Moroccan Tagine Chicken (Print View)

A savory blend of chicken, apricots, olives, and warm spices cooked slowly to rich perfection.

# Components:

→ Poultry

01 - 1.5 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (approximately 4–6 pieces)

→ Produce

02 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1-inch piece fresh ginger, grated
05 - 1 large carrot, sliced
06 - 1 cup dried apricots, halved
07 - 1 preserved lemon, pulp removed, rind thinly sliced (optional)
08 - 1 small bunch fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)

→ Spices

09 - 1 tsp ground cumin
10 - 1 tsp ground coriander
11 - 1 tsp ground cinnamon
12 - 1 tsp ground paprika
13 - ½ tsp ground turmeric
14 - ¼ tsp ground black pepper
15 - 1 tsp salt
16 - ⅛ tsp ground cayenne (optional)

→ Pantry

17 - 2 tbsp olive oil
18 - 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
19 - 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained

→ Olives & Nuts

20 - ½ cup green olives, pitted and halved
21 - ¼ cup slivered almonds, toasted (for garnish)

# Directions:

01 - Pat chicken thighs dry and season evenly with salt and black pepper.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or tagine over medium-high heat. Brown chicken on all sides until golden, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove and set aside.
03 - Reduce heat to medium and add onion, carrot, and a pinch of salt to the pot. Cook until softened, approximately 5 minutes.
04 - Incorporate garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, paprika, turmeric, and cayenne pepper. Stir and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
05 - Add diced tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes, scraping up browned bits from the bottom.
06 - Return browned chicken to the pot, then add dried apricots, preserved lemon rind if using, and chicken broth. Bring to a gentle simmer.
07 - Cover and cook over low heat for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
08 - Uncover pot, add green olives, and simmer for an additional 10 minutes to thicken the sauce.
09 - Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary before serving.
10 - Serve hot, garnished with chopped cilantro and toasted slivered almonds.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a one-pot wonder that feels way more restaurant-quality than the minimal effort it demands.
  • That sweet-savory balance with apricots and olives somehow makes even the simplest chicken thighs taste like you've been cooking all day.
  • Your entire home will smell like you've traveled somewhere exotic, and honestly, that alone is worth it.
02 -
  • Never skip browning the chicken properly—it's not just about color, it's about developing flavor that makes the entire dish sing.
  • If your apricots are especially hard, soak them in warm water for 10 minutes before adding them; plump, tender apricots will give you that gorgeous texture instead of chewy little pebbles.
03 -
  • Make this a day ahead and refrigerate it—the flavors actually deepen and marry overnight, and reheating gently brings everything back to life even better than the first time.
  • A real tagine pot (the cone-shaped ceramic one) is beautiful, but a Dutch oven works just as well and honestly gives you better heat distribution.
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