Easy to make and easy to clean up, my Sheet Pan Roast Chicken and Potatoes with Chimichurri is the perfect meal to add to your dinner rotation.
Yes, I'm doing it my friends. I'm jumping on the sheet pan dinner trend and I'm going all in! As a food blogger, I see food trends come and go all the time- that's part of the territory. Sometimes I get on board with them (smoothie bowls, avocado toast, one-ingredient banana ice cream, and cauliflower pizza all come to mind) and other times, I choose to stay away (sweet potato "toast" anyone?).
I first heard about sheet pan dinners about a year ago and at the time, I made a mental bookmark to try them out. Well, I finally got around to testing one and I have to say that I'm a fan!
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Why are sheet pan dinners so popular?
So why are sheet pan dinners so popular? Because they are the perfect combination of easy to make and easy to clean up! You simply arrange all of your ingredients on a sheet pan, pop it in the oven, and a short while later, dinner is ready.
They're perfect for busy weeknights when you need to get a nutritious meal on the table for your hungry family. They're also a great way to get your kids involved in the kitchen.
Get your little sous chefs to help you prep the ingredients and toss them with olive oil and seasonings. And don't be afraid to pile on the colorful veggies!
How to Make Sheet Pan Roast Chicken and Potatoes
For this Sheet Pan Roast Chicken and Potatoes with Chimichurri, I decided to go with a classic combination- chicken and potatoes. I mean, who doesn't love roast chicken?
As the chicken cooks, the skin crisps up and the juices baste the potatoes, infusing them with their rich flavor. I also throw some red onions onto the pan for sweetness and color.
Then, simply toss all of my ingredients together with olive oil, salt, pepper and a bit of cumin for smoky flavor.
Chicken Leg Quarters
You can use a whole chicken and cut it up into parts. You can also use chicken breasts, thighs or legs- whatever you like.
I like to make this dish with chicken leg quarters because they come out nice and juicy. Chicken leg quarters consist of the whole chicken leg- the drumstick and thigh connected together.
Chicken quarters are juicy and flavorful when cooked properly. They're also one of the cheapest cuts of chicken available!
Whichever cut of chicken you use, I would just recommend using bone-in, skin-on chicken for this dish. This will give you the best, juiciest results. If you're watching your calories and saturated fat intake, you can always take off the skin before eating.
Sheet Pan Meals are Endlessly Customizable
The humble sheet pan makes a great foundation for a wide variety of nutritious meals. Sheet pan dinners are endlessly customizable!
When assembling your ingredients, I would just recommend choosing proteins and vegetables that have roughly similar cooking times. For example, I wouldn't roast salmon with a vegetable that takes a long time to cook (like potatoes) because you run the risk overcooking the fish. Rather I would pair it with asparagus, broccoli, or something similar that cooks quickly.
What is Chimichurri Sauce?
For an extra pop of flavor I decided to make a chimichurri sauce to drizzle on top of this Sheet Pan Roast Chicken and Potatoes. Chimichurri is an Argentinian sauce that's commonly eaten throughout South America.
It's an uncooked sauce that's used as both a marinade and a condiment. Bright and flavorful, it's made with fresh herbs, olive oil, garlic, and vinegar.
It's just perfect served on top of meat, seafood and vegetables. The recipe makes more than you'll need for this dish because once you taste it, you'll want to pour it on top of everything!
Recipe FAQs
Chicken leg quarters will take about 35-40 minutes to cook at 400°F. The final cook time will depend on the size of the chicken legs. The best way to check for doneness is with a meat thermometer. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Chicken breast will take about 20-35 minutes to cook at 400°F depending on the size of the breast and whether it is boneless or not. Bone-in chicken breast will take longer to cook (about 30-35 minutes) while boneless chicken breast cooks faster (about 20 minutes). The best way to check for doneness is with a meat thermometer. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
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Recipe
Sheet Pan Roast Chicken and Potatoes with Chimichurri
Ingredients
- 1 bone-in skin-on chicken, cut into pieces (breasts, thighs, legs)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 pound assorted color baby potatoes
- 1 red onion, cut into wedges
Chimichurri Sauce:
- 1 cup packed fresh parsley, roughly chopped
- 1 cup packed fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup packed fresh oregano, roughly chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 shallot, chopped
- ¼ –½ teaspoon chili flakes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup olive oil
- ½ cup red wine or sherry vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Place the chicken parts on a sheet pan and drizzle them with ½ tablespoon olive oil. Mix the salt, pepper and cumin together in a small bowl. Sprinkle half of the spice mixture on the chicken. Toss the potatoes and onion wedges in a bowl with the remaining ½ tablespoon oil and the remaining spice mixture. Arrange the vegetables on the sheet pan around the chicken.
- Place the pan in the oven and roast about 45-50 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through (165 degrees on an instant read thermometer) and the vegetables are tender. Baste the chicken with the pan juices about halfway through.
- To make the chimichurri sauce, puree the parsley, cilantro, oregano, garlic, shallot, chili flakes, salt, olive oil and vinegar together in a food processor.
- Serve chicken and vegetables with chimichurri sauce to drizzle on top.
Lauren Grant | Zestful Kitchen says
Wow, such stunning photos! I just can't get over how gorgeous this dinner looks. I am a HUGE fan of chimichurri, I can't wait to give this one a try!
Farrah says
Goodness, that chicken looks amaaazing!!! Looks like such a delicious + hearty meal! (I definitely don't mind the easy clean-up right now, hehehe. <3 )
GiGi Eats says
I adore sheet pan meals because um... EASY CLEANUP!! This look so so so good too! 😛 This girl loves herself some CHICKEN!
Emily Kyle says
Oh I am so loving this one sheet pan meal trend!! Less dishes after an absolutely delicious meal = pure happiness! My husband makes a mean chimichirri, will have to try this recipe the next time he makes it!
Liz says
Ok- trying again to comment for the 3rd time haha! I have no idea why technology hates me today. Anywho, bravo for the sheet pan trend- I think I need to jump on it too and now you've inspired me! And, as always, way to be a leader in making a statement on how big an issue childhood obesity is. I love the way you approach healthy living and I know by using your platform you are changing lives. Keep it up!
Kris ~ Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies says
The chicken and veggies sound delicious, but topped with that Chimichurri you have outdone yourself!
Sara @ sarahaasrdn.com says
Sheet pan dinners are the best and this looks glorious!!!
Taylor Kiser says
This is a must make sheet pan dinner! Love the wonderful flavors going on! The chicken looks so moist and the veggies are perfectly roasted!
EA The Spicy RD says
Yum!! I am a huge fan of sheet pan dinners, and this looks delicious! I'm swooning over that chimichurri sauce too-the more cilantro, the better. Can't wait to make this for my family!
Marissa says
We've been all about sheet pan dinners recently too. One of our favorites involved chicken, potatoes and harissa with a bunch of arugula added at the end. But chimmichurri sauce? Genius! I'll definitely be giving this a try and I love that they'll be leftovers for easy lunches / quick dinners!
Alisa Fleming says
I tried chimmichurri sauce for the first time last year and was immediately smitten! I haven't made it at home since my husband wasn't as big on it, but I need to - he can deal 🙂
Daniel says
This looks so good!
I'm all for easy to make dinners that have minimal clean up afterwards, and you can't get too far wrong with a chicken pan sheet 🙂 Love that you've added the chimichurri too!
Bethany @ athletic avocado says
This recipe looks like a winner winner chicken dinner! You can never go wrong with tender, juicy roasted chicken with a flavorful sauce and hearty potatoes!
Kristy from Southern In Law says
Yummm! This looks like such a delicious dinner! I want to smother everything in that chimichurri sauce! <3
Jenn says
Roasted potatoes are one of my favorite things (had them tonight in fact!) and that chimichurri looks so good! So flavorful!
Sarah says
I love simple one pan healthy dinners. This looks so full of flavor!
Jessica @Nutritioulicious says
I bet this makes the house smell amazing! Love the brightness and color that chimichurri gives to this too!