Moroccan Chicken Tagine with Olives – Easy & Flavorful Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes   |   Cook Time: 45-50 minutes   |   Total Time: 1 hour   |   Servings: 4-6

This easy Moroccan Chicken Tagine with Olives is a classic North African dish featuring tender chicken marinated in aromatic spices, cooked with carrots and green olives. It’s flavorful, healthy, and surprisingly simple to make — perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions.

Serve it with crusty bread, couscous, or rice to soak up the rich and delicious sauce.

Ingredients

For the Marinade:

• 1 kg chicken pieces
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
• ¼ cup olive oil (or less)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp ginger powder
• 1 tsp tomato paste
• Black pepper to taste

Other Ingredients:

• 2 carrots, sliced into rounds
• 1 can green olives, pitted
• 1 cup water

Instructions

1. Blanch the olives in boiling water for 5 minutes to remove excess salt, then drain and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine the chopped onion, minced garlic, parsley, salt, ginger powder, black pepper, olive oil, and tomato paste. Mix well to form a marinade.
3. Add the chicken pieces to the marinade and rub thoroughly until every piece is well coated. Let it marinate for at least 15 minutes (or 1–2 hours for deeper flavor).

4. Add the sliced carrots and blanched olives to the marinated chicken. Mix everything gently.
5. Place the mixture in an oven bag or a tagine pot. Add 1 cup of water. Seal the bag loosely (not too tight to prevent explosion) and place it in a baking tray.
6. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for 45-50 minutes, or until the chicken is tender and nicely browned.

Tips for Success

• Marinate the chicken for 1–2 hours (or overnight) for the best flavor.
• Use high-quality green olives for authentic taste.
• You can cook this in a traditional tagine pot on the stove instead of using the oven.
• Serve hot with fresh bread, couscous, or rice to enjoy the rich sauce.

Enjoy this comforting, aromatic, and flavorful Moroccan Chicken Tagine with Olives — a delicious taste of Morocco at home!