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Mediterranean Roasted Chicken Breasts. You're going to love this recipe, because it can all be made ahead and just popped into the oven at the last minute, making it a wonderful dish for guests or for a healthy, easy dinner.
I've made quite a few changes and, though we really enjoyed the original recipe, it's actually evolved into one of our very favorite meals here at The Café. I tinkered around with the spices, cutting back on the smoked paprika and adding crushed (or ground) coriander, oregano and a bit of curry powder. I exchanged the crushed red pepper for a splash of Sriracha chili sauce and layered everything with slices of super thinly shaved fresh lemon.
I love bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts. Though we don't eat the skin (as it adds a lot of fat to a very lean protein), it keeps the chicken moist and tender as it bakes and adds a ton of delicious flavor. So for roasting, I always purchase this type of chicken and stock my freezer when one of my local markets has a great sale. The thing I don't like about them is that they're so large and bulky and having to pull the meat off the bone makes for messier eating, not the greatest when serving guests.
Did you know that many butchers at your everyday grocery store will cut the meat off of the bone for you? At no charge? When I'm in a hurry, as is often my dilemma, I'll take advantage of this service. However, whenever possible, I take my sharpest knife and do the job myself. It only takes minutes and the advantage here is that I get to throw the bones (still clinging with meat) in the freezer. When the urge strikes me, I've got the base for a delicious pot of soup!
Don't worry though, you can just as well make this Mediterranean Roasted Chicken Breasts with the whole skin-on, bone-in breast, it just won't be quite as pretty, but still makes a super delicious dinner!
The other changes I made were using cannellini beans instead of garbanzo beans. I love garbanzo beans, but Mr. Café (aka known as my husband, photographer, chief taste tester and cohort in crime) is not so fond of them, and they do tend to get a teeny bit tough as they roast. You could use either, but the cannellini beans took the whole thing up a notch for us.
One last change I made was the sauce. The original recipe called for adding some of the same spice mixture as used on the chicken to the Greek yogurt. I decided to keep it simple, cool and refreshing and added a smashed avocado, the juice of a lemon, a bit of sea salt and a splash of olive oil to my Greek yogurt. To us it's just the crème de la crème for an already delightful dinner.
Oh, and make a little extra, because the leftovers are quite amazing piled into a pita! I love to warm a pocketless pita in a hot pan with a tiny bit of olive oil. I spread a bit of hummus down the center topped with a generous spoonful of the tomato mixture along with some of the chicken, thinly sliced. Shower it with fresh cilantro, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a dollop of the avocado and Greek yogurt sauce. Oh my! It's the best lunch EVER!
- ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves pressed
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- 1 teaspoon sriracha chili sauce*
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 medium lemon very thinly sliced
- 4 chicken breast halves boned, but with skin left on (You can use the whole breast with skin and bones, if desired.)
- 2 15 ounce cans cannellini beans rinsed and drained
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes. I like to use one pint of red and one of yellow or orange just to make it pretty
- 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro divided
- ½ cup plain yogurt or Greek yogurt
- 1 medium ripe avocado smoothly mashed
- 1 Juice of 1 lemon
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
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Preheat oven to 450°F. Mix first 9 ingredients in medium bowl.
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Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large sauté pan. Rub each chicken breast with about 2 teaspoons of the olive oil/spice mixture. Place in heated pan, skin side down and sauté for several minutes until skin is golden brown. Remove from pan and place in a large oven-safe dish.
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In a large bowl, combine remaining oil mixture with the beans, tomatoes, lemon slices and ½ cup cilantro, stirring gently to coat. Add to dish with chicken, surrounding chicken, but not covering. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Roast until chicken is cooked through, about 20-25 minutes. Sprinkle with ½ cup cilantro. Serve with Greek yogurt sauce.
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Combine all ingredients. If preparing ahead, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
Serves 4-6 depending on how large the chicken breasts are.
Alex says
chicken thighs with skin/bone. marinate 1 hr or so with oil/mixture. 30 mins in oven. Fantastic.
Actually, appreciate all the little tips supplied in other recipes on this website. Excellent.
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks, Alex!
Cyndi C says
Soooooo tasty! Best recipe ever. I opted out of beans and it tasted just great. My boys said juicy, flavor, savory, yummy.
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks so much, Cyndi, for sharing your results. I'm so happy you enjoyed it!
Heather Lampman says
I've probably made this dish about 7-8 times. It's perfect! Super low calorie and healthy, EXPLOSION of taste in my mouth, and that lemony avocado dip is the perfect finish. Thank you so much for this recipe! As an avid cook who likes to have friends over for laid-back dinners, this recipe never lets me down.
Cheryl says
Incredible!! So flavorful and healthy. Thrilled to discover a winner we will make over and over again!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks, Cheryl. We love this recipe too! Appreciate you taking the time to share your results!
Adrienne Johnson says
Hello. My daughter-in-law served your delicious recipe to us a few weeks ago. Last night, I made it for a family whose 7 year old daughter just had serious brain surgery. As I followed the recipe directions, I have these questions: 1) Should both sides of the chicken breasts be browned in the saute pan? 2) When placing the chicken breasts in the roasting pan for the oven, should the breasts be placed skin side up? 3) Do you recommend covering the roasting pan partway through the roasting time in the oven, so the contents don't dry out? 4) on the website photo, I'm wondering what the side dish is that is alongside the Mediterranean Chicken--is it quinoa? Thanks so much.
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Adrienne, here are the answers to your questions:
1.) No, just brown the skin side of the breasts.
2.) skin side up.
3.) No, don't cover it. There is enough moisture in the pan to keep them moist and tender.
4.) I served it with a lemon rosemary Israeli couscous.
Arlene says
Is there a separate recipe for the lemon rosemary Israeli couscous?
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Arlene, this is the closest thing I have to it: lemon rosemary Israeli couscous?
Judi says
Another family favourite. I LOVE those spices but usually they are too strong/hot for me - this is PERFECT and I plan to make it again VERY soon. What a pretty and delicious meal. You guys just keep getting better all the time! I am doing your crustless quiche for a brunch with friends tomorrow. I hardly ever use my cookbooks any more (matter of fact have passed most of them along) as I always go to YOUR web site to look for ideas. And I never come away disappointed. Have a great day.
Danielle says
This was amazing! It was more an Indian taste to me though. Store was out of lemons so I just threw lemon juice over the chicken.
Chris Scheuer says
So glad you enjoyed them Danielle!
Shelley says
This recipe is phenomenal! We decided to have this for our Sunday dinner and the whole family loved it. We will definitely be making this again 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
Chris Scheuer says
You're absolutely welcome Shelley! Come by The Café often!
SW says
Made this tonight and it came out amazing! Threw together a couscous with pine nuts, peas, raisins, onion and garlic. Thanks for sharing. Oh! And your photo looks 100 times better than the one on Epicurious!
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks so much for your comment! It's just such a delicious, healthy comfort food, isn't it?
Haley says
This is so easy & fantastic! & refreshingly different 🙂
Chris Scheuer says
Thanks Haley!