Textual Chef Textual Chef

Za'atar Crispy Chicken

Trending Mediterranean-Middle Eastern chicken coated with tangy, nutty za'atar spice blend and pan-fried until golden and crispy. A flavorful weeknight dinner that's bursting with complexity.

28 minEasyServes 4340 cal/serving

MediterraneanDinnerStovetopPaleoWhole30Gluten-Free

Cook this free in the appFree. No download, no account. The screen stays awake and each step can run its own timer.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, patted dry
  • 2 tbsp za'atar spice blend
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced

Instructions

  1. 1

    Pat 2 lbs patted dry boneless, skinless chicken thighs dry with paper towels.

  2. 2

    In a small bowl, combine 2 tbsp za'atar spice blend, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp black pepper.

  3. 3

    Rub the za'atar mixture all over the chicken, making sure to coat all sides generously.

  4. 4

    Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.

  5. 5

    Add chicken to the hot oil and cook for 7-8 minutes on the first side without moving, until the coating is deeply golden and crispy.

  6. 6

    Flip the chicken and cook for another 7-8 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.

  7. 7

    Add 2 minced garlic cloves to the skillet in the final minute of cooking, allowing it to soften slightly.

  8. 8

    Squeeze 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice over the chicken and stir to combine.

  9. 9

    Serve hot, drizzled with any pan juices.

Cook this free in the appCooking it now? The app keeps the screen awake and times each step. Free, nothing to install.

Keep this recipe

Prints the ingredients and method only.

Questions

What internal temperature should Za'atar Crispy Chicken reach?

For Za'atar Crispy Chicken, the target internal temperature is 165 F (about 75 C), given in step 6. A probe thermometer removes the guesswork.

Why pat it dry first in Za'atar Crispy Chicken?

Step 1 reads: "Pat 2 lbs patted dry boneless, skinless chicken thighs dry with paper towels." Surface water has to boil off before anything can brown. Drying at step 1 means the food sears in the first minute instead of steaming.

What can I use instead of za'atar in Za'atar Crispy Chicken?

The entry for Za'atar Crispy Chicken calls for 2 tbsp za'atar spice blend. In its place: Combine dried thyme or oregano with toasted sesame seeds and a little lemon zest, which stands in for the sumac.

Can I use chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs in Za'atar Crispy Chicken?

Yes, with care. Breasts dry out sooner: pull them at 165 F, which usually means a few minutes less than the thighs would take. As written, the entry for Za'atar Crispy Chicken uses 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, patted dry.

Is Za'atar Crispy Chicken gluten-free?

Yes. As written, nothing in the ingredient list for Za'atar Crispy Chicken is wheat, barley or rye. Gluten hides in packaged goods, so read the label on the za'atar.

How long does Za'atar Crispy Chicken keep?

Refrigerate what is left of Za'atar Crispy Chicken within two hours and eat it within three days. Reheat uncovered in a 400 F oven (or an air fryer) for a few minutes to bring the crust back; the microwave softens it.

Serve it with

Cook this free in the app

Textual Chef is 4,544 plain-text recipes, free to read and free to cook from. No account, no paywall, no ads, no life stories. Open this one in the app and each quantity sits inside the step that uses it, so you read once and cook.

Every recipe is curated or public-domain sourced, written to one template and checked before it publishes. Nothing here is a scraped blog post.

Cook this free in the appNo download needed. It opens in your browser. The kitchen tools (planner, shopping list, pantry, import) are $5.33 a month billed annually; the first 30 days are free.

More Mediterranean entries

All Mediterranean recipes · All Dinner recipes · All Chicken recipes