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    Home » African Recipes

    Sep 29, 2022

    Poulet Yassa - Senegalese Chicken Recipe

    Published on Sep 29, 2022. Updated on Sep 29, 2022. By Tayo. This post may contain affiliate links. See Disclosure. 37 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    Poulet Yassa (Senegalese Chicken Recipe)-pinterest

    Poulet Yassa is a Senegalese dish made of chicken that has been marinated in a mixture of garlic, lemon juice, dijon mustard, and spices. It has become very popular throughout West Africa and in other parts of the world.

    poulet yassa served on a plate

    The chicken is then cooked in a hot skillet with caramelized onions. Chicken broth is then added to the pot, and the dish is cooked until the chicken is tender. This delicious Poulet Yassa is so tasty and is sure to become your favorite African recipe!

    Jump to:
    • ❤️ Why you'll love it
    • 💭 What is Poulet Yassa?
    • 🧾 Ingredients Used
    • 🔪 How To Make This Recipe
    • 🥫 Storing and Reheating
    • 💭 Tips and Variations
    • 🍽️ What can I eat this recipe with?
    • 👩‍🍳 Frequently asked questions
    • 📚 Related Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ❤️ Why you'll love it

    You will absolutely love the spiciness and flavor of this dish! The chicken is cooked to perfection, and the onions add a sweetness that takes this dish to the next level.

    This recipe is perfect for those who love African food or want to try something new. You will absolutely love this easy chicken dish!

    💭 What is Poulet Yassa?

    Poulet Yassa, also known as Chicken Yassa, is a popular Senegalese dish made with chicken, caramelized onions, dijon mustard, and other spices. It has a tangy, smoky taste that is so finger-licking good!

    The chicken is usually grilled, seared, or baked in the oven before sauteeing in a sauce rich in caramelized onions and other spices.

    🧾 Ingredients Used

    The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

    ingredients to make african chicken
    • Chicken thighs: I prefer to use chicken thighs because they have more flavor. You can also use other chicken parts like chicken breasts or chicken legs.
    • Olive oil: This will be used to cook the chicken and onions. You could also use avocado oil.
    • Dijon mustard: This adds a great depth of flavor to the dish.
    • Garlic cloves: I like to use freshly peeled garlic cloves, but you can also use pre-peeled garlic.
    • Onions: You will need large onions for this recipe! I prefer to use yellow onions, but you can also use white onions.
    • Lemon juice: This adds acidity and brightness to the dish.
    • Chicken broth: This will be used to cook the chicken and add flavor. You could also use chicken stock.
    • Spices: I like to use smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, bouillon powder, and salt. You can adjust the spices to your liking.

    🔪 How To Make This Recipe

    1. Wash and pat dry the chicken, then cut the onions and mince the garlic. Then, place the chicken in a large bowl.
    2. Add the garlic, onions, lemon juice, mustard, and spices. Mix together and place in the fridge to marinate for 2 hours or overnight. Take the chicken out of the marinade and scrape off the onions and marinade, but don't toss it.
    3. Add some olive oil to a skillet or large dutch oven and place the chicken on it. Brown it for 4-5 minutes on both sides on medium-high heat.
    4. Take the chicken out, add the onions, and pour in the remaining marinade. Cook on low to medium-low heat for about 10 minutes till it is caramelized.
    5. Add the browned chicken pieces to the sweet caramelized onions. Then, pour in the chicken broth and cook for 15-20 minutes, till the chicken is fully cooked. Taste for salt and adjust if needed.
    how to make poulet yassa

    🥫 Storing and Reheating

    You can store this tasty dish in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months. Just be sure to keep it in an airtight container with a lid or wrapped in plastic wrap or aluminum foil.

    When you're ready to reheat, simply place the leftover Senegalese chicken Yassa in a skillet over medium heat and cook until heated through. You may need to add a splash of chicken broth if the dish seems too dry.

    💭 Tips and Variations

    • Try using a different type of mustard, such as whole-grain mustard or spicy brown mustard, if you do not have any dijon mustard.
    • Add some chopped bell peppers to the dish for extra color and sweetness. For a kick, add fresh habanero pepper or hot chile pepper.
    • You can adjust the spice level by adding more or less cayenne pepper to this chicken Yassa recipe.
    • Be sure to brown the chicken nicely before adding the onions.
    • Make sure to use fresh lemon juice for the best results. If you can't find fresh lemons, you can use bottled lemon juice or lime juice.
    • You can try adding some other spices for added flavor, such as black pepper or bay leaves.
    Chicken thighs in a skillet

    🍽️ What can I eat this recipe with?

    This Poulet Yassa Chicken recipe is traditionally eaten with rice, but I eat mine with cauliflower rice since I'm on a low-carb diet.

    It also pairs wonderfully with some delicious side dishes such as Keto Mashed Cauliflower, Air Fryer Green Beans, or some simple Instant Pot Steamed Vegetables.

    👩‍🍳 Frequently asked questions

    What Does Chicken Yassa taste like?

    Chicken Yassa has a unique flavor that is tangy, sweet, and spicy. The chicken is usually very tender, and the onions are caramelized, which gives them a sweet taste.

    Where is Yassa from?

    Yassa is a dish that originated in Senegal, specifically from the Casamance region, which is in Southern Senegal. It is a very popular dish throughout Western Africa.

    What is the most popular food in Senegal?

    The most popular recipe in Senegal is thieboudienne, which is a rice and fish dish. Of course, Chicken Yassa is also a very popular dish, as well as Firire, Domoda, and other popular dishes.

    📚 Related Recipes

    Need more healthy African recipes? Check these out!

    Chermoula Chicken

    Ethiopian Beef Tibs Recipe

    Nigerian Chicken Stew

    Peri Peri Chicken Wings

    North African Poached Eggs

    Liver and Onions

    Nigerian Banga Soup

    poulet yassa senegalese chicken

    📖 Recipe

    poulet yassa chicken on a plate

    Poulet Yassa - Senegalese Chicken Recipe

    Poulet Yassa is a Senegalese dish made of chicken that has been marinated in a mixture of garlic, lemon juice, dijon mustard, and spices. It has become very popular throughout West Africa and in other parts of the world.
    5 from 22 votes
    Print Pin SaveSaved!
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: African
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Marinate: 2 hours hours
    Total Time: 2 hours hours 45 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 403kcal
    Author: Tayo Oredola
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    Ingredients

    • 4 chicken thighs
    • 3 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 large onions thinly sliced
    • 3 garlic cloves minced
    • 2 tablespoon dijon mustard
    • 1 cup chicken broth
    • ¼ cup lemon juice
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
    • 1 teaspoon bouillon powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt or to taste

    Instructions

    • Wash and pat dry the chicken, then cut the onions and mince the garlic.
    • Place the chicken in a large bowl.
    • Add the garlic, onions, lemon juice, mustard, and spices.
    • Mix together and place in the fridge to marinate for 2 hours or overnight.
    • Take the chicken out of the marinade and scrape off the marinade and onions, but don't toss it.
    • Add some olive oil to a skillet or large dutch oven and place the chicken on it.
    • Brown it for 4-5 minutes on both sides on medium-high heat.
    • Take the chicken out, add the onions, and pour in the remaining marinade.
    • Cook on low to medium-low heat for about 5 minutes till it is caramelized.
    • Add the browned chicken pieces to the sweet caramelized onions.
    • Add the chicken broth to the hot pan, and cook for 15-20 minutes, till the chicken is fully cooked.
    • Taste for salt and adjust if needed.

    Notes

    This recipe serves 4 and contains 11 net carbs per serving.
    • Try using a different type of mustard, such as whole-grain mustard or spicy brown mustard, if you do not have any dijon mustard.
    • Add some chopped bell peppers to the dish for extra color and sweetness. For a kick, add fresh habanero pepper or hot chile pepper.
    • You can adjust the spice level by adding more or less cayenne pepper to this chicken Yassa recipe.
    • Be sure to brown the chicken nicely before adding the onions.
    • Make sure to use fresh lemon juice for the best results. If you can't find fresh lemons, you can use bottled lemon juice or lime juice.
    • You can try adding some other spices for added flavor, such as black pepper or bay leaves.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 403kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 112mg | Sodium: 1104mg | Potassium: 456mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 342IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Alyse Wilkins says

      February 04, 2025 at 8:46 pm

      5 stars
      Tried this tonight and it was a success with my whole family (me, hubby, 13yo and 10yo) thank you!

      Reply
      • Tayo Oredola says

        February 15, 2025 at 2:38 pm

        Yay, I'm so glad it was a hit with your family, Alyse!

        Reply
    2. EmBee says

      December 24, 2024 at 7:10 am

      5 stars
      Absolutely LOVED this! My husband and I enjoy spiced food but I can't handle highly spicy food, so I reduced the cayenne pepper quite a bit. It was still very flavorful and we look forward to trying many of your other recipes.

      Reply
      • Tayo Oredola says

        January 28, 2025 at 10:46 pm

        I'm so glad you both enjoyed the chicken recipe! I hope you find more recipes you love 🙂

        Reply
    3. Bobbie says

      December 04, 2024 at 3:33 pm

      I’m looking forward to making this! What side dishes would you recommend to serve with this?

      Reply
      • Tayo Oredola says

        January 28, 2025 at 10:58 pm

        Hi Bobbie, if you are not on a low carb diet, this goes perfectly with rice.

        Reply
    4. Nick Ryder says

      September 20, 2024 at 6:30 pm

      5 stars
      Toya, this recipe is amazing! Made as published and would not change a thing. Thank you for opening my eyes to the tastes of Africa❤️

      Reply
      • Tayo Oredola says

        November 26, 2024 at 9:38 pm

        So glad you loved it, Nick!

        Reply
    5. Victoria says

      August 16, 2024 at 12:16 am

      I’m taking chicken out to thaw tonight so I can make this tomorrow or the next day. Looks delicious and comments back that up. Can’t wait to try it!

      Reply
      • Tayo Oredola says

        August 29, 2024 at 12:54 pm

        Awesome! Hope you enjoy it!

        Reply
    6. Heather says

      April 17, 2024 at 8:29 pm

      5 stars
      I don't remember when I first made this, but it's become one of our family's go-to weeknight meals. I liked serving it with braised greens and mashed potatoes/cauliflower - the oniony sauce makes a nice gravy. I just realized looking at the pictures that I've been using boneless, skinless chicken thighs and it looks like yours are probably bone-in, skin-on, but it's still delicious with boneless/skinless.

      Reply
      • Tayo Oredola says

        May 13, 2024 at 9:46 pm

        It's great to hear that this recipe has become a staple for your weeknight meals, Heather. Using boneless, skinless chicken thighs is a fantastic twist, and I'm glad it's been turning out wonderfully for you!

        Reply
    7. Garlic Girl says

      March 04, 2024 at 9:48 pm

      5 stars
      I made this tonight for I r dinner. Mmm mmm mmph!! Delicious. A gentle savory dish, that makes you wonder why it is so good.

      Reply
      • Tayo Oredola says

        May 13, 2024 at 10:01 pm

        So glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    8. KRom says

      February 10, 2024 at 8:09 am

      This looks delicious! Is it made using bone-in? With skin or without? Will boneless and skinless work??

      Reply
      • Tayo Oredola says

        May 13, 2024 at 10:24 pm

        I use bone-in but boneless will work as well, with or without the skin.

        Reply
    9. MsMelva says

      January 30, 2024 at 4:42 am

      5 stars
      Your recipe popped on Google and for me the presentation drew me in. It look soooo good, however, I am a vegan and I use my homemade seitan instead of chicken. Let me tell , this recipe will now be one of my go to meals, although you have to wait for the dish to marinate, it is well worth the wait?? It was soooooo delicious!! Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
      • Tayo Oredola says

        February 04, 2024 at 12:34 am

        I'm so glad you made the recipe work for you!

        Reply
    « Older Comments
    5 from 22 votes (10 ratings without comment)

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    tayo oredola

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