Weeknight Dinners
Paprika Chicken and Potatoes on One Tray
A straightforward tray dinner with chicken thighs, crisp-edged potatoes, and sweet onions.
Bone-in chicken thighs are forgiving and full of flavor, which makes them a good match for a simple tray dinner. Paprika, garlic, and oil coat both the chicken and potatoes, so there is no separate sauce to make.
The tray should be roomy enough for the ingredients to sit in one layer. Crowding traps steam and gives you pale potatoes. If your tray is small, use two and rotate them halfway through cooking.
THE RECIPE
Paprika Chicken and Potatoes on One Tray
Amounts scale automatically. Keep piece sizes similar; pan size and cooking time may need adjustment. Round whole ingredients sensibly.
Ingredients
Method
Heat and prepare
Heat the oven to 220°C / 425°F. Pat the chicken dry with kitchen paper. Do not rinse raw chicken. Put potatoes and onion on a large rimmed baking tray.
Season everything
Mix oil, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Toss two-thirds with the vegetables, then rub the rest over the chicken. Place the thighs skin-side up among the potatoes.
Roast until cooked
Roast for 35–45 minutes, turning the potatoes once after 25 minutes. Check the thickest part of each thigh with a food thermometer, away from the bone: it must reach at least 74°C / 165°F.
Finish and serve
If the chicken is ready before the potatoes, move it to a clean plate and continue roasting the vegetables. Rest the chicken for 5 minutes, then drizzle the meal with lemon juice.
Small details that help
Check temperature, not color
Chicken can look browned before the center is cooked. A thermometer is the reliable check.
Choose similar pieces
Thighs of roughly equal size finish closer together. Large pieces may need extra time.
Keep utensils separate
Use a clean utensil for cooked food and wash anything that touched raw chicken.
Substitutions & ways to make it yours
Boneless thighs
They usually cook faster. Begin checking temperature around 25 minutes; potatoes may need a head start.
Different vegetables
Firm carrots can roast with the potatoes. Add softer courgette pieces later so they do not collapse.
Spice level
Sweet paprika is mild. Add a pinch of cayenne if you prefer heat.
A couple of useful questions
Can I use chicken breast?
Yes, but breasts can dry out more easily and timing depends on thickness. Give potatoes a 15-minute head start, then add the breasts and cook to 74°C / 165°F.
Should I line the tray?
Baking parchment can simplify cleanup, but check its maximum temperature. A lightly oiled bare metal tray gives the potatoes good contact with the heat.
