Slash and roast: The trick to cooking this spicy, sticky chicken in 30 minutes

Name: Slash and roast: The trick to cooking this spicy, sticky chicken in 30 minutes
Cook time: 1 h
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Ingredients: 4 small sweet potatoes, cut into wedges; 1 tbsp harissa; 1 tsp smoked paprika; ¼ cup honey; 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil; juice and finely grated rind of 1 small orange; 2 garlic cloves, crushed; 1 x 1.2kg chicken, halved, at room temperature; rocket leaves, to serve

Harissa whole roast chicken and caramelised sweet potato is the midweek recipe you’ll make on repeat.

Jessica Brook

June 25, 2025

This easy roast chicken comes with a sticky harissa glaze and caramelised sweet potato.James Moffatt

easyTime:30 mins - 1 hourServes:4

Combine an easy chicken roast with a sticky harissa glaze and caramelised sweet potatoes for this high-impact, low-effort midweek meal.

Ingredients

4 small sweet potatoes, cut into wedges
1 tbsp harissa
1 tsp smoked paprika
¼ cup honey
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
juice and finely grated rind of 1 small orange
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 x 1.2kg chicken, halved, at room temperature
rocket leaves, to serve

Method

Step 1
Preheat the oven to 200C fan-forced (220C conventional). Place the sweet potato on a baking tray lined with nonstick baking paper.
Step 2
Combine the harissa, paprika, honey and oil in a small bowl. Brush half the mixture over the cut sides of the sweet potato. Set aside.
Step 3
Add the orange rind, juice and garlic to the remaining harissa mixture and season well with salt and pepper.
Step 4
Place the chicken on a chopping board, skin side up, and, using a small sharp knife, cut 6 slashes 1.5cm deep into the fleshiest parts of the chicken. Rub the harissa marinade all over.
Step 5
Place the chicken, skin side up, on a separate lightly greased baking tray. Place the two trays in the oven. Roast the sweet potatoes for 20 minutes, turning halfway through, or until caramelised and tender.
Step 6
Roast the chicken for 30 minutes, or until lightly charred and cooked through. Set aside to rest, loosely covered for 5 minutes.
Step 7
Cut the chicken into pieces and serve with sweet potatoes and rocket.