One-tray Harissa Chicken Bake

An easy and flavourful dinner with chicken, potatoes and tomatoes

Chicken drumsticks are often on my weekly menu. They're versatile, affordable and perfect for feeding the whole family. Today, I fancied something a little different, still simple but packed with bold flavour. My jar of harissa paste was calling - so One-tray Harissa Chicken Bake it is. This is exactly the kind of recipe I love to share: minimal effort, maximum flavour and all cooked together in one tray for an easy clean-up.

What is Harissa?

Harissa is one of those magical ingredients that instantly adds depth to any dish. It's a North African chilli paste that's both smoky and spicy but not in an overpowering way. In fact, I find it rather comforting - the warmth balance beautifully with sweet ingredients like honey and fresh citrus. I've used it before in dips and marinades but this One-tray Harissa Chicken Bake is one of my favourite ways to let it shines. It's quick, fuss-free and brings so much flavour to the table.

Ingredients for One-tray Harissa Chicken

This recipe is flexible so feel free to use what you've got in the fridge. Here's my go-to version:

• Chicken drumsticks (or thighs/legs if you prefer)
• Harissa paste
• Pinch of salt
• Lemon
• Honey for marinating and for brushing
• Olive oil
• Young potatoes, cut into bite-sized chunks
• Cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 bulb garlic, seperated into cloves and peeled

How to make One-tray Harissa Chicken Bake

This dish requires very little attention, just a few minutes of prep earlier in the day and the oven does the rest.

Marinate the chicken

In a large bowl, combine the chicken drumsticks with harissa paste, salt, lemon juice, honey and olive oil. Mix everything well, cover and leave in the fridge until cooking time.

Prepare the tray

Preheat the oven to 200°C. Line a baking tray with baking paper for easy clean-up. Arrange the chicken in a single layer. Don't throw away the leftover marinade, toss the potatoes in it and spread them around the chicken. Add the peeled garlic cloves evenly across the tray then scatter the cherry tomatoes on top.

Bake to perfection

Mix a little honey with olive oil and brush over the chicken. Bake for 25 minutes, flip the chicken, brush again with the honey-oil mix and bake for another 25 minutes. Start checking at the 20-minute mark as ovens can vary.

Serving suggestion

The result is a one-tray wonder: chicken that's juicy and full of flavour, potatoes infused with the smoky, peppery harissa paste and sweet cherry tomatoes that pop with freshness. I like to serve this with a simple green salad with avocado, drizzled with honey-mustard dressing.

This One-tray Harissa Chicken Bake really is the perfect midweek dinner, minimal washing-up and plenty of flavour.

If you enjoy this recipe, don't miss my other chicken recipes here.