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Sheet Pan Moroccan Chicken with Olives and Apricots

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Sheet Pan Moroccan Chicken with Olives and Apricots is a one-pan meal. Roasted with carrots and onions and lots of spices like warm spices like paprika, cumin, coriander, and cinnamon. This minimal clean-up meal is loaded with protein and served with a side of Israeli couscous with toasted almonds.

three plates of Sheet Pan Moroccan Chicken with Olives and Apricots with Israeli couscous with toasted almonds, a bowl couscous, and the platter of chicken next to two jars of olives

This post has kindly been sponsored by Mezzetta. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Mezzetta olives are always in my pantry and I am always looking for ways to add more oomph to my family’s meals. The addition of two different kinds of olives did just that. 

I don’t know about you, but I really miss traveling. Packing our bags and being able to experience the flavors and cultures of far-off places is something I am longing for.

One way that I have found to scratch the itch is to make meals reminiscent of our travels. A few years ago we spent the week leading to Christmas in Morocco and it was one of the most incredible trips I’ve ever been on. 

Every meal was better than the last. I ate so many vegetable tagines, I couldn’t get enough. Every meal included a bowl of olives, a mint tea, some kind of tagine, and delicious little cookies. I was in absolute HEAVEN.

So to change up one of my regular sheet pan chicken dinners that I make all. the. time. I gave it a Moroccan twist. This one-pan Moroccan chicken has a flavorful spice rub, two kinds of Mezzetta olives, lemon, and dried apricots.

Elevating a normal dinner into something that took us right back to sleeping under the stars in the desert with minimal effort. 

Ingredients //

ingredients for making Sheet Pan Moroccan Chicken with Olives and Apricots

To make this baked Moroccan chicken dinner, you begin by making a spice rub, laying out a cut-up whole chicken on a sheet pan, and surrounding it with carrots, onions, lemon wedges, olives, and dried apricots.

You probably have almost everything you need already in your pantry. 

bowl of moroccan spice rub ingredients

The Moroccan Spice Rub. Brown sugar, paprika, cumin, coriander, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cayenne, and black pepper make such a flavorful rub.

Store leftover spice mix in an airtight container and use it to flavor vegetables or any protein you like.

It’s also great for those spices that sit in your spice cabinet and need to be used up. 

Whole chicken. I bought my whole organic chicken already cut into pieces. It came wrapped and ready to go. You can use whatever cut of chicken you like – all breast, thighs, drumsticks. Use what you have. 

Carrots. I happen to LOVE a roasted carrot. It brings out the sweetness and completely changes the taste and texture. I like mine to still have some bite, I’ve found that 45 minutes is perfect. 

Lemon wedges. Preserved lemons are in so many Moroccan dishes. You can make preserved lemons or buy them, but I used up the last of the ones I bought in Morocco (food souvenirs are the only kind of souvenirs I care about).

Lemon wedges are perfect here. They roast and when your pan comes out of the oven, you can squeeze the roasted lemons all over the chicken and vegetables. 

two jars of olives with a close up of olives

Olives. Olives are addicting. Colossal olives add saltiness and contrast to everything else on the sheet pan and perfect against the sweet apricots. I love the Mezzaetta Colossal Castelventrano Style Pitted Olives so much, they are buttery and add a briny flavor that I love. They are giant and also very mild. 

I also used Mezzetta Mediterranean Za’atar Olives. I drained the liquid but scraped out the za’atar that was in the bottom of the jar. Never throw away flavor! These olives have the same buttery quality as the Castelventrano, but with added spice. These remind me of the olives we ate in Italy, with the spices of Morocco.

Dried Apricots. Dried fruit is in so many African dishes, it adds such a beautiful sweetness to savory things. And brings me right back to our time there – date and fruit trees are all you see in some places.

How the Make Sheet Pan Moroccan Chicken with Olives and Apricots //

This sheet pan Moroccan chicken and vegetable meal comes together in no time. Minimal prep and easy clean-up. It’s a perfect weeknight meal. 

Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. This helps with the easy clean-up. Preheat your oven to 400°.

Start by making the spice rub. Simply mix all of the spices together in a small bowl. Set aside. 

Add the chicken to a large mixing bowl and add oil and spice mix. Rub into the chicken, making sure it is well coated. Really rub it in. 

whole chicken pieces in a bowl with moroccan spice rub

Add the carrots and red onion to the bowl and toss to coat.

Carrots, red onion, olive oil in a bowl with raw whole chicken pieces

Arrange the chicken pieces on the sheet pan. Scatter vegetables, lemon wedges, and Mezzetta olives around the chicken. I like my apricots to get dark brown and add them at this point. But you could also add them to the last 20 minutes of cooking if you don’t want them to darken.

Season well with salt and pepper.

close up of morrocan sheet pan chicken and vegetables on a sheet pan

Bake the chicken for 45 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer reads 165°.

fully baked Sheet Pan Moroccan Chicken with Olives and Apricots on a pan

Garnish with chopped cilantro.

toasting almonds in a saucepan on left and isreali couscous on the right

To make the Israeli Couscous with Toasted Almonds add almonds to a dry saucepan. Toast until golden brown, and then remove from pan and set aside. Add couscous and toast until golden brown. Add water, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until the water has absorbed.

Toss with olive oil, orange zest, orange juice, vinegar, and season with salt and pepper.

What Makes This Sheet Pan Moroccan Chicken So Good? //

close up shot of

Even though this is not a true Moroccan dish, it is still really delicious and everyone in my family loves it. No easy feat. We love it because:

  • The spice rub! So flavorful and adds a deep, rich, flavor to the chicken and veggies.
  • How easy it is to prepare. Minimal effort to get this meal in the oven and next to no dishes!
  • Two kinds of olives and dried apricots make this simple meal feel exotic and special. These two additions elevate this to something new and change it in a really delicious way – with zero effort. 
  • The Israeli couscous is not something I normally make but is perfection alongside this incredible sheet pan chicken.
jars of olives next to Sheet Pan Moroccan Chicken with Olives and Apricots

Tips for Making Sheet Pan Moroccan Chicken and Veggies //

  • If you would like to get ahead, you can rub the chicken and put it in a plastic bag until ready to use. You can do this even a day in advance.
  • Use olives that already have seasoning like the Za’atar olives. It just adds more incredible flavor to the dish. 
  • I recommend wearing gloves when rubbing the chicken, turmeric is delicious, but also stains your hands (and counters).
sheet pan chicken and vegetables next to a bowl of couscous

Serving Suggestions //

I served my chicken and vegetables with a side of couscous, but you could make rice or just add a simple green salad.

If I wear going to add a sauce (and I am all about a sauce) I would make a quick tahini dressing to drizzle over top. Whisk together some tahini, honey, lemon juice, garlic, and thin with water.

Sprinkle over crumbled feta, chopped pistachios or almonds, or to make it truly Moroccan – pomegranate seeds when they are in season. 

This is great for lunches and makes excellent leftovers. If you are a meal prepper, this is a great one. It tastes even better the next day and reheats beautifully.

To make a vegetarian version, replace the chicken with a can of drained chickpeas and some chopped fresh cauliflower. Follow the recipe as written.

meal of Sheet Pan Moroccan Chicken with Olives and Apricots and Israeli couscous with toasted almonds on a table

Thank you to Mezzetta for sponsoring this post. I am honored to work with brands that I love and use frequently in my recipes. To learn more about Mezzetta products and see their line of olives, peppers, pickles vegetables, and sauces (their Whole Garlic and Sweet Basil sauce is my go-to pasta sauce and great on pizza), check out their website:

Mezzetta Website

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

To see the latest, follow their hashtag #MezzettaMakesItBetta  

More Travel-Inspired Recipes //

close up shot of

Sheet Pan Moroccan Chicken with Olives and Apricots

Yield: serves 6
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Sheet Pan Moroccan Chicken with Olives and Apricots is a one-pan meal. Roasted with carrots and onions and lots of spices like warm spices.

Ingredients

Moroccan Spice Rub:

  • 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon paprika
  • 1 Tablespoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon coriander
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ginger
  • ½ teaspoon ground cardamon
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

Sheet Pan Chicken:

Israeli Couscous with Toasted Almonds

  • ½ cup slivered almonds
  • 1 cup Israeli couscous
  • 1 ½ cups water
  • 3 Tablespoons olive oil
  • Zest from one orange
  • Juice from one orange
  • 1 Tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. To make the Moroccan Spice Rub, add everything to a bowl and mix until combined. Store in an airtight container. 
  2. To make the sheet pan chicken, preheat oven to 400°. Line a large baking sheet with foil. 
  3. In a large mixing bowl mix together olive oil, 3 tablespoons spice rub, and chicken. Toss to coat, making sure that the rub is all over the chicken pieces. Add carrots and red onions and coat. 
  4. Arrange chicken pieces on the sheet pan. Scatter vegetables, lemon wedges, and olives around the chicken. Season with salt and pepper. 
  5. Cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the chicken registers 165° and the carrots are tender, about 45 minutes. 
  6. Garnish with chopped cilantro and more lemon wedges. Serve with couscous.
  7. To make the couscous: Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add almonds and cook until toasted and golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
  8. Add the saucepan back to the burner and add couscous. Let cook until toasted and slightly brown, about 3 to 4 minutes.
  9. Add water to the saucepan, increase heat, bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and let cook until all of the water has been absorbed about 8 to 9 minutes.
  10. Remove from heat, and add olive oil, orange zest, orange juice, vinegar, salt and pepper to taste. Toss to combine. 
  11. Transfer to a bowl and garnish with toasted almonds. 
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 627Total Fat: 35gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 26gCholesterol: 88mgSodium: 298mgCarbohydrates: 49gFiber: 8gSugar: 28gProtein: 33g

All information and tools presented and written within this site are intended for informational purposes only.

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Chicken Satay Bowls with Peanut Dressing | Baked Bree

Monday 8th of November 2021

[…] Sheet Pan Moroccan Chicken […]

King

Wednesday 15th of September 2021

So yummy. I will definitely try this chicken recipe. Thank you for sharing such amazing content.

cookinglab

Wednesday 4th of August 2021

First of all amazing combination of chicken with olive . Its very simple easy to made . Thank you so much for sharing this

Bree Hester

Tuesday 10th of August 2021

You are welcome!

sophiya007

Tuesday 3rd of August 2021

I made this last week for my circle of relatives. We have 3 teens residing with us, and this become AMAZING. The compliments kept coming in! It changed into clean to make. I have all of the spices in hand. I had to go and purchase the olives and apricots.

Taste buds were so satisfied to have something to eat full of taste and so exceptional from the norm! Thanks!

Bree Hester

Tuesday 10th of August 2021

Wow, that is high praise!!

Davis

Thursday 29th of July 2021

It looks so tasty. really liked this simple recipe. Surely, I will try it. Thanks for sharing the amazing recipe.

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