A Simple Sheet Pan Dinner, With Middle Eastern Flair.
A complete meal—low-carb, balanced, delicious—that cooks on just one pan in about 40 minutes and requires almost no prep? Uh, yeah. That doesn’t sound like it could possibly be a real thing. BUT IT IS! This simple chicken thigh recipe is just that easy. Truly—just arrange the chicken thighs and cauliflower on a sheet pan, add a bit of seasoning and bake. It’s the ultimate almost-not-a-recipe recipe. And our super flavor-giving trick? A quick-to-make pour of za’atar oil, drizzled over the whole meal right as it comes out of the oven. It gives the whole thing loads of fresh, bright, herby flavor—and who doesn’t love that?
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What Is Za’atar?
Za’atar is an irresistible Middle Eastern spice blend that is worth getting to know, because it will make just about anything in your kitchen taste extra delicious! Za’atar is so flavorful, it’s essentially the only spice we’re using on this simple cauliflower and chicken sheet pan dinner recipe. Like most spice blends, the exact combination of spices in a container of za’atar varies a bit from jar to jar, but typically it’s made of up of at least:
- Dried oregano
- Thyme
- Marjoram
- Sumac
- Toasted sesame seeds
OK—Za’atar! Got It. What Else Do I Need?
Not much! A bit woodsy, a bit tangy (sumac give the za’atar a lemony quality) and herbal, the za’atar gives this sheet pan dinner so much flavor, you don’t need much else. All you’ll need is:
- Chicken thighs
- Olive oil
- Cauliflower
- Shallots
- Garlic cloves
- Salt
How To Make This Easy Chicken Sheet Pan Recipe
Do you have a sheet pan? Do you have an oven? Do you know how to turn it on? OK great! Then you will be able to make this easy chicken dinner. Promise! Here’s how to do it:
- Coat the chicken thighs and cauliflower florets with some za’atar, salt and olive oil. Toss with a few shallots and spread it all out on a sheet pan.
- Bake! Now you get to chill for 30 minutes.
- While the chicken bakes, whisk together some za’atar oil—basically just oil, garlic, za’atar and salt.
- When the chicken thighs reach an internal temperature of 165°, they’re done! Pull them out of the oven.
- Drizzle with za’atar oil to finish, and then dig in.
Make A Night of It!
Served as-is, this sheet pan chicken recipe makes for a balanced, easy weeknight meal. But with big flavors, and gorgeous roasty chicken pieces, it’s also perfectly fit for company. Just spruce it up with some Middle Eastern side dishes to make it feel a bit more well-rounded. We love to serve these chicken thighs with:
Tools You’ll Need:
Do You Za’atar Now?
Snap a photo of your finished za’atar chicken sheet pan dinner and maybe even a video of the beautiful people you feed it to. Tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper so we can celebrate your kitchen victories. Happy eating!
