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Home » Recipes

One-Skillet Crispy Chicken Thighs with Harissa

Published: Sep 30, 2022 · Modified: Feb 21, 2025 by Deborah · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · #sponsoredpost · Leave a Comment

Crispy chicken thighs in skillet with harissa, fennel and potatoes
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David found this one-skillet crispy chicken thighs with harissa recipe on the Bon Appetit website.   He'd been searching for some new recipe ideas, that particularly have a bulb of fennel in them...this recipe looked and sounded good, so here it is!

Starting the chicken skin side down in a cold skillet lets the fat render slowly and results in the crispiest skin imaginable. It also yields a pan of flavourful schmaltz, aka liquid gold.

The end result is a one pan dish that is so full of flavour from the tender chicken with the crispiest skin, the roast potatoes and the delicious leek and fennel mixture.  It's all topped off with the fresh citrusy fennel and the most delicious harissa dressing.   

Tip

  • This one-skillet crispy chicken thighs with harissa is perfect for date night or a special Valentine's meal.

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Crispy chicken thighs in skillet with harissa, fennel and potatoes

Category Spotlight...

DATE NIGHT

Set the mood for a romantic evening with some delicious food...whether it's just you cooking for your loved one, or you cook together! As you browse the page you'll find suggestions for different meal ideas and cuisines as well as 2 collections - one for starters and one for mains. They're all designed to impress without the stress.

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How to make this One-Skillet Crispy Chicken Thighs with Harissa

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken thighs (approx. 700g to 900g), bone-in, skin-on
  • salt
  • 170g very small baby potatoes, halved if wider than 2.5cm
  • 1 tbsp mild harissa paste
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 medium leeks, halved lengthwise, cleaned, thinly sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 fennel bulb, very thinly sliced, preferably with a mandoline, fronds reserved for serving
  • 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Arrange a rack in top third of oven; preheat to 220C fan. Season the chicken with salt and place, skin side down, in a medium cast iron or other ovenproof skillet.
  2. Arrange the potatoes around the chicken. Heat the skillet over a medium heat and cook, without moving the chicken but turning the potatoes occasionally, until the chicken skin is browned, crisp, and releases with just a bit of coaxing from a spatula (approx. 14 to 16 minutes).
  3. Transfer the chicken, skin side up, and potatoes to a plate, leaving as much fat in the skillet as possible. Let the skillet cool slightly, then add the harissa paste. Return the skillet to a medium heat and cook the harissa, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and sizzling (approx. 30 seconds). Pour off the harissa schmaltz into a small bowl and set aside.
  4. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in the same skillet over a medium heat. Add the leeks, garlic, and ¾ of the sliced fennel and cook, covered but stirring occasionally, until softened (approx. 8 to 10 minutes). Return the chicken skin side up and potatoes to the skillet. Transfer to the oven and roast until the chicken is cooked through and juices run clear when pierced with the tip of a knife (approx. 10 to 12 minutes).
  5. Meanwhile, toss 1 tbsp of the lemon juice and remaining sliced fennel and 1 tbsp of oil in a small bowl, then season with salt. Add the remaining 2 tbsp of lemon juice to the reserved harissa schmaltz and stir to combine; season with salt.
  6. Transfer the chicken and potatoes to a platter, or serve directly from the skillet. Top with the fennel salad, then the fennel fronds. Drizzle with the harissa dressing.

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Recipe Collection Spotlight...

DATE NIGHT STARTERS COLLECTION

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Crispy chicken thighs in skillet with harissa, fennel and potatoes

One-Skillet Crispy Chicken Thighs with Harissa

By: Deborah
Tender chicken with crispy skin, potatoes, leek, fennel and a delicious harissa dressing!  
PREP: 15 minutes minutes
COOK: 40 minutes minutes
TOTAL: 55 minutes minutes
Course: Main
Cuisine: North African
Servings: 2 people
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Equipment

  • Cast iron skillet

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken thighs (approx. 700g to 900g), bone-in, skin-on
  • salt
  • 170 g (6 oz) very small baby potatoes halved if wider than 2.5cm
  • 1 tbsp mild harissa paste
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 medium leeks halved lengthwise, cleaned, thinly sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic crushed
  • 1 fennel bulb very thinly sliced, preferably with a mandoline, fronds reserved for serving
  • 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Instructions

  • Arrange a rack in top third of oven; preheat to 220C fan. Season the chicken with salt and place, skin side down, in a medium cast iron or other ovenproof skillet.
  • Arrange the potatoes around the chicken. Heat the skillet over a medium heat and cook, without moving the chicken but turning the potatoes occasionally, until the chicken skin is browned, crisp, and releases with just a bit of coaxing from a spatula (approx. 14 to 16 minutes).
  • Transfer the chicken, skin side up, and potatoes to a plate, leaving as much fat in the skillet as possible. Let the skillet cool slightly, then add the harissa paste. Return the skillet to a medium heat and cook the harissa, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and sizzling (approx. 30 seconds). Pour off the harissa schmaltz into a small bowl and set aside.
  • Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in the same skillet over a medium heat. Add the leeks, garlic, and ¾ of the sliced fennel and cook, covered but stirring occasionally, until softened (approx. 8 to 10 minutes). Return the chicken skin side up and potatoes to the skillet. Transfer to the oven and roast until the chicken is cooked through and juices run clear when pierced with the tip of a knife (approx. 10 to 12 minutes).
  • Meanwhile, toss 1 tbsp of the lemon juice and remaining sliced fennel and 1 tbsp of oil in a small bowl, then season with salt. Add the remaining 2 tbsp of lemon juice to the reserved harissa schmaltz and stir to combine; season with salt.
  • Transfer the chicken and potatoes to a platter, or serve directly from the skillet. Top with the fennel salad, then the fennel fronds. Drizzle with the harissa dressing.

Notes

  • This one-skillet crispy chicken thighs with harissa is perfect for date night or a special Valentine's meal.

 

You might also like to try:
  • chicken and turkey dishes

Nutrition

Calories: 1004kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 57g | Fat: 68g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Monounsaturated Fat: 32g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 315mg | Sodium: 1596mg | Potassium: 1736mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1946IU | Vitamin C: 53mg | Calcium: 160mg | Iron: 6mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

KEYWORDS baby potatoes, date night, fennel, leeks, one pan, special dinner, Valentine's meal
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Photo of Deborah in her kitchen!

Hello!   I’m Deborah and I’m married to David and have 2 lovely step sons.   David and I both love cooking…for ourselves, family and friends.   I’m definitely one of the lucky ones…getting cooked for and we enjoy cooking together.

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