For a busy week, there’s nothing better than a one-pan meal – so I put two celebrity chicken traybake recipes to the test to find out which tasted better and cost less.
I compared Mary Berry’s and Rick Stein’s chicken traybake recipes – there’s 1 clear winner(Image: manyakotic via Getty Images)
Deciding on what to whip up for tea can be a proper headache, particularly when so-called “quick and easy” recipes turn out to have an endless shopping list and complicated instructions. That’s precisely why I’ve gravitated towards traybakes and one-pot wonders when browsing for new dishes online.
They’re brilliant for feeding the whole family, as everything – the chicken and vegetables – cooks together in one generous oven tray.
I’m a massive fan of chicken traybake recipes, and two have really caught my attention. They’re quite alike, yet they hail from two different culinary legends – Rick Stein and Mary Berry.
I’ve tried Rick Stein’s chicken, lemon and garlic traybake as well as Mary Berry’s Mediterranean all-in-one chicken. Having tested both recipes, there’s one I’ve already prepared three times in one month.
While I did follow Mary Berry’s Mediterranean all-in-one chicken pretty strictly, I did make two adj(Image: Angela Patrone)
While Rick Stein’s chicken traybake demanded a bit more preparation, the payoff in flavour is considerably better(Image: Angela Patrone)
Rick Stein’s chicken traybake recipe keeps things simple, calling for chicken thighs nestled atop a bed of fennel, courgette slices, and baby potatoes.
Much like Mary Berry’s version, the dish gets its zing from lemons; however, Rick opts for fresh lemons, which delivers a far superior flavour to both the chicken and vegetables.
Since the chicken needed browning in a pan before going into the oven, the skin crisped up wonderfully and helped keep the meat incredibly moist.
While Rick Stein’s chicken traybake demanded a bit more preparation, the payoff in flavour is considerably better. I’ve rustled this up three times in the past month alone.
I was also impressed by the modest ingredient list required for this traybake and the lower price tag compared to Mary Berry’s pricier alternative.
