This Chicken Tray Bake is a simple but hearty meal that's perfect for a quick meal on a busy night! With the classic combination of chicken and potatoes, this recipe is so easy that it comes out perfect every time.
A perfect way to learn how to cook chicken breast in a pan!
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👩🏻🍳 Why You'll Love This Recipe
We've all had those days where we just don't have it in us to cook. Sometimes it feels like too much effort to even decide what to cook!
That's where this chicken tray bake recipe comes in to save your evening. It's so simple to make--with only 6 ingredients and just 10 minutes for prep, you can put together a reliable and nutritious dish for you and your loved ones.
The combination of chicken and potatoes is always sure to satisfy. Here at DBH we're so in love with this combo that we've featured it prominently in two recipes already, with the recipes for Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes and our classic Chicken Potato Bake.
Another fantastic chicken recipe is this Easy Chicken Fricassee, or Chicken Macaroni Salad! (Chicken is a big hit with my family as you can tell).
Or, if you have an air fryer, try this budget-friendly and delicious recipe for Air Fryer Chicken Quarters.
This is another variation on that classic chicken + potatoes combo, and one that you'll never not be in the mood for! It's the perfect go-to meal for those nights when you just don't feel like cooking but still want something filling and tasty!
🥘 Ingredients Needed
For a complete list of ingredients, please refer to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- baby potatoes - these small potatoes are easy to cut up into pieces of the appropriate-size without doing too much work!
- olive oil - ensure your potatoes get nice and crispy.
- minced garlic
- paprika - adds a burst of color and flavor and makes sure that this recipe is anything but bland!
- salt
- chicken breasts - boneless and skinless work best!
🔪 Instructions
Please note: This is an overview of the instructions. You'll find the complete instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Place the baby potatoes, cut in half, into a bowl with the garlic, paprika, salt, and about half of the olive oil.
- Toss well to coat.
- Transfer the potatoes to a tray pan and bake for 10-15 minutes.
- In the meantime, add the chicken to the bowl with the rest of the olive oil and coat well.
- Once potatoes are browned, add the chicken to the tray pan and bake for another 20-25 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.
👪 FAQs
A tray bake recipe is just like a sheet pan recipe. Everything cooks on one baking sheet which is super-convenient and makes for easy clean-up!
Rubbing the chicken with olive oil before baking helps to seal in some of the moisture while helping seasonings stick to the chicken as well. Also be sure not to over-bake; once the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 160 F, you can remove it from the oven and let it rest until it reaches 165 F.
This depends on the type of oven you have. For a conventional oven, bake on the top rack since all the heat is coming from the bottom and you don't want to blast the chicken directly. For a convection oven, since the heat is more evenly distributed, the placement of your tray isn't as important.
If you find that you're still getting dried out chicken breasts, covering them with foil while baking is one way to keep in moisture and keep your chicken nice and tender.
Yes! As long as you cook the chicken long enough to be safe, the potatoes will also be fine even if they've touched raw chicken.
🧊 Storage
The leftovers for this recipe keep really well and are still delicious for several days afterwards! Leftovers should last for 4-5 days if stored properly in an airtight container.
To reheat, one method is to pop your leftovers into the oven at around 350 F and heat through. You could also reheat in the microwave in a pinch!
In the freezer, your chicken and potatoes will be good for around 6 months or so. Make sure to thaw them out when it comes time to reheat by leaving them in the fridge for a while, overnight if possible. Then follow one of the reheat methods above!
💭 Helpful Tips
- Use parchment or a silicone liner to make for easier cleanup!
- To ensure your chicken stays tender and moist, you can cover it with some foil while it bakes.
- If you're cooking with pieces of chicken that are bone-in, make sure to add 10-15 minutes of cook time to account for that.
This recipe for chicken and potatoes is perfect for any time of the year. It's versatile, easy to make, and takes very little effort but results in a delicious and satisfying meal!
📖 Variations
- If you prefer dark meat, you could also make this recipe with chicken thighs.
- Some other seasonings that would be delicious in this recipe are oregano, rosemary, thyme, red pepper flakes, or onion powder. Anything you have on hand would work since the flavors in this dish are simple and classic!
- Add more vegetables to capitalize on the nutrition factor. Asparagus, peppers, squash, broccoli, green beans, tomatoes, whatever you like!
🥗 Suggested Side Dishes
Even though chicken and potatoes is a nice hearty dish, sometimes you need a little something extra green on the side to really round out the meal. Here are some suggestions!
🍗 More Chicken Recipes
Learning how to cook chicken breast in a pan might have you looking for even more ways to cook chicken, so try out one of these recipes! These Air Fryer Chicken Wings are a big hit, but chicken is popular with my family so there are plenty of options to choose from!
For another chicken dish you can bake in the oven, try my Oven Baked Boneless Chicken Thighs with Jalapeno Artichoke Topping. It's an easy and flavorful option for a busy weeknight meal!
Like potatoes? Try my twist on homemade baked potato wedges - Dill Fries. Then watch how fast your family eats them up!
Check out this story on how to make Chicken Tray Bake with Potatoes!
Chicken Tray Bake Recipe
Love this recipe? Awesome! Please give it a 5 star ⭐ rating below! And if you make this, snap a photo and tag me on Instagram. You can find me at DizzyBusyandHungry or #dizzybusyandhungry!
📋 Recipe Card
Chicken Tray Bake with Potatoes
Ingredients
- 2 pounds baby potatoes, cut in halves
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic, divided
- 1 tablespoon paprika, divided
- ½ teaspoon salt, divided
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut in half (or use boneless skinless thighs)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Place the potato halves in a large bowl with about half of the olive oil, minced garlic, paprika, and salt.2 pounds baby potatoes, cut in halves, 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided, 2 tablespoons minced garlic, divided, 1 tablespoon paprika, divided, ½ teaspoon salt, divided
- Toss to coat.
- Place the potatoes on a tray pan (cookie sheet with sides) and bake for 10-15 minutes, until the potatoes start to brown.
- While the potatoes are baking, add the chicken into the bowl along with the rest of the ingredients and toss to coat.2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut in half
- When the potatoes are browned, add the chicken to the tray pan, place back in the oven, and bake for another 20-25 minutes until the chicken is done.
Notes
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate. The nutritional values for your final dish may vary based on measuring differences and products used.
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Happy cooking!
Happy cooking!
Susan Howard
Delicious. I seasoned with Lawry's seasoning salt for the potatoes and chicken. Thanks for such a tasty dish!
Kristin King
So glad you like it! Lawry's seasoning is always a great flavoring to use. 🙂
Beth
This is the perfect dinner idea! Saved to my bookmarks and going to make this soon! Excited to share this with my family!
Marie-Charlotte Chatelain
My favorite kind of dinner! Cannot ever have enough easy sheet pan recies like this! Those taters look super tempting!
Irina
I am making it now! This chicken tray bake is a saver during the working week. It makes a perfect dinner in a short time. 🙂
Diana Reis
Straight forward and super delicious! Thanks for posting.
Lisa
This dish is so easy and perfect for weeknight dinners!