Using this easy roast chicken recipe, you can make a tasty dinner without spending a lot of time in the kitchen. Complete the meal with a California Veggie Bake and finish with Oatmeal Apple Cookies for dessert.
Sometimes the simplest recipes are the most satisfying. This easy roast chicken uses just a few pantry staples and only about 5 minutes of prep. Using chicken pieces instead of a whole bird saves time and often money, while still delivering juicy, flavorful meat. A light seasoning of salt, pepper, garlic and onion powders plus a bit of butter gives the chicken a tender, savory finish. Add sliced potatoes, carrots, peppers or onions to the pan to create a complete one-pan meal with minimal cleanup.
(This recipe appears in the Dining On A Dime Cookbook, Volume 1.)
Easy Roast Chicken Recipe
This quick roast chicken recipe comes together with just minutes of prep. Add sliced vegetables like potatoes, carrots and peppers for an easy one-pan dinner the whole family will enjoy.
- Author: Jill Cooper
Ingredients
Chicken pieces
Salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder
Butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the chicken pieces in a greased baking pan, skin side up, uncovered.
- Season evenly with salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder.
- Bake at 300–350°F for 30 minutes to an hour, or low and slow at 170°F for 8–10 hours, until the meat pulls away from the bone easily and the juices run clear.
Cooking time varies with the size of the pieces and your oven. About halfway through, you can add a small dab of butter to each piece or brush them with melted butter for extra richness.
Notes
- Add carrots, potatoes, onions or peppers to the pan to make it a full one-pan meal.
- This method works with bone-in or boneless chicken, so feel free to use whatever is on sale or in your fridge.
(This roast chicken recipe is from Dining On A Dime Cookbook, Volume 1.)
Meal Plan to go with the Roast Chicken Recipe:
Here’s a simple, satisfying menu to pair with the roasted chicken:
Roast Chicken
Baked Potatoes
California Veggie Bake
Oatmeal Apple Cookies
California Veggie Bake Recipe
This colorful vegetable bake is a comforting side, perfect for cool evenings. It uses Velveeta for a smooth, creamy cheese sauce. If you prefer, substitute another melty cheese, but Velveeta gives a classic creamy texture.
- Author: Jill Cooper
Ingredients
2 (16 oz.) packages California Blend frozen vegetables
8 oz Velveeta, cubed
6 Tbsp butter or margarine, melted and divided
1/2 cup butter-flavored crackers, crushed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C).
- Prepare and drain the vegetables according to package directions.
- Place half of the vegetables in an 11x7x2-inch ungreased baking dish.
- Melt the Velveeta with 4 tablespoons of the butter and pour half the mixture over the vegetables.
- Layer the remaining vegetables and top with the rest of the cheese mixture.
- Combine the crushed crackers with the remaining butter and sprinkle over the top.
- Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes until golden and bubbly.
Oatmeal Apple Cookies Recipe
Your home will smell amazing when these oatmeal apple cookies come out of the oven. The blend of oats, cinnamon and dried apples makes an irresistible cookie that kids and adults love.
- Author: Jill Cooper
Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 cups old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup dried apples, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cream the butter and both sugars until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs and vanilla, mixing until combined.
- Stir together flour, cinnamon and baking soda, then add to the butter mixture.
- Fold in the oats and chopped dried apples.
- Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.
- Bake 10–12 minutes until set and lightly golden.
- Let stand 1 minute before transferring cookies to a wire rack to cool.
A note about our Dining On a Dime Cookbooks
Dining On A Dime Cookbook, Volume 1 includes many practical recipes and mixes—homemade stuffing mix, cornbread mix and curried rice mix—along with straightforward classics like this roast chicken. The book was created for cooks of all levels, with clear, budget-friendly recipes using everyday ingredients.
It also covers holiday essentials and treats, offering quick, easy and delicious recipes the whole family will enjoy.
Helpful Cooking Tips:
- To keep apples crisp, store them in the refrigerator.
- Eat the peel when possible. Much of an apple’s fiber is in the skin.
- Short on time for biscuits? Make drop biscuits by spooning dough onto a greased sheet instead of rolling and cutting.
- Leftover roasted vegetables? Chop and add them to casseroles, chili or meatloaf to boost flavor and reduce waste.