Pesto Chicken and Tomato Traybake
Chicken thighs and new potatoes roast in one tray with sweet tomatoes and a basil pesto crust, with hardly any washing up.
Made with Basil pesto. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time55 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.06 a head
- Oven200°C (180°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan). Put the potatoes and red onion on a large roasting tray, drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil, season and toss.
- 2
Mix half of your ready made basil pesto (see the base recipe) with the lemon zest and the second tbsp of oil. Rub it over the chicken thighs, under the skin where you can.
- 3
Nestle the chicken skin side up among the potatoes. Roast for 25 minutes.
25 min - 4
Add the tomatoes and roast for 15 minutes more, until the chicken skin is golden and the juices run clear. A thermometer should read 75C in the thickest part.
15 min - 5
Blanch the green beans in boiling water for 3 minutes, drain and add them to the tray.
3 min - 6
Spoon the rest of the pesto over the hot tray, add a squeeze of lemon and rest for 5 minutes before serving with the pan juices.
Tips
- Keep half the pesto back for the end. Raw pesto spooned on at the finish tastes fresh and bright, while roasted pesto is nutty and savoury.
- Skin on thighs stay juicy for 40 minutes at a high heat. Breast meat would dry out, so use it only for a shorter cook.
- Check the potatoes are cut about the same size so they all finish together.
Storing and freezing
Cool quickly and keep covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through. Not ideal for freezing because the potatoes go grainy.
Questions
Can I use chicken breasts instead?
Yes, but they cook faster. Use 4 breasts, add them to the tray after the potatoes have had 15 minutes, and cook until 75C in the middle, about 25 minutes in total.
Is this gluten free?
Yes. Every ingredient is naturally gluten free, including the pesto. Check any packaged ingredients you add to the tray, such as seasoning blends.
More made with basil pesto
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.