My oven is my best friend when it comes to dinner. Others swear by their crockpot, but I prefer the oven. It's so easy to chop up some veggies, throw in some chicken and season and toss everything. Then I just pop it in the oven.
The variations are endless. The best part is you can't mess it up. No recipe is needed. Experimentation is encourage.
I use a large roasting pan, but you can use any rimmed baking pan.
First drizzle your pan with olive oil. Next I add roughly chopped root veggies like potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, carrots and some cloves of garlic (with paper still on them). I try to cut them all about the same size so they'll cook at the same rate.
You can throw in other veggies like squash: zucchini, yellow squash, butternut, etc. If you want something a bit different, add some fruit. Fresh grapes caramelized beautifully. Apples or nectarines are good too.
Depending on the veggies you've chosen, it's time to add some herbs and spices. I like oregano or thyme with a touch of paprika. If you're using butternut squash or sweet potatoes, try cinnamon and nutmeg.
Give the veggies and fruit a quick sprinkling of olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss.
You can stop there and have amazing roasted veggies for dinner or Thanksgiving. Our family loves meat, so I add protein to the pan.
Dark meat chicken is the easiest. Dark meat is juicy and not as easily overcook like chicken breasts. So if the kids distract me, I won't have to worry about being exact with my cooking time. I set the chicken thighs and legs directly on the veggies, season them the same way I did with the veggies.
I set the oven for 375 F degrees and stick it in the oven for about an hour.
Usually I steam some green veggies like broccoli or green beans to go a log with the taters and chicken.
It's so easy, I make a meal similar to this once a week. Just change up the veggies and the spices and your tastebuds won't get bored!
Depending on the veggies you've chosen, it's time to add some herbs and spices. I like oregano or thyme with a touch of paprika. If you're using butternut squash or sweet potatoes, try cinnamon and nutmeg.
Give the veggies and fruit a quick sprinkling of olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss.
You can stop there and have amazing roasted veggies for dinner or Thanksgiving. Our family loves meat, so I add protein to the pan.
Dark meat chicken is the easiest. Dark meat is juicy and not as easily overcook like chicken breasts. So if the kids distract me, I won't have to worry about being exact with my cooking time. I set the chicken thighs and legs directly on the veggies, season them the same way I did with the veggies.
I set the oven for 375 F degrees and stick it in the oven for about an hour.
Usually I steam some green veggies like broccoli or green beans to go a log with the taters and chicken.
It's so easy, I make a meal similar to this once a week. Just change up the veggies and the spices and your tastebuds won't get bored!
