Why You’ll Love This this Sweet & Savory Moroccan Chicken
This Moroccan chicken brings together the best of both worlds with its perfect sweet and savory balance that’ll have your taste buds doing a little happy dance. The combination of warm spices like cinnamon and cumin with sweet raisins and briny olives creates this amazing flavor complexity that honestly makes regular chicken dinners seem kind of boring in comparison. Plus, it’s one of those magical one-skillet meals that comes together in just about 30 minutes, which means you can have something that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen without actually spending hours in the kitchen.
Ingredients List
Getting this Moroccan chicken on your table starts with gathering just eight simple ingredients that you probably already have hanging around your kitchen.
- 4 boneless chicken breasts, cubed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cups salsa
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/4 cup black olives, sliced
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
A few things worth noting about these ingredients from a health perspective:
- This recipe packs in lean protein from the chicken while keeping added fats minimal with just one tablespoon of olive oil
- The salsa brings vegetables and lycopenes to the party without adding much sodium if you choose a lower-sodium variety
- Raisins contribute natural sweetness and fiber, though they do add some concentrated fruit sugars
- Spices like cinnamon and cumin offer antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits without any extra calories
- You can easily swap the honey for a sugar-free alternative if you’re watching your sugar intake
Step by Step Directions
Making this flavorful Moroccan chicken requires just two simple cooking steps that come together in about 20 minutes.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add 4 cubed boneless chicken breasts to the skillet.
- Cook chicken pieces until fully cooked through, about 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in 3 cups salsa, 1/2 cup raisins, 1/4 cup sliced black olives, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon cumin.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer the mixture for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Serve immediately over couscous or hot rice.
For the most aromatic results, freshly grind your spices using a professional electric grinder to release their full flavor potential.
Substitutions and Variations
- Honey substitutes – Maple syrup or brown sugar work in a pinch, though the flavor will shift slightly toward breakfast territory, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
- Make it saucier – Add a splash of chicken broth or white wine if you want more liquid to soak into that couscous.
Additional Things to Serve With This Dish
This dish practically begs for Mediterranean and Middle Eastern sides that won’t compete with those warm, complex flavors.
- Flatbread or pita – Perfect for scooping up every last bit of that sweet-savory sauce, because letting any of it go to waste should be a crime.
- Roasted vegetables – Think carrots, bell peppers, or zucchini tossed with olive oil and a pinch of the same spices you’re already using.
- Simple green salad – Something crisp and lemony to cut through all that richness, maybe with cucumber and fresh herbs.
- Hummus or baba ganoush – Because why not double down on the Mediterranean atmosphere, and honestly, when is extra dip ever a bad idea?
- Warm couscous with almonds – If you want to get fancy with your grain game, toasted nuts add a lovely crunch that plays beautifully with those raisins.
- Yogurt sauce – A dollop of plain Greek yogurt mixed with garlic and mint cools everything down and adds that tangy contrast your taste buds are craving.
Cooking Tips & Tricks (Chef’s Notes)
This recipe is more forgiving than my last relationship, but a few tricks will make it even better.
- Don’t rush the chicken browning – Let those cubes get some real color before adding the sauce, because bland chicken is basically a food crime and we’re not having that today.
- Taste as you go with the honey – Some salsas are sweeter than others, so start with less honey and add more if needed, unless you want dessert chicken which honestly sounds kind of weird.
- Let it actually simmer – Those 15 minutes aren’t just a suggestion, the flavors need time to get acquainted and become best friends, so resist the urge to rush things.
- Add the raisins halfway through – Toss them in after about 7-8 minutes of simmering so they plump up without turning into little flavor bombs that explode in your mouth, though actually that mightn’t be terrible.
- Fresh cinnamon makes a difference – If your cinnamon has been sitting in the spice cabinet since the Clinton administration, maybe grab a new container because stale spices are just sad little flavor ghosts.
- Leftovers are magical – This dish tastes even better the next day when all those flavors have had a sleepover together, so don’t feel bad about making extra.
Nutritional Facts
This Moroccan chicken packs surprising nutritional value alongside its bold flavors.
- Protein powerhouse – Each serving delivers about 35-40 grams of lean protein from the chicken, which is basically your muscles doing a happy dance.
- Heart-healthy fats – The olive oil and olives provide monounsaturated fats that your cardiovascular system will thank you for later.
- Antioxidant boost – Cinnamon and cumin aren’t just flavor heroes, they’re loaded with antioxidants that fight inflammation like tiny delicious warriors.
- Natural energy – The raisins and honey provide quick-release carbohydrates without the crash you get from processed sugars.
- Fiber content – You’ll get about 4-5 grams of fiber per serving, mostly from the salsa vegetables and raisins.
- Low sodium option – Using fresh salsa instead of jarred can cut sodium considerably, though to be frank, most of us are grabbing the jar.
- Iron and potassium – The combination of chicken, olives, and raisins provides a decent dose of these essential minerals.
- Approximately 380-420 calories per serving – Depends on your rice or couscous portion, but it’s a satisfying meal that won’t derail your day.
- Naturally gluten-free – Just serve it over rice instead of couscous and you’re good to go.
Fun “Did You Know?”
While this recipe might seem like fusion cuisine, authentic Moroccan cooking has been mixing sweet and savory flavors for over a thousand years.
I find it fascinating that Morocco’s position as a trading crossroads brought together influences from Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. The combination of cinnamon and cumin in this dish reflects that heritage perfectly.
Did you know that tagines, Morocco’s signature cooking vessels, create a unique steam circulation that concentrates flavors? While we’re using a skillet here, you’re still experiencing those traditional flavor profiles that have made Moroccan cuisine beloved worldwide for centuries.
