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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes » Chicken » Baked Honey Za'atar Chicken

    Baked Honey Za'atar Chicken

    5 from 15 votes
    March 10, 2019 (last updated January 16, 2022) by Amina Al-Saigh

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    A classic baked meat and potatoes is always my go-to when I don't know what to cook, because everyone loves it, and it's easy. This baked honey za'atar chicken is so delicious and at the top of my list when I want an easy weeknight dinner. The herby za'atar mixed with garlic and honey creates a perfectly balanced marinade.

    za'atar chicken in a casserole garnished with parsley

    What is Za'atar?

    If you know me, you know that I love me some Za'atar. Its a middle eastern herb and spice mix that is totally trending these days, and it deserves the fame. It tastes bright with a lot of earthy notes. Za'atar is typically made up of dried thyme, oregano, sumac, and toasted sesame seeds, although the mix can vary from region to region. Take it from me; you basically need it in your life and you need to sprinkle it on everything.

    How to make baked honey za'atar chicken

    The low down for this recipe is pretty simple:

    1. Mix the marinade ingredients together
    2. Slather it all over your chicken and marinate for a few hours or overnight (the longer the better!)
    3. Cut up your potatoes and slather more marinade on those
    4. Pop everything into an oven dish and bake covered. Then uncover to get the chicken nice and golden at the end.

    How to serve this dish

    This is a "dry" za'atar chicken which means it won't yield any sauce or gravy. That's why I love to have it with a side salad to make a complete meal. I do also serve it with white basmati rice sometimes (although guiltily because like, carbs on carbs?!) and it tastes delicious that way too. Any leftovers of the chicken I make into sandwiches the next day - win win!

    za'atar chicken in a casserole garnished with parsley

    If you end up trying this za'atar chicken recipe, be sure to leave me some feedback! I love hearing what you have to say.

    For more chicken recipes, check out:

    • Sheet Pan Chicken Shawarma
    • Shish Tawook | Grilled Chicken Skewers
    • One Pot Chicken and Rice
    • Musakhan Rolls

    baked Honey Za'atar Chicken

    This baked honey and za'atar chicken makes the best ever weeknight dinner. Only 3 ingredients make up this marinade and the result is a super flavorful and hearty meal. 
    5 from 15 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: middle eastern
    Keyword: baked chicken, za'atar chicken
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Servings: 2
    Author: Amina Al-Saigh

    Ingredients

    For the chicken:

    • 4 Chicken drumsticks or thighs
    • 2 large potatoes
    • 5 crushed garlic cloves
    • 4 tbsp za'atar
    • 3 tbsp olive oil
    • 3 tbsp honey
    • 1.5 tsp salt
    • ¼ tsp pepper
    • Parsley for garnish

    Instructions

    • Start by preheating your oven to 400F
    • Wash and dry the chicken
    • Peel the potatoes and chop into large cubes
    • Mix the marinade ingredients together and rub ⅔ of the marinade evenly over the chicken. If possible, marinated for a few hours in the fridge or overnight
    • Using the remaining ⅓ of marinade, rub it over the chopped potatoes
    • Add the potatoes to the bottom of the baking dish, then nestle in the chicken on top
    • Bake covered for 30 minutes. Uncover and broil for 5-10 minutes or until golden. Ensure your chicken is cooked through before serving (do this by cutting to ensure it is white inside or using a meat thermometer that should read 165F)
    • Garnish with parsley and serve with a side salad
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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




      Comments

    1. Caroline Heuvelmann says

      September 17, 2022 at 7:17 pm

      I think this web site holds very wonderful pent subject matter posts.

      Reply
    2. Kat says

      August 19, 2022 at 3:35 am

      Hello Amina - Can this be cooked in an air fryer with the same results. If so, any recommendations on the cook time and temp?

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
      • Amina Al-Saigh says

        August 27, 2022 at 7:46 am

        Hi Kat - yes you can definitely succeed with the air fryer for this recipe. The cook time will depend on how much quantity you have and the size of the fryer too. I would start with 15-20 mins and then gradually increase the time if the chicken is not cooked through yet. Air fryers are generally faster than the oven!

        Reply
      • Amina Al-Saigh says

        August 27, 2022 at 7:47 am

        Also I'd stick with same temp in recipe!

        Reply
    3. Sumra says

      January 28, 2022 at 12:49 am

      5 stars
      Assalamu alaykum! Just made this for dinner tonight. And wow it was delicious! So flavorful! I used quarter chicken legs and cooked it a little bit longer. And the family loved it. We used the potatoes and bread to soak up the sweet glaze at the bottom of the pan. Thank you for a simple and delicious dinner recipe.

      Reply
      • Amina Al-Saigh says

        January 29, 2022 at 3:46 pm

        I'm so glad you and the family enjoyed it Sumra! Thanks for the feedback 🙂

        Reply
    4. Shikha Krishna says

      January 16, 2022 at 5:12 am

      Hello, I have just made my DIY Zaatar. I would like to know how can I make this dish vegetarian. I do't eat chicken. Which veggies can i use to optimise flavours and taste. Thanks.

      Reply
      • Amina Al-Saigh says

        January 22, 2022 at 4:38 am

        You can use potatoes, onions, carrots, and cauliflower. That sounds like a great combo if you enjoy them 🙂

        Reply
    5. Dania says

      February 17, 2021 at 10:39 am

      5 stars
      This comes together very quick and is always a hit with the kids!

      I made x1.5 of the marinade for 15 drumsticks, and baked uncovered at 375 for 45-50 mins.

      Thank you Amina for sharing!

      Reply
    6. Sarah says

      December 19, 2020 at 1:40 am

      5 stars
      We have made this a few times and it turns out so well!

      Reply
    7. Palwasha says

      June 26, 2020 at 10:16 pm

      5 stars
      Made this twice already. I baked it for a little longer than suggested and it was great.

      Reply
      • Amina says

        August 13, 2020 at 5:37 am

        So glad you enjoyed it Palwasha! Good to know about the baking time. Baking times can always be a bit iffy as ovens vary so much. Thanks for the review as always! 🙂

        Reply
    8. Zahra @threecupsofchai says

      June 25, 2020 at 6:27 am

      5 stars
      1. SO easy and quick to put together - my favourite type of meal
      2. Kids licked their plates cleaned and asked for more!
      3. Perfect weeknight, weekend, anytime meal

      Reply
      • Amina says

        August 13, 2020 at 5:36 am

        Aww thank you so much Zahra! So glad the kids enjoyed it! 🙂

        Reply
    9. Vera says

      June 18, 2020 at 12:54 pm

      Thank you very much this became my favorite chicken recipe <3

      Reply
      • Amina says

        June 23, 2020 at 6:06 am

        That's such an honour! So glad you enjoyed it Vera!

        Reply
    10. Iftikhar says

      June 06, 2020 at 7:53 pm

      5 stars
      This was such an amazingly flavourful dish. Very easy and straightforward to make!

      Reply
      • Amina says

        June 23, 2020 at 6:05 am

        Thank you for your lovely review Iftikhar!

        Reply
    11. Amanie says

      April 12, 2020 at 9:11 pm

      5 stars
      This was so flavourful! Loved that it was made with ingredients that were already in the pantry, too!

      Reply
      • Amina says

        April 17, 2020 at 5:54 pm

        So glad ! Thanks for the review Amanie! 🙂

        Reply

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    ABOUT ME

    Hi friend! I'm Amina, a wife and busy mother of two. And I know you're super busy too. I'm here to help you figure out dinner for your family with my easy, quick, and Middle Eastern inspired recipes. Hope you enjoy your stay - and please - have a look around and get in touch!

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