Honey and Harissa Chicken Thighs (Cava Copycat)

Sliced harissa chicken served over yellow rice, garnished with red onions.

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Honey and Harissa Chicken Thighs (Cava Copycat)

Cava's honey and harissa chicken is a fan favorite! These juicy chicken thighs are marinated in a perfect sweet and spicy sauce, with a hint of smokiness. Whether you add this chicken to your favorite Mediterranean bowls or eat it as a main dish, this will become a regular in your rotation.

Prep Time10

Cook Time15

Marinating Time2

Total Time2 25

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mediteranenan

Keyword: cava chicken copycat, cava copycat recipes, Cava harissa chicken, chilis copycat recipe, harissa honey chicken

Servings: Servings

Calories: 472kcal

Author: Sunena

Equipment

Ingredients

2 lb Chicken thighs boneless, skinless
4 cloves Garlic minced
2 tablespoon Harissa paste
⅓ cup Extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoon Honey
½ tablespoon Kosher salt
1 Lemon juiced
1 teaspoon Smoked paprika

Instructions

Add the marinade ingredients to a large mixing bowl. Mix to combine completely.
4 cloves Garlic, 2 tablespoon Harissa paste, ⅓ cup Extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoon Honey, ½ tablespoon Kosher salt, 1 Lemon, 1 teaspoon Smoked paprika
Toss the dried chicken thighs in the honey and harissa marinade. Cover with plastic wrap, and store in the fridge while marinating.
2 lb Chicken thighs
Heat a 12" cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
Add a thin layer of olive oil to the skillet, and sear the chicken on both sides for approximately 5 minutes each. The chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F on an instant-read meat thermometer.

Notes

Marinating time: I recommend marinating this chicken for a minimum of 1-2 hours. If you can, let the chicken marinate overnight in the honey and harissa marinade for the most flavor.

Glazed version: To get a delicious, sticky glaze on the chicken, reserve a quarter of the marinade before adding the raw chicken thighs. As the chicken is searing, baste with the reserved marinade.

Use a splatter guard: These chicken thighs will splatter while searing in the olive oil. To minimize the mess and avoid any oil-related burns, use a splatter guard over your skillet.

Watch for burning: The honey in the marinade can burn easily. While searing the chicken, you may need to lower the heat or transfer the seared chicken thighs to the oven to cook through, if the chicken is getting too charred.

Nutrition