Craving a delicious and easy dinner that’s perfect for a busy weeknight? Look no further than Mary Berry’s one-pot Mediterranean chicken bake. This flavorful dish features tender chicken, roasted potatoes, sizzling bacon, olives, and a medley of vegetables all seasoned with paprika, creating a symphony of taste that’s sure to please even the pickiest eaters. The best part? This foolproof recipe takes less than 10 minutes to prepare, making it ideal for those short on time. Simply chop the ingredients, toss them in a roasting tin, and let the oven work its magic for an hour. You’ll be rewarded with a beautiful, golden-brown dish that’s packed with flavor and aroma.
Mary Berry, the beloved British chef, emphasizes the simplicity and convenience of this recipe. “This is a great way to feed the family as the chicken and veg are all cooked in one very large tray in the oven,” she says. “It takes only minutes to put everything together then it sits in the oven for under an hour with no fussy finishing off to do and only one pan to wash up.”
Ready to create this culinary masterpiece? Let’s dive into the ingredients and method:
Ingredients (Serves Six)
* 1kg of potatoes (cut into two-centimetre chunks)
* Six chicken thighs
* Six chicken drumsticks
* Six rashers of bacon (snip into one-centimeter pieces)
* Five preserved lemons (Cut into quarters)
* One large onion (Cut into wedges)
* Two garlic cloves (crushed)
* Three courgettes (thickly sliced)
* One and a half tablespoons of paprika
* One can of green olives (drained)
* Three tablespoons of olive oil
* Salt and pepper
Method
1. Preheat your oven to 220C (200 Fan or Gas 7).
2. Prepare the ingredients: Peel and cut the potatoes into two-inch chunks, slice the onion into wedges, crush the garlic cloves, quarter the lemons, thickly slice the courgettes, and snip the bacon into one-centimeter pieces.
3. Place the potato chunks in a large roasting tin and drizzle with two tablespoons of olive oil. Toss them around to coat evenly.
4. Add the onion, garlic, bacon, and chicken pieces to the tin. Make sure not to overcrowd the tin; arrange everything in a single layer so it cooks evenly. If necessary, use two roasting tins.
5. Add the lemons to the tin, season generously with salt and pepper, and sprinkle with the paprika.
6. Place the roasting tin in the oven and bake for 40 minutes.
7. While the mixture is baking, place the courgettes in a bowl and coat them with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil.
8. After 40 minutes, add the courgette pieces to the roasting tin and scatter the olives on top.
9. Return the tin to the oven and bake for an additional 20 minutes, or until the chicken and vegetables are golden brown and tender.
10. Remove the roasting tin from the oven and your delicious Mediterranean-inspired dinner is ready to serve!
Enjoy this simple yet flavorful recipe, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different vegetables and seasonings to make it your own. Bon appetit!
