When you really can’t be bothered to cook, nothing beats a chicken tray bake for an easy dinner. Flavourful and nutritionally balanced, these one-pot recipes can offer the protein-and-two-veg hit we need from a mid-week meal. Whether you’re after a Mediterranean chicken dish, or a spiced chicken pilaf, a tray bake can cover all manner of ingredients and cuisines.
The benefit of a tray bake is that it cuts down on prep time and complicated cooking labour. Removing finicky slicing and dicing, a chicken tray bake often involves throwing whole ingredients in a pan and letting it simmer. What’s more, the use of just one pan can make washing-up a breeze.
Whether you’re after something light and summery, or cosy and comforting for winter, our favourite chicken tray bake recipes have you covered. While some recipes may list salads or sides, these can always be made optional in a pinch. Just don’t skip the seasoning!
Gourmet Traveller’s best chicken tray bakes
Roast chicken, pancetta and Brussels sprouts tray bake
Cider-braised chicken with Brussels sprouts, apple and hazelnuts
Baked chicken and rice with chilli and ginger dressing
Chicken roasted on Catalan tomato bread
Roast chicken with white wine, porcini and sage sauce
Chicken, carrot and orange tray bake with chive butter
Pan-roasted chicken with artichokes and salad onion
Chicken cacciatore with olives
Roast chicken with capsicum salsa verde
Stefano Manfredi’s Roman-style chicken
Leek, chorizo, cauliflower and chicken bake
Harissa chicken with carrot, rice and quinoa pilaf
Rosemary, mustard and brandy chicken with buttered carrot
Hawayej-spiced chicken thigh cutlets
Roast chicken thighs with sourdough panzanella
Roast chilli chicken with cauliflower and kale
Chicken roasted with wine, basil and capers
Chicken braised with cavolo nero and wine
Guy Grossi’s chicken agrodolce
Tomato and pancetta roast chicken with green olives
