Description
Hearty chicken and potato bake brings comfort from Mediterranean kitchens to dinner tables worldwide. Family-friendly casseroles blend tender proteins with roasted vegetables, creating simple yet satisfying meals you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)
- 4 medium potatoes (approximately 500 g / 17.6 oz), peeled and diced into 1-inch cubes
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup (120 g / 4.2 oz) shredded cheddar cheese (or a blend of cheeses)
- 1 cup (240 ml / 8 fl oz) heavy cream or milk
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried thyme (or Italian seasoning)
- ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 375°F and lightly grease a rectangular baking dish with olive oil to prevent sticking and promote easy cleanup.
- Protein Preparation: Cube chicken breasts into uniform pieces, ensuring consistent cooking and texture while maximizing flavor absorption.
- Vegetable Preparation: Chop potatoes into equal-sized chunks to guarantee even roasting and prevent disparate cooking times.
- Seasoning: Generously coat chicken and potatoes with salt, pepper, dried herbs, garlic powder, and paprika, massaging spices thoroughly to enhance flavor penetration.
- Assembly and Coating: Spread chicken and potato pieces evenly across the baking dish, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle additional herbs to create a robust flavor profile.
- Roasting: Bake in the center of the oven for 35-40 minutes, rotating midway to ensure uniform browning and confirming chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Resting: Remove from oven when chicken turns golden and potatoes develop a crispy exterior, then let the dish rest for 5-7 minutes to redistribute juices and intensify flavors before serving.
Notes
- Uniform Cutting: Ensure chicken and potatoes are cut into equal-sized pieces for consistent cooking and texture, preventing raw or overcooked spots.
- Seasoning Technique: Massage spices directly into chicken to maximize flavor absorption and create a more intense taste profile throughout the meat.
- Oil Distribution: Lightly coat ingredients with olive oil to promote even browning and prevent dryness, using just enough to enhance flavor without making the dish greasy.
- Temperature Monitoring: Use a meat thermometer to check chicken’s internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) for safe consumption, avoiding undercooking while maintaining juiciness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 37 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg