Harissa Chicken Skewers (with Sides)

A platter with rice, chopped salad, sumac onions and harissa chicken skewers.

5 from 1 vote

These Harissa Chicken Skewers are a delicious and satisfying addition to your weeknight meal rotation. They are incredibly easy to make and don’t require too many complicated ingredients. The chicken can be marinated in advance, saving you time.

Pair these skewers with vermicelli rice, sumac onions and chopped salad for an easy dinner.

Prep Time15

Cook Time15

Marinating Time1

Total Time1 30

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: North African

Servings: people

Author: Luay Ghafari

Cost: $10

Equipment

Grill pan or outdoor grill

Ingredients

1 ½ lbs Boneless chicken breasts - About 2 large breasts, cut into large cubes
1 tsp Kosher or sea salt
½ tsp Black pepper
¼ cup Harissa paste
1 Medium onion
1 Bell pepper
Garnish with chopped fresh herbs like parsley and mint, lemon zest and a squeeze of lemon juice

Serve with

Instructions

Season. Place the cubed chicken breast in a medium bowl. Season with 1 teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of freshly cracked black pepper. Toss to coat evenly.
Marinate. To the chicken, add the harissa paste and toss to coat well. Cover with plastic wrap and set the bowl in the fridge to marinate for at least 1 hour, but up to overnight.
Skewer. Skewer the chicken onto wooden or metal skewers, alternating the meat pieces with sliced onion and bell pepper.
Grill. Place a grill plan on medium-high heat and oil it lightly with avocado oil. Grill the chicken skewers on all sides until cooked through. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of the meat. You can use a meat thermometer to check doneness. The safe minimum internal temperature for chicken breast is 165F (74C). Serve as you like.

Notes

Refer to the post above for step-by-step recipe photos.

Ingredient notes:

My preference is to use boneless chicken breast for this recipe, but you can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs if you prefer.
Harissa chile paste is a North African staple. You can easily purchase a jar from your local Middle Eastern store, online or a well-stocked grocery store. Or you can try to make your own harissa paste. I promise you, it’s not that difficult to make.
I like adding onions and sweet red peppers to my chicken skewers. But feel free to omit, or use other vegetables like zucchini or eggplant.

Pair these skewers with vermicelli rice, sumac onions and chopped salad for a complete meal.

Nutrition