whole chicken, drum sticks, and chicken breasts. The baking time would need to be adjusted accordingly.
- Add leftovers to wraps, chicken salad, gourmet pizza, or sandwiches.
- Store leftover za'atar chicken in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
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