You won't believe how easy it to make this gorgeous, lemony, juicy, delicious healthier roast chicken with Mediterranean veg in a single roasting tray!
So, let's talk roasts! There's a lot to love, isn't there? They're easy to make once you've got the knack, there's tons of variety in how you prepare them, and best of all, they're absolutely delicious.
But on the downside, roasts can be a faff to make, they can take a lot of time to cook, they can leave loads of washing up, and they can be unhealthy.
That's why I'm excited to tell you about 100% recyclable Bakewell Oven Bags, which allow you to whip up a roast with all of the positives, while they pretty much eliminate all the mess, reduce the fat, and reduce cooking time by up to 10%!
Sound to good to be true? I've been testing them thoroughly and I promise, they work superbly well. All you do is place your meat and veg in the large bag, snip a corner, then roast it as you normally would, it's that simple.
You end up with exceptionally juicy and succulent meat and just as you'd hope, the meat comes out wonderfully browned, with veg that's perfectly cooked. Because the natural juices are helping to cook the meat in the bag, it cooks faster and you need just a touch of oil - this recipe only uses 2 tbsp of olive oil so it's a healthier option too.
And just how much mess does it eliminate? Well this is my roasting tray after cooking. Amazing, right?
I really am very impressed with the Bakewell bags, which come in all sorts of sizes to suit different sized birds, joints of meat, portions of meat, fish, paella, ribs, vegetables and more. It makes cooking just that little bit easier and faster and takes nothing away.
Read on for the full healthier roast chicken with Mediterranean veg recipe.
Ingredients
- 1.6 kg (3.53 lb) whole organic chicken
- 1 red onion cut into wedges
- 1 large (1) garlic bulb slightly crushed cloves
- 1 kg (2.2 lb) baby potatoes
- 1 handful fresh basil roughly torn
- 1 red bell pepper deseeded and cut into quarters
- 1 green bell pepper deseeded and cut into quarters
- 1 yellow pepper deseeded and cut into quarters
- 1 handful black olives drained
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch)
Equipment
Instructions
Pre-heat the oven to 190C/375F (170C fan). Place all of the vegetables, olive oil and herbs inside the Bakewell Oven Bag.
Give them a good shake to ensure they're evenly coated.
Place the chicken inside the bag on top of the vegetables and position on your roasting tray.
Seal the bag with the provided tie and cut a small piece off one corner of the bag - this will allow steam to escape and ensure a tasty skin.
Roast for approximately 80 minutes until well cooked. If you put a skewer into the thickest part of the meat, the juices should run clear (no pink tinge). If you have a meat thermometer it should read at least 165F (75C) at the thickest part of the meat.
Allow the chicken to sit for 10 minutes, then cut open the bag. You can then lift the chicken out of the bag, taking care to drain the juices back into the bag.
Lift the bag and tip the veg into a colander over a pan to catch the juices. You can then dish up the vegetables.
Look how clean the dish is!
You can now use all of the lovely chicken and veg juices to make an amazing gravy for your healthier roast chicken. Place the pan over a medium heat. Add a little boiling water if you want to stretch the quantity a little further.
Mix 1 tbsp of cornflour with a little cold water and add to the pan.
Stir over the heat until thickened, season to taste, then transfer to a gravy boat and serve.
Enjoy!
Are you tempted to try Bakewell Oven Bags? Let me know if you do! You can read more on the Bakewell website. Or purchase via Amazon.
Are you looking forward to a fuss-free roast dinner using Bakewell oven bags?
Print this healthier roast chicken recipe
If you'd like to print this healthier roast chicken recipe to try later, just click the PRINT button on the recipe card below.
Healthier Roast Chicken with Mediterranean Veg Recipe
Ingredients
- 1.6 kg (3.53 lb) whole organic chicken
- 1 red onion cut into wedges
- 1 large (1) garlic bulb slightly crushed cloves
- 1 kg (2.2 lb) baby potatoes
- 1 handful fresh basil roughly torn
- 1 red bell pepper deseeded and cut into quarters
- 1 green bell pepper deseeded and cut into quarters
- 1 yellow pepper deseeded and cut into quarters
- 1 handful black olives drained
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch)
Instructions
Prepare the chicken and veg
- Pre-heat the oven to 180C/375F (160C fan). Place all of the vegetables, olive oil and herbs inside the Bakewell Oven Bag.
- Give them a good shake to ensure they're evenly coated.
- Place the chicken inside the bag on top of the vegetables and position on your roasting tray.
- Seal the bag with the provided tie and cut a small piece off one corner of the bag - this will allow steam to escape and ensure a tasty skin.
- Roast for approximately 80 minutes until well cooked. If you put a skewer into the thickest part of the meat, the juices should run clear (no pink tinge). If you have a meat thermometer it should read at least 165F (75C) at the thickest part of the meat.
- Allow the chicken to sit for 10 minutes, then cut open the bag. You can then lift the chicken out of the bag, taking care to drain the juices back into the bag.
- Lift the bag and tip the veg into a colander over a pan to catch the juices. You can then dish up the vegetables.
Make the gravy
- You can now use all of the lovely chicken and veg juices to make an amazing gravy. Place the pan over a medium heat. Add a little boiling water if you want to stretch the quantity a little further.
- Mix 1 tbsp of cornflour with a little cold water and add to the pan.
- Stir over the heat until thickened, season to taste, then transfer to a gravy boat and serve
Video
Nutrition
This is a commissioned post for Bakewell Oven Bags.
Pin this healthier roast chicken
More delectable chicken recipes to try
Have you got my book?
'This is a great kids cookery book. Emily is a star' - Simon Rimmer
'The book I'd like to force into any mother's kitchen' - Prue Leith
"A fab book with a plan." - Jane Devonshire, 2016 Masterchef UK winner
'Emily has managed to combine her mummy knowledge and passion for food to make a truly helpful and brilliant cookbook' - Priya Tew, RD, BSc (Hons), Msc
Get Your Kids to Eat Anything is an achievable 'how to' for parents in the battle to overcome picky eating and 'make new the norm'. Emily Leary's unique 5-phase programme looks at the issue of 'fussy eating' in a holistic way that links imagination with food, and which situates parents alongside - not in opposition to - their children.
Victoria Thurgood says
I think its really great putting the veg in the bag aswell
Emily Leary says
Yes, the vegetables cooked perfectly and tasted delicious, as did the chicken!
ann clements says
everything looks gorgeous and handy when it comes to the washing up
Emily Leary says
Absolutely! The chicken and the vegetables cooked to perfection and it was a godsend to save on the washing up!
Nayna Kanabar says
These bags sound really useful and I like that it means less washing too. So much easier to clean the roasting pan when all the juices have been caught in the bag.
Emily Leary says
Absolutely! I'm all in favour of less washing up and even more importantly, the vegetables and chicken cooked perfectly and the gravy was fab!
Tracey Argent says
I think the bags are a great way to keep the moisture within the chicken. Along with the roasted vegetables a whole meal in a bag. Fantastic.
Emily Leary says
Yes! This meal was a joy to make - so quick, easy and delicious! And all with added bonus of less washing up!
Andrea Fletcher says
I love the idea of keeping all the juices in the bag, would love to try these.
Emily Leary says
These Bakewell oven bags are great - definitely worth a try. I'm sure that you'll be impressed!
Solange says
I think the way the oven bags were used in this recipe sounds delicious.
Emily Leary says
Thank you! The vegetables and the chicken cooked beautifully and my family loved this recipe!
George Spedding says
I love the idea that everything not just the chicken goes in the bag, what a great idea
Emily Leary says
Yes! The vegetables cooked beautifully, as did the chicken! I'm looking forward to making more meals using the Bakewell oven bags!
Maricel Dragan says
I love roast chicken, it's so tasty and super healthy. I need to make this kind of meal more often. This recipe is super straightforward, perfect for busy women!
Emily Leary says
Yes! Lovely and simple and delicious too :)
Laura Dove says
Oh wow that looks delicious! I love anything cooked in the bag, it is so much juicer as it catches all of that moisture. I am going to try this for our Sunday dinner!
Emily Leary says
Fab! I really do rate it - as you say, it's definitely much juicier!
Kacie says
This looks so appealing and it would be ideal for summer too. I love the idea of cooking with the bag to seal in the juices - mmm!
Emily Leary says
Yes it is a bit of a revelation - so juicy!