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Mediterranean Fennel Chicken Recipe with Lemon and Herbs

Fennel Chicken Mediterranean Style with carrots, raisins, and olives is an easy one‑pot meal for any night of the week, seasoned with cinnamon, cumin and smoked paprika for a fragrant, flavorful chicken dish.

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Fennel Chicken Mediterranean Style with carrots, raisins and olives in a skillet

Mediterranean Spices in This Fennel Chicken

Chicken breast can overcook quickly and dry out, so braising it in a fragrant sauce helps keep it tender and juicy. This fennel chicken combines warm, aromatic spices—cinnamon, cumin and smoked paprika—to create a savory base with a hint of sweetness. The addition of raisins and green olives gives the dish a distinct Mediterranean character that draws on both Moroccan and Spanish influences, so “Mediterranean style” captures the mix of flavors nicely.

Fennel Chicken with carrots, raisins and olives in cast iron pan

Sweet and Savory Balance

This recipe balances sweetness and spice. Fennel and carrots bring natural sweetness, which is amplified by raisins. Green olives add a salty, briny counterpoint while smoked paprika contributes warmth and a smoky finish. Finish the dish with chopped parsley and basil to add a fresh, herb-forward note.

Serving Suggestions

This fennel chicken pairs well with:

  • Couscous
  • Rice
  • Crusty bread
  • Potato pancakes
  • Mujadara

It’s perfect for dinner, and leftovers pack well for lunch the next day.

Mediterranean Chicken with Fennel and Carrots in the cast iron skillet

Ingredients

To prepare this Mediterranean-style fennel chicken you will need:

  • Chicken breasts
  • Fennel, cut into pieces
  • Carrots, sliced
  • Raisins
  • Green olives
  • Chicken stock
  • Orange juice
  • Cinnamon
  • Cumin
  • Smoked paprika (sweet plus a touch of hot Spanish smoked paprika if desired)
  • Basil and parsley, chopped
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Butter
  • Salt and pepper

Overhead photo of Fennel Chicken Mediterranean Style with basil

Most of these ingredients are common in general grocery stores. Spanish smoked paprika adds a distinctive flavor, but you can use the smoked paprika available locally if needed.

How to Make It

Below is a concise step-by-step guide:

  • Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet.
  • Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper and sweet smoked paprika.
  • Sear the chicken on both sides in the hot pan until golden, about 4 minutes per side, then remove and set aside.
  • Add fennel and carrots to the pan and cook, stirring, for about 7 minutes.
  • Stir in cinnamon, cumin and smoked paprika, plus a pinch of hot Spanish smoked paprika if using, and cook for about 1 minute.
  • Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the pan.
  • Add orange juice, chicken stock and raisins.
  • Cover and simmer for roughly 15 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.
  • Add the olives and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
  • Remove the chicken, slice it, arrange on a serving dish, and top with the cooked vegetables and sauce. Sprinkle with chopped basil and parsley and serve with couscous or crusty bread.

Horizontal close up photo of chicken breast cooked with fennel, carrots and mediterranean spices.

Recipe Card

Fennel Chicken Mediterranean Style with carrots, raisins and olives is a very easy, one pot meal recipe for any day of the week. It is seasoned with cinnamon, cumin and smoked paprika for an irresistible and flavorful chicken dish.

Fennel Chicken Mediterranean Style with Carrots, Raisins and Olives

A simple one‑pot recipe that combines warm spices, sweet raisins and briny olives for a balanced Mediterranean flavor.
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 3
Calories: 303 kcal
Author: Edyta

Ingredients

  • 2 chicken breasts
  • 1 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
  • 1 tbsp butter unsalted
  • 3 carrots sliced
  • 1 fennel cut into pieces
  • 1/4 cup raisins
  • 1/4 cup green olives
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 2/3 cup chicken stock
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika plus a pinch of hot Spanish smoked paprika if desired
  • Salt & Pepper
  • 1 tbsp Italian parsley chopped
  • 1 tbsp basil chopped

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil and butter in a skillet.
  2. Season chicken with salt, pepper and smoked paprika on both sides.
  3. Sear chicken in the hot pan until golden, about 4 minutes per side, then remove.
  4. Add fennel and carrots to the pan and cook, stirring, for about 7 minutes.
  5. Stir in cinnamon, cumin and smoked paprika (plus a pinch of hot Spanish smoked paprika if using) and cook for 1 minute.
  6. Return the chicken to the pan with accumulated juices.
  7. Add orange juice, chicken stock and raisins.
  8. Cover and cook for 15 minutes, until chicken is cooked through.
  9. Add olives, season to taste with salt and pepper, and adjust seasoning if needed.
  10. Remove chicken, slice, place on a serving dish, top with vegetables and sauce, sprinkle with basil and parsley, and serve.

Notes

Although this recipe uses two chicken breasts and is priced to serve three, you can easily scale it for two people. Nutritional values will change accordingly.

Nutrition

Calories: 303 kcal
| Carbohydrates: 28 g
| Protein: 19 g
| Fat: 13 g

Other Mediterranean Recipes

  • Pan Fried Haddock Mediterranean Style
  • Farfalle Pasta Mediterranean Style
  • Spanish Style Garlic Shrimp
  • Spanish Potato Salad with Chorizo and Smoked Paprika
  • Tomato Feta Salad

Other Chicken Recipes to Try

  • Chicken Chasseur (French Hunter’s Chicken)
  • Oven Roasted Chicken Legs
  • Chicken Paprikash
  • Olive Oil Chicken Mediterranean Style
  • Dijon Chicken with Meyer Lemons

This post was originally published on August 9, 2017, and has been updated to provide additional information.