Description
Zaatar Chicken brings Middle Eastern flavors straight to your dinner table with a simple, aromatic roast that’ll make your kitchen smell amazing. Sprinkle generous amounts of zaatar spice blend over juicy chicken pieces and watch your family devour this delicious, herb-packed meal in minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 5 Chicken legs (chicken quarters) about 2.4 lb (1 kg)
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 1 ½ Tablespoons Zaatar seasoning
- 1 Tablespoon Garlic paste
- 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 medium Onion sliced into rounds
- Zest of 1 lemon
Liquids and Finishing Ingredients:
- ¼ cup olive oil
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Salt
- Black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to a toasty 400°F (200°C) while gathering all your ingredients for maximum flavor preparation.
- Create a zesty marinade by whisking together 1 ½ tablespoons zaatar seasoning, juice from 1 lemon, lemon zest, 1 tablespoon garlic paste, 1 tablespoon tomato paste, ¼ cup olive oil, salt, and black pepper in a large mixing bowl.
- Thoroughly massage the marinade into your 5 chicken legs, ensuring each piece is completely coated with the fragrant mixture.
- Spread your medium onion rounds across the bottom of a baking dish, creating a flavorful bed for the chicken.
- Carefully lay the marinated chicken legs atop the onion rounds, positioning them evenly in the dish.
- Slide the baking dish into the preheated oven and roast for precisely 40-45 minutes, watching for a golden-brown exterior and fully cooked internal temperature.
- Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat.
Notes
- Make sure to massage the marinade thoroughly into every nook and cranny of the chicken legs for maximum flavor penetration.
- Fresh za’atar seasoning makes a huge difference, so check your spice blend is fragrant and not stale before using.
- For a crispy skin, pat the chicken completely dry before marinating and consider broiling for the last 2-3 minutes of cooking.
- Gluten-free and dairy-free diets can easily enjoy this recipe without any modifications, making it a versatile weeknight dinner option.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 to 5
- Calories: 430 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg