Top 20+ chicken tray bake recipes for an easy one-pot dinner
- Gourmet Traveller’s best chicken tray bakes
- Cider-braised chicken with Brussels sprouts, apple and hazelnuts
- Baked chicken and rice with chilli and ginger dressing
- Chicken, carrot and orange tray bake with chive butter
- Pan-roasted chicken with artichokes and salad onion
- Leek, chorizo, cauliflower and chicken bake
- Harissa chicken with carrot, rice and quinoa pilaf
- Hawayej-spiced chicken thigh cutlets
- Roast chicken thighs with sourdough panzanella
- Roast chilli chicken with cauliflower and kale
- Chicken braised with cavolo nero and wine
- Tomato and pancetta roast chicken with green olives
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 with pancetta and brussels sprouts

Cider-braised chicken recipe with Brussels sprout and apple salad in white dish.
Cider-braised chicken with Brussels sprouts, apple and hazelnuts

Dish of oven baked chicken with chilli and ginger dressing with side salad.
Baked chicken and rice with chilli and ginger dressing

Roast chicken leg on top of bread with tomato-based sauce and side salad

Roast chicken with white wine, porcini and sage sauce

Chicken, carrot and orange tray bake with chive butter
Chicken, carrot and orange tray bake with chive butter

Pan-roasted chicken with artichokes and salad onion
Pan-roasted chicken with artichokes and salad onion

Chicken cacciatore recipe with salami and green olives

Two small roast chickens with salad and salsa verde on a white tray.

Roman-style chicken

Leek, chorizo, cauliflower and chicken bake
Leek, chorizo, cauliflower and chicken bake

Harissa chicken with carrot, rice and quinoa pilaf recipe
Harissa chicken with carrot, rice and quinoa pilaf

Rosemary mustard and brandy chicken with buttered carrot

Hwayej-spiced chicken thigh cutlets
Hawayej-spiced chicken thigh cutlets

Roast chicken thighs with sourdough panzanella
Roast chicken thighs with sourdough panzanella

Roast chilli chicken with cauliflower and kale
Roast chilli chicken with cauliflower and kale

Chicken roasted with wine, basil and capers

Chicken braised with cavolo nero and wine
Chicken braised with cavolo nero and wine

Chicken agrodolce

Tomato and pancetta roast chicken with green olives