Description
Enjoy these flavorful Harissa-Marinated Chicken Skewers served with fluffy couscous. This North African and Mediterranean-inspired dish features juicy chicken marinated in a spicy harissa blend, grilled to perfection. It’s a vibrant and satisfying meal perfect for BBQs or weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs (or chicken breast)
- 3 tablespoons harissa paste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Wooden or metal skewers (soak wooden skewers for 30 minutes)
- 1 ½ cups couscous
- 1 ¾ cups low-sodium chicken broth or water
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Zest of 1 lemon
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley or mint
- ¼ cup finely chopped red onion or scallions
- Optional toppings: ¼ cup crumbled feta, toasted almonds, or pomegranate seeds
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together harissa paste, olive oil, yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, cumin, coriander, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cut chicken into 1.5-inch chunks. Toss chicken in the marinade, cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or overnight).
- Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto skewers, leaving space between each piece for even cooking.
- Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grates. Grill skewers for 12–15 minutes, turning every few minutes, until cooked through and slightly charred. For oven broiling, place skewers on a rack over a foil-lined baking sheet and broil for 10–12 minutes, rotating halfway.
- While chicken cooks, bring chicken broth or water to a boil in a saucepan. Stir in couscous, salt, and olive oil or butter. Cover, remove from heat, and let sit for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
- Stir lemon zest, chopped herbs, red onion or scallions, and any optional toppings into the couscous.
- Serve the harissa chicken skewers hot over the fluffy couscous. Spoon any juices over the dish.
Notes
- For maximum flavor, marinate the chicken overnight.
- If using wooden skewers, remember to soak them in water for 30 minutes before use to prevent burning.
- Adjust harissa paste amount to your spice preference.
- A cooling yogurt sauce or tzatziki makes a great accompaniment.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Mediterranean, North African
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 3 skewers)
- Calories: Estimated 450-550 kcal
- Sugar: Estimated 5-10g
- Sodium: Estimated 500-700mg (varies with broth and added salt)
- Fat: Estimated 20-30g
- Saturated Fat: Estimated 5-8g
- Unsaturated Fat: Estimated 15-20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: Estimated 30-40g
- Fiber: Estimated 3-5g
- Protein: Estimated 35-45g
- Cholesterol: Estimated 100-130mg
Keywords: Harissa Marinated Chicken Skewers, Spicy chicken skewers, Grilled harissa chicken kebabs, Easy harissa chicken skewer recipe, North African chicken skewers