Honey Harissa Chicken Tray Bake is the sort of dinner that smells so good in the oven, people start hovering in the kitchen asking when it’ll be ready. Juicy chicken thighs roast with carrots and chickpeas while the honey harissa sauce turns sticky, smoky, and just spicy enough to keep things interesting.
A Quick Look at the Recipe
✅ Recipe Name: Honey Harissa Chicken Tray Bake
🕒 Ready In: 40
👪 Serves: 6
🍽 Calories: ~ per serving (estimated)
🥣 Main Ingredients: Chicken thighs, harissa, honey, cumin, carrots, chickpeas
👌 Difficulty: Easy
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It’s big on flavor, low on effort, and exactly the kind of sheet pan dinner that tastes like you put in far more work than you actually did.
Everything roasts together on one tray, which means the chickpeas pick up those crispy edges, the carrots turn sweet and tender, and the chicken absorbs all those warm North African inspired spices as it cooks. Finish it with a cool garlicky yogurt sauce and suddenly it feels like something you’d order at a great little neighborhood restaurant.
If you are loving adding spice to your life, another Harissa infused dinner to check out is this Harissa Maple Roasted Carrots. The perfect side for almost any dish!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
One pan dinner magic – Everything roasts together on a single sheet pan, which means minimal cleanup and plenty of flavor.
Sweet, smoky, and a little spicy – Honey softens the bold harissa and warm spices so every bite has that perfect sweet heat balance.
Big flavor with pantry ingredients – Most of what you need is probably already in your kitchen.
Great for weeknights – The sauce comes together in minutes and the oven does the rest of the work.
Be sure to check out my 15 Easy Mediterranean Chicken Recipes!
Honey Harissa Chicken Tray Bake Video
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If you enjoy easy sheet-pan chicken dinners like this, I have a video series with many other episodes! Sheet Pan Baked Lamb Chops, Mediterranean "Nacho" Beef Potato Bowl, Sheet Pan Sliced Stuffed Bell Peppers, Sheet Pan Crispy Panko Salmon, Sheet Pan Chicken Kebobs, Sheet Pan Lemony, Crispy Gonocchi & Meatballs, Garlicky Shrimp in a Sheet Pan, Breakfast Burritos in a Sheet Pan, Sheet Pan Garlic Chicken with Red Pepper!
Ingredient Notes
Chicken thighs: Perfect for sheet-pan cooking, they stay juicy and develop beautifully golden skin. I've made this with chicken breast before but find thighs taste much better.
Harissa: Harissa is a North African chili paste made with peppers, garlic, olive oil, and spices. It brings smoky heat and depth to the sauce. Different brands vary in spice level so adjust based on your preference.
Honey: Honey balances the heat of the harissa and helps create that slightly sticky caramelized coating on the chicken.
Chickpeas: Chickpeas soak up the extra sauce while roasting and develop lightly crispy edges in the oven. They add texture and make the meal more filling.
Carrots: Roasting carrots brings out their natural sweetness which pairs beautifully with the spicy honey sauce.
Warm spices: Smoked paprika, cumin, coriander, onion powder, salt, and black pepper create the warm, earthy backbone of the marinade.
Garlic: Fresh garlic adds depth and that irresistible savory aroma as the chicken roasts.
Lemon juice: Lemon brightens the sauce and balances the richness of the honey and olive oil.
Yogurt sauce: A simple yogurt sauce with toum adds cool creaminess that balances the bold harissa flavors.
Instructions
Full recipe and instructions in the recipe card at the end of post
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400°F and blend marinade ingredients.
Step 2: Arrange the chicken, carrots, and chickpeas on a large sheet pan.
Step 3: Pour the honey harissa marinade over everything and toss to coat evenly.
Step 4: Roast the tray bake for 30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
Step 5: Broil for 4 minutes.
Step 6: Top with parsley and yogurt sauce.
Substitutions & Variations
Chicken breasts: Can be used instead of thighs but reduce cooking time slightly to prevent drying.
Vegetables: Potatoes, zucchini, or bell peppers roast beautifully with the chicken.
Harissa paste: If you prefer milder heat, use half the amount or mix with a little extra tomato paste.
FAQ
You can just add a crushed garlic clove to the yogurt and a teaspoon of olive oil along with the other ingredients.
It depends on the brand. Some are mild and smoky, while others are quite spicy. Start with less if you are unsure.
More Sheet-pan Recipes You'll Love
- Sheet-Pan Sausage, Peppers & Potatoes30 Minutes
- Sheet Pan Chicken Kebabs in the Oven40 Minutes
- Mediterranean Ground Beef Potato Bowl35 Minutes
- Sheet Pan Broccoli Zucchini Soup45 Minutes
⭐️ Recipe
Honey Harissa Chicken Tray Bake
Ingredients
For the tray bake
- 6 boneless chicken thighs
- 2 medium carrots chopped
- 1 can chickpeas rinsed and drained
Honey Harissa Marinade
- ¼ cup harissa paste
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ⅓ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 garlic cloves
- juice of 1 lemon
Yogurt Sauce
- 1 cup yogurt
- 2 tablespoons toum Lebanese garlic sauce
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons water
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
Prepare the Oven
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a large sheet pan with parchment paper.
Make the Honey Harissa Marinade
- In a blender or bowl, combine the harissa, olive oil, honey, tomato paste, smoked paprika, cumin, coriander, onion powder, salt, black pepper, garlic, and lemon juice. Blend or whisk until smooth.¼ cup harissa paste, ¼ cup olive oil, ⅓ cup honey, 2 tablespoons tomato paste, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon coriander, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, 4 garlic cloves, juice of 1 lemon, 1½ teaspoons salt
Prepare the Vegetables
- Peel and chop the carrots into bite sized pieces and rinse the chickpeas thoroughly under cold water.2 medium carrots, 1 can chickpeas
Assemble the Tray Bake
- Place the chicken thighs, carrots, and chickpeas onto the sheet pan in a single layer. Pour the marinade over everything and toss gently so the chicken and vegetables are evenly coated.6 boneless chicken thighs
Roast the Chicken
- Transfer the sheet pan to the oven and roast for about 30 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the vegetables are tender.
Broil for Color
- Turn the oven to broil and cook for another 5 minutes to caramelize the sauce and lightly crisp the chicken.
Make the Yogurt Sauce
- In a small bowl whisk together the yogurt, toum, black pepper, salt, lemon juice, and water until smooth and pourable.1 cup yogurt, 2 tablespoons toum , ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 2 tablespoons water
Serve
- Top the roasted chicken with fresh parsley and serve with the yogurt sauce drizzled over the tray bake.Fresh parsley for garnish
Lola Jay says
Delicious!