My good friend Elizabeth gave me a bunch of Za'atar Spice to experiment with in the kitchen. I decided to keep it easy for my first recipe and made this Simple Za'atar Chicken Breast recipe.
If you are not familiar with Za'atar, it's a middle eastern spice compromised of a bunch of other herbs & spices like dried oregano, thyme, marjoram, sumac and toasted sesame seeds. You can read more about it by reading this article about Za'atar on Wikipedia.
For this recipe, you can cook the chicken breasts using whatever method you prefer. If you are baking the breasts, it should take 25-30 minutes at 350°F. But you should always cook meat to internal temperature, not time.
🐓 How to Handle Raw Chicken
Leave the chicken in the fridge until ready to use.
Be careful of dripping juices. Clean up immediately.
Do not wash raw chicken (which prevents cross-contamination).
Wash all utensils and cutting boards (if applicable).
If marinating the chicken, make sure you toss the juices before you cook. Don't ever use the juice from the marinade.
Wash your hands after handling raw chicken.
💭 Ingredient Substitution
The Za'atar Spice may be a little difficult to find depending on where you are. If you are not in the mood to make your own, Dukkah or Harissa would be acceptable substitutes. If your local grocery store simply does not carry exotic spices, your best bet would be to substitute the Za'atar Spice for Italian Seasoning. Obviously this will change the flavor profile of this recipe.
For more great recipes with Chicken Breasts, I suggest you check these recipes out:
📋 Gather your Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make this Simple Za'atar Chicken Breasts recipe (see recipe card for quantities): Chicken Breasts, Za'atar Spice, Olive Oil and Garlic Cloves.
🥣 How to make Za'atar Chicken Breasts
In a small bowl, mix together the Za'atar spice, minced garlic, and olive oil. Spread over chicken.
Bake or grill the chicken breasts until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
📖 Recipe
Simple Za'atar Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
- 2 Chicken Breasts, boneless & skinless
- 4 teaspoon Za'atar Spice
- 4 teaspoon Olive Oil
- 1 Garlic Clove, minced
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together the Za'atar spice, minced garlic, and olive oil. Spread over chicken.
- Bake or grill the chicken breasts until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Nutrition
Nutritional information provided for this recipe is based on 1 serving. This information is an estimate and may vary based on several factors. If nutritional information is important to you and your diet, please verify this recipe with a Registered Dietitian.
Rob Casey
Great looking recipe, what is the salt measurement?
Chef Rodney
Thanks. Actually no salt is needed for this recipe. The first time I made it I used salt and found it was not needed with the Za'atar spices. I forgot to remove the reference in one location so thanks for bringing that to my attention. I have since updated the post.
Nia
Great recipe! I doubled it, and made this today; it’s delicious!
I added a squeeze of lemon on the chicken before and after baking, only 1tsp of garlic (heaping), and a touch of smoked paprika into the mix.
I also baked the chicken for 25 minutes, took it out of the oven, and ‘rested’ it with a piece of tented foil for about 10 minutes.
The chicken was tender, and loaded with flavor.
Thank you for this easy recipe!
Oh, and I LOVE za’atar on everything, including baked on bread😄