Skip to main content

Preserved Lemon and Tomato Chicken

4.6

(7)

Tomato preserved lemon chicken with herbs in a skillet.
Photograph by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Christina Allen

Lemon and tomatoes? They’re actually a match made in heaven—particularly when the lemons are of the salty, funky, a little bit floral preserved variety. Finely chopped, they add their savory notes to a simple tomato sauce that you can cook your chicken breasts in directly. The result is a foolproof, weeknight-friendly recipe you’ll make all tomato season long (and maybe even longer, as the preserved lemon can really revitalize a sad midwinter tomato). Don’t skimp on the couscous as you’ll need something to sop up every last drop from the skillet.

Cook’s Note: Preserving lemons softens their rind and pith such that the whole fruit is edible—save for the seeds, which you will need to remove while chopping. If you can find preserved lemon paste at your grocery store (which is just the fruit blended to a smooth purée), save yourself the prep step and add ¼ cup scoop instead.

What you’ll need

Read More
A weeknight-friendly chicken dinner with two kinds of vinegar, dried figs, and a rich sauce. It’s restaurant-quality food in just 30 minutes.
Hot pickled cherry peppers add acidity and heat to this beloved regional pasta.
Canned cranberry jelly transforms into a glossy stir-fry sauce that coats chicken and green beans for a dish reminiscent of your favorite take-out.
A blended soup for kids who don’t want to “see” their vegetables—or anyone else looking for a steamy bowl of chicken soup comfort.
Tender, juicy chicken skewers are possible in the oven—especially when roasted alongside spiced chickpeas and finished with fresh tomatoes and salty feta.
Chicken thighs cooked inside parchment packets alongside onions and oranges makes for a flavorful dinner that’s almost entirely hands off.
These crispy cutlets feature a coconut-breadcrumb coating and sriracha mayo. Pair with a bright cuke salad to turn into a meal.
Lacking an actual tandoor, the air fryer might be the best way to make chicken tikka. Juicy, charred, and well-spiced, it’s your new weeknight MVP.