Meal Prep Moroccan-Spiced Chicken & Sweet Potato — 47g Protein, Under $4.50
This is the second dinner in this volume, and it earns its place by being completely different in flavour from the first. Warm Moroccan spices — cinnamon, cumin, ginger, and turmeric — coat chicken thigh pieces that roast alongside cubed sweet potato until everything is caramelised and deeply aromatic. A scattering of dried apricot and a final squeeze of lemon brings a subtle sweetness and brightness that ties the whole dish together. This is meal prep that does not taste like meal prep — it tastes like something you would order at a restaurant that specialises in North African flavours. One sheet pan, minimal cleanup, and a genuinely exciting dinner waiting in your fridge for the rest of the week.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine the cinnamon, cumin, ginger, turmeric, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Add the chicken thigh pieces and sweet potato cubes to the bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and toss thoroughly until everything is evenly coated in the spice mixture.
- Spread the chicken and sweet potato in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, making sure pieces are not overcrowded so they roast rather than steam.
- Roast for 22–25 minutes, flipping everything once halfway through, until the chicken is cooked through to 165°F (74°C) and the sweet potato is tender with caramelised edges.
- In the final 5 minutes of roasting, scatter the chopped dried apricots over the tray so they soften slightly and warm through.
- Remove from the oven and squeeze fresh lemon juice over everything immediately.
- Allow to cool completely before transferring to a meal prep container.
- To serve: reheat and top with fresh herbs and a spoonful of Greek yogurt if using.
Notes
Buying whole chicken thighs and cutting them into chunks yourself is consistently cheaper than pre-cut chicken pieces, and the bone-in versions are even cheaper still if you do not mind removing the bone yourself. Dried apricots are sold in bulk bins at many grocery stores for a fraction of the pre-packaged price — buy only what you need for a handful of recipes. The Moroccan spice blend here uses ingredients found in almost every spice rack, meaning this entire flavour profile costs only cents per serving once you own the spices.
