Chicken Tagine

Both gorgeous and delicious, this company-worthy roasted chicken and veggie meal is boldly spiced with the flavors of Moroccan cuisine and named for the traditional clay pot used to make it. (Don’t worry, we’ve adapted this recipe for the more common skillet.) Once you taste Chicken Tagine, you’ll put it on the menu again and again. In fact, it is so simple to make, you won’t believe how good it is!

Our freezer meal methods make it so easy to get this dish to the table when life gets busy. Just sear the meat in a skillet, dump in the contents of the remaining bag, and enjoy when the meat is cooked through and the veggies are soft. We have so many different ways to cook chicken in our Freezer Meals 101 Club, you will never get tired of this simple, healthy, white meat.

If you just want to try out a few other meals first, be sure to make Buffalo Chicken Pasta and these Hot Honey Chicken Sandwiches.

Chicken Tagine Recipe

Ingredients

• 10-12 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs 
• 1 tsp. paprika
• 1 tsp. turmeric
• 1 tsp. cumin
• 1/2 tsp. coriander 
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 
• 1/2 tsp. cayenne
• salt
• pepper

Ingredients for the Second Bag

• 1 onion, sliced
• 4 carrots, peeled and cut in chunks
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp. ginger
• lemon zest
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 2 Tbsp. honey, melted
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup olives, pitted 

For the Day of Cooking

• 1 Tbsp. olive oil

How to Make Chicken Tagine

Assembly Instructions

1. Put chicken in large resealable freezer bag.
2. Mix together seasonings in a bowl.
3. Add to chicken.
4. Shake, remove excess air, and seal.
5. In another large bag, add the rest of the ingredients.
6. Staple together above the seal and freeze.

Cooking Instructions

1. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
2. Heat olive oil in a deep skillet.
3. Add chicken and sear on both sides.
4. Add the bag of vegetables and sauce.
5. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until carrots are tender-crisp and chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F.

How do I know when the chicken is ready?

The dish is ready when the chicken reaches 165ºF and the vegetables are tender. The best way to check the meat is to insert an Instant Read Thermometer into the chicken in the thickest part, without touching bone.

Can I use frozen carrots?

No. Frozen veggies turn to mush quickly. Use fresh, raw vegetables for this recipe.

I’m struggling to find coriander or turmeric, what do I do?

You may need to go to a specialty market. First, look for an Indian spice blend at your grocery store. It should work just as well. Use it as a replacement for any of the spices listed on the label. Keep the total amount of spice the same. So if you are replacing cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, and coriander — use three teaspoons of the spice mixture. This is the total amount used for each of these spices added together. These spices can also be purchased online if you have enough time to prepare.

Chicken Tagine Recipe Ideas

You’ll find that fresh butternut squash, acorn squash, parsnips, or red potatoes will work just as well as carrots. You can even use a blend of these various veggies if you want!

Smoked paprika adds nuance to the dish reminiscent of food cooked over flames. If you love a good smoke, this is an easy substitute. You could also consider adding a tiny bit of liquid smoke during the baking process.

The recipe is incredibly versatile. You could substitute chili powder in place of the cayenne for a perfectly mild version. Or up the heat and change the flavors by using canned adobe chili peppers, chopped and drained. Using garam masala would give the dish a new flavor profile similar to tiki masala.

You can use chicken breasts or even bone-in chicken for this recipe, you’ll have to adjust the baking time accordingly.

How do I store Chicken Tagine

As with any chicken dish, leftover Chicken Tagine should be placed in an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator for two to three days or frozen for up to six months in a deep freeze. Microwave leftovers or reheat them in the oven.

What to Serve with Chicken Tagine

Meat and veggies are all in one beautiful dish with this recipe, but you could add a salad, fruit, or bread to the meal — especially if you need to feed one or two extra people. Since it is all cooked in one skillet, I like to grab a loaf of French bread from the store and keep my mess minimal.