Mary Berry is renowned for her quick and flavorful recipes, and her all-in-one chicken and potato traybake is no exception. This simple dish is a perfect solution for busy weeknights when you need a satisfying meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
This traybake brings together tender chicken, hearty potatoes, and vibrant vegetables, all seasoned and coated for a delicious and aromatic experience. Mary herself describes it as a great way to feed the family because it’s incredibly easy to prepare and cooks in one pan, minimizing cleanup.
While the original recipe calls for preserved lemons and green olives, you can easily adapt it to your own taste. I, for instance, chose to omit the green olives and found that the preserved lemons, while flavorful, might be better replaced with a regular lemon next time.
Here’s what you’ll need to make this delicious traybake:
Ingredients (for six people):
* 1kg potatoes, peeled and cut into 5cm chunks
* Six chicken thighs
* Six chicken drumsticks
* Six rashers of bacon, snipped into 1cm pieces
* One large onion, cut into wedges
* Two garlic cloves, crushed
* Three courgettes, thickly sliced
* Five preserved lemons, cut into quarters
* One tin of green olives (optional)
* One and a half tablespoons of paprika
* Olive oil
* Salt and pepper
Instructions:
1. Preheat your oven to 220C/200C Fan/Gas 7.
2. Place the potatoes in a large roasting tin and coat them with two tablespoons of olive oil.
3. Add the onion, garlic, bacon, and chicken pieces to the tin and combine them with the potatoes.
4. Add the lemons (and olives if using) to the roasting tin and season generously with salt and pepper. Sprinkle on the paprika.
5. Roast for 40 minutes, making sure the ingredients are in a single layer to cook evenly. You can use two tins if necessary.
6. While the traybake is roasting, coat the courgettes with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
7. After 40 minutes, gently poke the courgette slices into the traybake, adding the olives if desired.
8. Continue roasting for another 20 minutes, until the chicken and vegetables are golden brown and tender.
This traybake is a delicious and satisfying meal that’s perfect for a busy weeknight. Feel free to experiment with different vegetables and seasonings to create your own unique version of this classic dish. Enjoy!
