• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Good Hearted Woman logo
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Bread
    • Comfort Food
    • Cooking Basics
    • Condiments
    • German Recipes
    • Main Dishes
    • Salads
    • Seafood
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
    • Sourdough
    • Snacks
    • Sweets
    • 30-Minute Meals
  • Cozy Living
    • Arts & Crafts
    • For Music Lovers
    • Food Holidays
  • US Travel
    • One Day in...
    • Pacific
    • Rocky Mountains
    • Southwest
    • The South
    • Hikes Near & Far
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Cozy Living
  • Road Trips
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Cozy Living
    • Road Trips
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Apricot Chicken Tagine with Ginger & Mint

    September 19, 2016 • Updated: August 7, 2022 • by Renée B. • This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe   Print Recipe
    Apricot Chicken Tagine with Ginger & Mint

    Apricot Chicken Tagine with ginger and mint is an exotic, warmly spiced stew that is easy to prepare, family-friendly, and oh so delicious!

    Closeup of Chicken tagine, garnished with fresh herbs and pine nuts.
    Jump to:
    • What's the Story Behind this Recipe?
    • What Goes into this Recipe
    • How to Make Moroccan Chicken Tagine
    • FAQs & Expert Tips
    • More Cozy Chicken Recipes
    • Apricot Chicken Tagine with Ginger & Mint

    What's the Story Behind this Recipe?

    Some years ago, Mr B and I took a French-Moroccan cooking class, where we learned to make (among other things) chicken tagine. At it's core a North African stew, tagine is comprised of warm spices, tender meats, fresh vegetables and herbs, and dried fruits. Over the years, our apricot chicken tagine recipe has evolved into a savory, satisfying, family favorite.

    Tagine Tradition

    Tagines are traditionally made in a distinctive cone-topped, clay-pot slow cooker of the same name. (In other words, you make a tagine in a tagine.) Don't worry though: you can make this apricot chicken tagine recipe in whatever cooking vessel you would typically make chicken stew (i.e., cast iron skillet, Dutch oven, etc.).

    Picture of a traditional tagine pot.

    Tagines are made for making memories. They are traditionally eaten communally, with diners gathered around the tagine eating by hand, using pieces of bread to scoop up meat, veggies and sauce. A family meal doesn't get much better than that! 

    What Goes into this Recipe

    Moroccan cuisine is a fusion of flavors reflecting the region's many cultural influences. This dish, characteristic of the region, is a complex mix of savory and sweet ingredients.

    Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

    ★ Chicken: Use chicken thighs or legs, or a combination.

    ★ Harissa: Harissa is a North African spice blend made up of hot chili peppers and other spices, including coriander, cumin, and garlic.

    Harissa comes in a wet paste or a dry powder, with varying degrees of spiciness, and has a deep, roasted pepper flavor with just a hint of sweetness. 

    I’ve chosen to use the dry spice for this recipe, but you can substitute the spice paste if that’s what you have on hand.

    ★ Onion: We prefer to use yellow onions for this recipe; however, any regular onion will work.

    ★ Dried apricots: Dried apricots are common in Moroccan cooking. Any dried apricot will work for this recipe.

    ★ Raisins: We use golden raisins because they have a more subtle flavor and lack the bite of dark raisins; however, any raisin will work.

    ★ Pine nuts: You can substitute slivered almond for the pine nuts, or even leave them out entirely if necessary.

    How to Make Moroccan Chicken Tagine

    Stovetop Prep

    Combine spice rub ingredients in a medium bowl. With hands, rub mixture all over chicken, thoroughly covering all surfaces. Use all of the rub.

    Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a stovetop-safe tagine, Dutch oven, or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and cook until lightly browned on all sides; about 3-4 minutes on each side. Remove to a plate and let rest.

    Into the same cooking vessel you used for the chicken, add sliced onions, reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are tender and just beginning to brown; about 10 minutes.

    Add minced ginger and garlic and sauté for another 2 minutes. Transfer the prepared onions to a separate bowl and set aside.

    Arrange browned chicken into the bottom of tagine or other cooking vessel.

    Overhead shot of baked chicken in red tagine.

    Layer on top of the chicken (in order): carrots, chopped apricots, raisins, and prepared onion mixture.

    Whisk together chicken broth, honey, tomato paste, lemon juice, cumin, cinnamon, and harissa in a medium bowl.

    Pour broth mixture evenly over the top of your little chicken mountain.

    Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, just hot enough to keep it simmering.

    Cook & Serve

    Cover the tagine and cook:

    Oven (preferred method): Bake in 325°F | 165°C oven for 35-60 minutes; until chicken is very tender.

    Stovetop: Cover and simmer on low, checking occasionally, for 35-60 minutes; until chicken is very tender.

    Remove tagine from oven. Remove lid, fold in half of the fresh mint, and allow to cool for 15 minutes so that the mint infuses into the dish and the juices thicken a bit.

    Baked chicken in tagine.

    Season to taste. Garnish with remaining fresh mint and toasted pine nuts (optional). Serve with warm bread or couscous.

    FAQs & Expert Tips

    Short on time? With one small adaptation, this dish can go from stove-top to table in under an hour! Just substitute in boneless, skinless thigh fillets and cook it for it for just 25 minutes.

    Extra time on your hands? For crushingly melty-delicious, fall-apart tender meat, heat the oven to 300° F and cook in covered tagine for 2 - 2 ½ hours. 

    Do you need a clay tagine dish to make chicken tagine?

    You do not need a fancy tagine dish to cook a tagine recipe! You can make this (or any tagine recipe) in whatever cooking vessel you would typically make chicken stew - a cast iron skillet, Dutch oven, or even covered casserole dish!

    What goes good with Chicken Tagine?

    Moroccan Carrot Salad with Harissa, Feta & Fresh Herbs makes a quick, refreshing side for this Chicken Tagine. An exotic mix of zesty citrus, sweet carrots, fresh herbs, and feta, it is dressed with a warmly spiced, piquant honey-lemon vinaigrette. (Ready to serve in just 15 minutes!)

    Should chicken be browned in a tagine pot?

    If your tagine has a ceramic base, it is best to brown the chicken in a cast-iron skillet and then transfer the browned chicken to the tagine before putting it into the oven.

    If your tagine has a steel-clad or cast-iron base (or you are making it in a Dutch oven or other metal-based vessel) you can brown it on the stovetop right in your cooking vessel.

    Chicken tagine garnished with mint flowers, pine nuts, and fresh herbs, in the bottom of a tagine pot..

    More Cozy Chicken Recipes

    • Arroz Con Pollo (Puerto Rican Chicken & Rice)
    • Classic Homemade Chicken Pot Pie
    • Caribbean Chicken Stew
    • Chicken Saag (Spinach Chicken Curry)

    For more recipes and cozy living tips, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook for all of the latest updates.

    Closeup of Chicken tagine, garnished with fresh herbs and pine nuts.
    5 from 6 votes

    Apricot Chicken Tagine with Ginger & Mint

    Apricot Chicken Tagine with Ginger & Mint is an exotic, warmly-spiced Moroccan stew.
    Print Pin Add to Shopping List Go to Shopping List
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: French-Moroccan
    Diet: Gluten Free, Low Lactose
    Prep Time:25 minutes
    Cook Time:1 hour
    Total Time:1 hour 25 minutes
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 281kcal
    Author: Renee
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 1 Tagine
    • 1 heavy skillet

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Metric
    Spice-rub
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon harissa dry spice
    • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
    • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    Tagine
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 large onion halved and thinly sliced lengthwise
    • 1½ tablespoon minced fresh ginger
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 6 - 8 chicken thighs or drumsticks; skin removed
    • ⅔ cup dried apricots coarsely chopped
    • ¼ cup golden raisins
    • 4 medium carrots peeled and cut into ½” inch pieces
    • 1½ cups chicken broth
    • 2 tablespoons honey
    • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
    • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
    • 1 teaspoons ground cumin
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1 teaspoon harissa dry spice
    • ¼ cup fresh mint loosely packed; chopped
    • 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts optional

    Instructions

    Chicken Prep

    • Combine spice rub ingredients in a medium bowl.
      With hands, rub mixture all over chicken, thoroughly covering all surfaces. Use all of the rub.
    • Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a stovetop-safe tagine, Dutch oven, or cast iron skillet over medium heat.
      Add chicken and cook until lightly browned on all sides; about 3-4 minutes on each side. Remove to a plate and let rest.
    • Into the same cooking vessel you used for the chicken, add sliced onions, reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are tender and just beginning to brown; about 10 minutes.
      Add minced ginger and garlic and sauté for another 2 minutes. Transfer the prepared onions to a bowl and set aside.
    • Arrange browned chicken into the bottom of tagine, then layer on top (in order): carrots, chopped apricots and raisins, and prepared onions.
    • Whisk together chicken broth, honey, tomato paste, lemon juice, cumin, cinnamon, and harissa in a medium bowl.
      Pour broth mixture evenly over the top of your little chicken mountain.
      Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, just hot enough to keep it simmering.

    Cook & Serve

    • Cover the tagine and cook:
      Oven (preferred method): Bake in 325°F | 165°C oven for 35-60 minutes; until chicken is very tender.
      Stovetop: Cover and simmer on low, checking occasionally, for 35-60 minutes; until chicken is very tender.
    • Remove tagine from oven.
      Remove lid, fold in half of the fresh mint, and allow to cool for 15 minutes so that the mint infuses into the dish and the juices thicken a bit.
      Season to taste. Garnish with remaining fresh mint and toasted pine nuts (optional). Serve with warm bread or couscous.

    Notes

    Short on time? With one small adaptation, this dish can go from stove-top to table in under an hour! Just substitute in boneless, skinless thigh fillets and cook it for it for just 25 minutes.
    Extra time on your hands? For crushingly melty-delicious, fall-apart tender meat, heat the oven to 300° F and cook in covered tagine for 2 - 2 ½ hours. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 281kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 779mg | Potassium: 698mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 7510IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 2mg
    This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
    Have you tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details.

    More Main Dish Recipes

    • Thanksgiving Roast Stuffed Pumpkin
    • Chicken Pillows
    • Easy Spaghetti Pie
    • Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash
    22067 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Yummly
    • Flipboard

    About Renée B.

    Renée is writer, music maker, artist, and storyteller. In her spare time, you can find her writing love songs about cowboys, exploring the moss-covered nooks and crannies of the Pacific Northwest, and making music with her talented singer-husband.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Laura says

      July 20, 2021 at 11:21 am

      I love this recipe and have made it several times! Just wondering--Have you ever substituted lamb for chicken? I think it would be an easy swap but not sure how long to cook it.

      Reply
      • Renée says

        July 21, 2021 at 10:49 am

        Thank you, Laura! I'm so glad you like it - it one of my all-time favorite stews. I've never tried to make it with lamb, but I imagine the cooking times would be similar, with the lamb perhaps taking a little less time. Chicken should be cooked to at least 165°F [75°C], while lamb only needs to be 145°F [65°C] to be done. (Note: Ground lamb needs to be 160°F [70°C].) If you do make it with lamb, please come back and let us know how it turned out!

        Reply
    2. Stephanie says

      May 24, 2021 at 2:31 pm

      5 stars
      This was soooo incredibly delicious! I did the boneless skinless chicken thigh route, but I still had to cook it in the oven for the whole hour because the carrots weren't cooked yet (thankfully chicken thighs are very forgiving). =0) It was phenomenal!!! I will definitely be making this again and again. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Renée says

        May 24, 2021 at 2:51 pm

        Thanks so much for the great feedback, Stephanie! I'm so glad the chicken thighs worked for you!

        Reply
    « Older Comments

    Primary Sidebar

    Adorable middle-aged couple in forest setting. (i.e., Me & Mr B)

    Join me & Mr B for the best in home cooking and cozy living - from the beautiful Pacific Northwest and beyond.

    More about us →

    Follow Us

    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter

    fresh recipes

    • Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherries
    • Classic Hot Buttered Rum
    • Cinnamon Roll Wreath (Danish Pastry Ring)
    • Orange Tea Ring (Danish Wreath)
    • Team Colors 7 Layer Dip
    • Orange Spiced Cranberry Sauce

    game day eats

    • Team Colors 7 Layer Dip
    • Crispy Sauerkraut Fritters (Easy Air Fryer Recipe)
    • 20 Best Game Day Food Ideas
    • Sweet & Spicy Grilled Buffalo Wings
    • Cool Buffalo Blue Cheese Dip
    • Roasted Garlic Spinach Artichoke Dip

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Disclaimer
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Statement
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Statement

    Follow

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • Twitter

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Meet Me & Mr B

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 The Good Hearted Woman. All rights reserved.

    22067 shares
    22.1K shares
    We Value Your Privacy
    To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
    Functional Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    {title} {title} {title}
    We Value Your Privacy
    We use cookies to make this website a better place. Cookies help to provide a more personalized experience and relevant advertising for you, and web analytics for us. To learn more about the different cookies we use, check out our Cookie Policy.
    Functional Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    {title} {title} {title}
    We Value Your Privacy
    To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
    Functional Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    {title} {title} {title}
    We Value Your Privacy
    We use cookies to make this website a better place. Cookies help to provide a more personalized experience and relevant advertising for you, and web analytics for us. To learn more about the different cookies we use, check out our Cookie Policy.
    Functional Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    {title} {title} {title}