Sheet Pan Paleo Za’atar Chicken Thighs | Food Faith Fitness (2024)

This Za’atar Chicken Thigh sheet pan dinner is an easy healthy, low carb and keto dinner with bold Middle Eastern flavor! Learn the secrets to crispy chicken!

PIN Sheet Pan Paleo Za’atar Chicken Thighs

Golden brown, ultra-crispy chicken thighs with big, BOLD Middle Eastern flavors, served with a side of the most tender, equally flavorful roasted cauliflower is going to be your new favorite back-pocket dinner that makes you feel SO fancy and cultured when you eat it.

And when I say “crispy” I mean BUSINESS. I was a person who always said she “didn’t like chicken skin” because of the weird, rubbery and “jello-y” texture that it can sometimes have, so I’ve been avoiding it like a worm avoids a puddle for all almost-28 years of my life. UNTIL I learned the secrets to making the crispiest, juiciest chicken thighs. Which you are ALSO going to learn today.

But, like the cashew chicken sheet pan dinnerandAsian Miso Steak Sheet Pan Dinner it basically makes itself and on only ONE PAN.

For this recipe, I used two tasty spices, Dukkah and Za’atar.

What is Dukkah?

Dukkah is an aromatic spice blend from North Africa that is a blend of different nut meals, seeds and spices and is typically served sprinkled in olive oil for dipping pita bread. But it is also good on TONS of other things, like the cauliflower in theseSheet Pan Paleo Za’atar Chicken Thighs!

What is Za’atar?

Za’tar (pronounced zah-tar) is a Middle Eastern aromatic spice blend of sesame seeds, marjoram, thyme and sumac!

You can already taste the Middle Eastern flavor POW dancing across the tip of your tongue, can’t you?

Now, let’s talk crispy chicken.

INGREDIENTS

• 4Pasture raised, bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs(just over 1.5 lbs)
• 1/4CupPistachios
• 6CupsCauliflower,cut into florets
• 1Large onion,cut into large pieces
• 2Tbsp + 1/2 tspAvocado oil,divided
• Sea salt
• 2TbspManitou Trading Company Zahtar
• 4tspTahini
• 1tspFresh lemon juice+ additional for serving
• 1/4CupCilantro,roughly chopped
• 2TbspFresh mint,sliced and packed
• 2tspManitou Trading Company Dukkah

INSTRUCTIONS

• Pat the chicken thighs as dry as you can with paper towel and then lay them skin-side up on a large plate. Refrigerate uncovered overnight so that they get nice and dried out.
• The next day, preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Place the pistachios on a small baking sheet and bake until lightly toasted and golden brown, about 5-10 minutes. Watch closely as they cook quickly. Once cooked, set aside and place your oven rack in the top third of the oven (should be the second placement from the top of the oven.)
• Toss the cauliflower and onion with 1 1/2 Tbsp of the oil and spread on a large baking sheet, sprinkling with a pinch of sea salt.
• Place the dried chicken thighs in a large bowl and mix with the Zahtar, making sure the thighs are coated on all sides. Sprinkle with salt. Nestle the thighs, skin-side up, among the vegetables, making sure to not crowd the vegetables.
• Bake until the chicken skin begins to brown and crisp, about 20 minutes. While the chicken cooks, whisk together the tahini, lemon juice and remaining 2 tsp of oil until thick and well mixed.
• After 20 minutes, baste the chicken which the juices from the pan and bake an additional 5 minutes. Then, divide the tahini mixture on top of each thigh and spread out with a spoon evenly. Bake another 5 minutes, until the tahini is lightly brown and the chicken reads at least 165 degrees when the temperature is taken near the bone (if it reads a higher temp, that is okay too!) Finally, broil 2-3 minutes to really crisp the skin.
• Squeeze a little bit of fresh lemon juice over the whole pan and then divide the chicken between 4 plates. Then, toss the vegetables with the cilantro, mint and Dukkah and divide between the plates. Chop the pistachios and divide between the plates.
• DEVOUR!

Top Tips to Make Crispy Chicken Thighs

Here are the 3 secrets to making your chicken thighs SO crispy

1. Pat them dry and let them sit UNCOVERED in the fridge overnight. This allows the skin to get nice and dry so that it crisps up in the oven!
2. Rub the skin with oil and baste with the cooking juices as it cooks.
3. Cook your chicken thighs at a HIGH heat (450 degrees) in the top third (hottest part) of your oven!

How Long Do You Bake Chicken Thighs?

You want to bake your Sheet Pan Paleo Za’atar Chicken Thighs long enough, so the skin is crispy and the inside registers at LEAST 165 degrees. Following the above steps, this will take 25-30 minutes!

I am foreseeing a lot of crispy chicken in your future now that you’re in the KNOW.

But, MAN OH MAN I’m BEAT after all that spice and chicken thigh baking learning, aren’t you?

I think we can both agree that bold flavored, tahini-crusted chicken is gonna refuel us JUST FINE.

Other Recipes You Might Like:

Moroccan Sweet Potato Salad

Tomato Grilled Moroccan Chicken

Moroccan Chicken Skillet

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