Chicken Yassa is a popular chicken dish originating from Senegal. This meal is the epitome of comfort food: marinated roasted chicken with onions, lemon juice, olives, garlic, and broth served over rice. It has a subtle heat to it as well that really makes for a flavorful meal.
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This recipe makes quite a bit of food, a good 8 servings. However, in my house, leftovers this good don’t last very long!
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Ingredients:
- 6 cups sliced onion (about 3 pounds)
- 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 lb chicken drumsticks
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
- Cooking spray
- 1 1/2 tablespoons peanut oil
- 2 cups thinly sliced carrot
- 1 1/2 cups less-sodium, fat-free chicken broth
- 1/2 cup pimiento-stuffed olives
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 Scotch bonnet pepper, pierced with a fork
- 4 cups hot cooked long-grain rice (optional)
Combine the sliced onions, lemon juice, salt, pepper and jalapeno pepper in a large bowl.
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Divide evenly between 2 (1-gallon) heavy-duty zip-top plastic bags. Add the chicken to the bags and seal.
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Toss each bag well to coat. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours, turning bags occasionally. When ready to cook, preheat your broiler.
Remove chicken from bags, reserving the marinade and onion mixture. Add the chicken to a broiler rack coated with cooking spray.
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Broil for 6 minutes on each side or until lightly browned.
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While the chicken cooks, strain the marinade through a sieve over a bowl, reserving both the marinade and onion mixture.
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Heat the peanut oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes.
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Add reserved marinade and bring to a boil. Cook for 1 minute. Add the broiled chicken, carrot, chicken broth, olives, water, mustard, and Scotch bonnet pepper.
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Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour or until chicken is done. Discard the Scotch bonnet and serve over rice.
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The lemon is the star of the show in this dish without being tart.
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The combination of the chicken, broth, and very subtle heat made for a super comforting dish that tasted like it was cooked all day.
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We ate this for a few days because there was so much of it, so thankfully it was delicious!
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Ingredients
- 6 cups sliced onion (about 3 pounds)
- 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 lb chicken drumsticks
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
- Cooking spray
- 1 1/2 tablespoons peanut oil
- 2 cups thinly sliced carrot
- 1 1/2 cups less-sodium, fat-free chicken broth
- 1/2 cup pimiento-stuffed olives
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 Scotch bonnet pepper, pierced with a fork
- 4 cups hot cooked long-grain rice
Instructions
- Combine the sliced onions, lemon juice, salt, pepper and jalapeno pepper in a large bowl.
- Divide evenly between 2 (1-gallon) heavy-duty zip-top plastic bags. Add the chicken to the bags and seal.
- Toss each bag well to coat. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours, turning bags occasionally. When ready to cook, preheat your broiler.
- Remove chicken from bags, reserving the marinade and onion mixture. Add the chicken to a broiler rack coated with cooking spray.
- Broil for 6 minutes on each side or until lightly browned.
- While the chicken cooks, strain the marinade through a sieve over a bowl, reserving both the marinade and onion mixture.
- Heat the peanut oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes.
- Add reserved marinade and bring to a boil. Cook for 1 minute. Add the broiled chicken, carrot, chicken broth, olives, water, mustard, and Scotch bonnet pepper.
- Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour or until chicken is done. Discard the Scotch bonnet and serve over rice.

I love cooking things like shish kabobs with my kids (sweet and savory) so they can actively participate and use things they like!