Slow-Cooked Chicken with Freekeh and Toasted Almonds

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-16 · Updated 2026-05-16

Tender chicken thighs braised with fragrant spices and served over nutty freekeh grain topped with crunchy toasted almonds. This Lebanese-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 75 minutes, pairs bone-in chicken thighs, olive oil, onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 6 pieces bone-in chicken thighs
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large, sliced onion
• 3 minced garlic cloves
• 1 tsp ground allspice
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup freekeh
• 1/3 cup chopped toasted almonds
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Season 6 bone-in chicken thighs with 1 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Brown chicken thighs for 4-5 minutes on each side until golden, then remove and set aside.
2. Step 2: Add 1 large sliced onion and 3 minced garlic cloves to the pot and sauté for 5 minutes until softened and fragrant.
3. Step 3: Stir in 1 tsp ground allspice, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, and 1 tsp ground coriander, cooking for 1 minute to release aromas.
4. Step 4: Return the chicken thighs to the pot and pour in 2 cups chicken broth. Bring to a simmer, cover, and reduce heat to low. Cook gently for 45 minutes until chicken is tender.
5. Step 5: Meanwhile, rinse 1 cup freekeh under cold water and cook according to package instructions, usually simmering in water for about 20 minutes until tender but chewy. Drain any excess water.
6. Step 6: Fluff cooked freekeh with a fork and stir in 1/3 cup chopped toasted almonds and 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro.
7. Step 7: Serve the braised chicken thighs over the freekeh mixture, spooning some of the cooking broth over the top for moisture.