What’s not to love about a chicken tray-bake? They’re easy to prepare, delicious and something the whole family can enjoy together.
WATCH: Karen Martini’s Thai-spiced coconut chicken
Cooking chicken on a tray allows for even heat distribution, resulting in evenly cooked and juicy meat. Combining dry heat and direct contact with the tray helps create a crispy and flavourful outer layer while retaining moisture.
The best temperature to bake chicken is generally between 190°C to 220°C. Although, the exact temperature and cooking time may vary depending on the cut and size of the chicken pieces and the recipe being used.
Should chicken pieces be covered when baking?
Should the chicken be covered when baking? That depends on the desired outcome and the recipe being used.
Here are some guidelines to make cooking a chicken tray bake easier.
- Uncovered: Baking chicken pieces uncovered allows the skin to crisp up and become golden brown, resulting in a delicious texture and appearance.
- Covered: Covering chicken pieces with foil during baking can help retain moisture and prevent the chicken from drying out. This method is often used for more delicate cuts or when cooking with a sauce or marinade that needs time to infuse the chicken.
Chicken tray bake recipes
So pick a recipe, gather ingredients and enjoy a hassle-free weeknight dinner.
1. Roast chicken with potatoes and haloumi
Chicken and potatoes roasted with plenty of herbs, garlic and olive oil make for an incredibly flavourful midweek meal. And adding the thickly sliced halloumi, a drizzle of honey and vinegar elevates the dish to something special. Get the recipe.
2. Roast chicken sausages and capsicum tray bake
This roast chicken sausages and capsicum one-tray bake recipe is simple to make and diabetic-friendly. It’s low-carb Italian fare that’s roasted and caramelised to perfection. Get the recipe.
3. Maple-roasted oven-baked chicken thighs
Maple syrup brings out the sweet notes in this classic oven-baked chicken thigh recipe with sweet potato wedges and Brussels Sprouts dish. Get the recipe.
4. Roast chicken with sweet paprika and root vegetables
Take the hassle out of Sunday roast with this recipe from Karen Martini. Get the recipe.
With chicken and broccoli smothered in mornay sauce topped with cheesy breadcrumbs, there’s plenty to love about the ’70s classic chicken divan. Get the recipe.
6. Apricot chicken rissole bake
A less sweet version of the classic. Get the recipe.
7. The 3-ingredient Aldi chicken tray bake
The supermarket giant is causing a stir online with its Ready to Cook Boneless Butterflied Chicken. The best part is it can be cooked in under an hour with just two other ingredients: 1 cup of rice and two cups of stock. Get the recipe.
8. Ranch-style chicken macaroni bake
A quick and easy weekday meal that will leave your taste buds dancing with delight. This one-pan tray bake is a comforting and satisfying dinner option with creamy ranch dressing, succulent barbecue chicken, and crispy bacon, all mingling with perfectly cooked macaroni. Get the recipe.
9. Thai-spiced coconut chicken rice
Slash the chicken prior to putting it in the oven to allow for quicker and more even cooking of your easy, tasty chook and rice midweek dinner winner. Get the recipe.
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