Mary Berry's Effortless Mediterranean Chicken Traybake
When time is short but you still want to serve a delicious, nutritious dinner to your family, a one-pan traybake offers the perfect solution. With minimal preparation and hardly any washing up required, these all-in-one meals have become a staple in busy households across the UK.
The Queen of One-Pan Cooking
Cooking legend Mary Berry has perfected numerous traybake recipes throughout her illustrious career, and her Mediterranean chicken version stands out as particularly special. Combining zesty, light flavours with tender chicken pieces, this dish delivers restaurant-quality taste with home-cooked simplicity.
According to Berry's own description of the 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. 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."
Simple Preparation, Maximum Flavour
The beauty of this Mediterranean chicken traybake lies in its straightforward preparation. Within minutes, you can have all your ingredients ready for the oven, leaving you free to attend to other tasks while the magic happens in the heat.
Berry's recipe cleverly incorporates preserved lemons for that distinctive citrus punch, though she notes that ordinary lemon slices work perfectly well if you cannot find preserved lemons at your local supermarket. This flexibility makes the recipe accessible to all home cooks, regardless of their pantry contents.
Ingredients for Success
To recreate Mary Berry's celebrated Mediterranean chicken traybake, you will need the following ingredients:
- 1kg main crop potatoes, peeled and cut into 5cm (2in) chunks
- Three tablespoons of olive oil
- One large onion, cut into wedges
- Two garlic cloves, crushed
- Six rashers of smoked streaky bacon, snipped into 1cm pieces
- Six chicken thighs
- Six chicken drumsticks
- Five preserved lemons, cut into quarters
- Three courgettes, thickly sliced
- 200g can of anchovy-stuffed green olives, drained
- Salt and pepper to taste
Step-by-Step Cooking Method
- Begin by preheating your oven to 220°C/200°C fan/Gas 7. Place the prepared potato chunks into a large roasting tin with two tablespoons of the olive oil.
- Toss the potatoes thoroughly until they are evenly coated in oil, then add the onion wedges, crushed garlic, bacon pieces, and chicken portions. Mix everything together well to ensure even seasoning distribution.
- Add the preserved lemons (or regular lemon slices) to the roasting tin, season generously with salt and pepper, and sprinkle with paprika for that characteristic Mediterranean warmth.
- Place the tray in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. Ensure all ingredients are spread in a single layer for uniform cooking – if your tin appears overcrowded, divide the mixture between two trays.
- While the main components roast, toss the sliced courgettes with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a separate bowl, seasoning with salt and pepper.
- After the initial 40 minutes, scatter the courgettes among the chicken pieces and sprinkle the drained olives over the top. Return the tray to the oven for a further 20 minutes until everything turns golden brown and becomes perfectly tender.
Perfect for Family Dining
This Mediterranean chicken traybake comfortably serves six people with one chicken thigh and one drumstick per portion, though Berry thoughtfully suggests reducing quantities for smaller appetites. The combination of protein-rich chicken, wholesome vegetables, and flavour-packed ingredients like preserved lemons and anchovy-stuffed olives creates a balanced meal that appeals to even the fussiest family members.
With its vibrant Mediterranean flavours, minimal preparation time, and single-pan convenience, Mary Berry's chicken traybake represents the ideal solution for busy weeknight dinners when you want to serve something special without spending hours in the kitchen.
