Za’atar-Roasted Chicken with Chickpeas

For an impressive meal that’s easy on prep, our Za’atar-Roasted Chicken with Chickpeas is a winner. Protein-packed chicken thighs, fiber-rich chickpeas and inflammation-fighting onions and garlic are perfectly roasted in a coating of bright lemon, heart-healthy olive oil and za’atar seasoning. It’s the za’atar that does the heavy lifting in this dish—beautifully herbal and floral, with subtle nuttiness from the toasted sesame seeds, the depth of flavor is out of this world. The best part of this dish is that as the chicken roasts, the drippings mix with the za’atar and the lemon to create a luscious, schmaltzy sauce. When you add the roasted garlic, you’ll be in baked-chicken heaven. We balanced this delicious one-pan meal with salty feta cheese and cilantro for freshness. Keep reading for our expert tips on perfectly roasted garlic, smart ingredient substitutions and more!

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Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

• We recommend placing the garlic halves cut-side down on the pan to prevent them from burning or drying out.
• If you like, you can use herbed feta cheese, and if you’re not a fan of cilantro, mint is a delicious alternative.
• We recommend roasting the chicken in the upper third of the oven. This position brings the chicken closer to the heating element, rendering the fat in the skin, which helps develop flavor while also crisping the skin.
• As the lemon slices roast, they will steam and release their juices into the mixture, ensuring that the chicken and chickpeas stay moist.

Nutrition Notes

• Chicken thighs contain more dark meat than chicken breast, which means they have more fat, but this is what keeps them moist during the cooking process. This also means they contain more iron, which is helpful for those with iron deficiency. Chicken has a mix of B vitamins, great for your metabolism, plus magnesium and potassium for heart health. 
• Chickpeas add plant-based protein to this dish, but even better, they add fiber. Fiber is essential for keeping your microbiome healthy and helpful in regulating your digestive system. 
• Garlic in all forms is beneficial for health. The strong odor from garlic signals that it is rich in sulfur compounds that are also considered antioxidants—helping to protect cells from damage. The major compound in garlic responsible for its health benefits is called allicin, and it becomes more active when garlic is crushed or cut. So cutting the garlic in this recipe helps release more of the health benefits. 
• Onions, as part of the same allium family as garlic, also have the distinction of a strong odor, heralding more sulfur-containing compounds that are beneficial for your health. Regular and long-term consumption of all types of onions has been shown to be helpful for heart health, lowering inflammation and supporting the immune system.