The image showcases a vibrant, beautiful dish of chicken drumsticks and small potatoes roasted together in a single pan. The chicken is perfectly browned and glistening, infused with herbs, and the entire dish is brightened by fresh lemon slices and chopped parsley. This is the ultimate one-pan dinner, celebrated for its incredible ease and deep, savory-citrus flavor.
This recipe focuses on maximizing flavor by using a rich lemon-garlic marinade that bastes both the chicken and the potatoes as they roast, ensuring every component is juicy and tender.
✨ Ingredients for Lemon Herb Chicken and Potatoes
The key to this dish is the quick-to-assemble but potent marinade that doubles as the roasting sauce.
1. 🍗 The Chicken and Potatoes
- Chicken: 8 Chicken Drumsticks (or a mix of thighs and drumsticks).
- Potatoes: 2 lbs small Yukon Gold or Baby Red Potatoes, halved or quartered to uniform size.
- Aromatics: 1 large Yellow Onion, cut into large wedges (optional, for flavor under the chicken).
2. 🍋 The Garlic Lemon Marinade/Sauce
- Fat: 1/2 cup Olive Oil.
- Acid: 1/4 cup fresh Lemon Juice (from 1-2 large lemons).
- Aromatics: 6 cloves Garlic, minced.
- Herbs: 2 tablespoons fresh Rosemary, finely chopped, 2 tablespoons fresh Oregano or Thyme leaves, 1/4 cup fresh Parsley, chopped (divided for marinade and garnish).
- Seasoning: 1.5 teaspoons Salt, 1 teaspoon Black Pepper, 1/2 teaspoon Smoked Paprika (for color).
- Garnish: 1 Lemon, sliced into rounds (for baking and plating).
👩🍳 Instructions: Roast for Flavor and Ease
This recipe is simple, with all ingredients roasting together to exchange moisture and flavor.
Step 1: Prepare the Marinade and Coat Ingredients
- Whisk Marinade: In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, half of the chopped fresh parsley, rosemary, oregano/thyme, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
- Coat Ingredients: Place the chicken drumsticks and the cut potatoes into the bowl. Toss thoroughly to ensure every piece is completely coated in the lemon-herb marinade. For best results, let the mixture marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes (or refrigerate for up to 4 hours).
Step 2: Roast the One-Pan Meal
- Preheat: Preheat your oven to 400^{\circ}\text{F} (200^{\circ}\text{C}).
- Arrange: Pour the chicken, potatoes, and all the marinade onto a large, rimmed baking sheet or into a wide casserole dish. Spread the ingredients into a single, even layer. Place a few fresh lemon slices directly among the chicken and potatoes.
- First Bake: Roast for 25 minutes.
- Flip: Carefully flip the chicken and toss the potatoes to ensure even browning.
- Finish Bake: Return the pan to the oven and roast for another 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is deeply golden brown and cooked through (165^{\circ}\text{F} internal temperature) and the potatoes are fork-tender and beautifully caramelized.
Step 3: Serve and Garnish
- Rest: Remove the pan from the oven and let it rest for 5-10 minutes.
- Plate: Transfer the chicken and potatoes to a large serving bowl or platter. The roasted lemon slices can be served with the dish or discarded.
- Garnish: Drizzle any pan juices over the chicken and potatoes. Garnish generously with the remaining fresh chopped parsley and a few fresh lemon slices for visual appeal and an extra squeeze of juice.
💡 Master Tips for Roast Chicken
- Fresh Herbs Only: This recipe requires Fresh Rosemary and Fresh Parsley for the intense flavor and vibrant color seen in the photo; dried herbs will not achieve the same quality.
- High-Heat Roast: Roasting at 400^{\circ}\text{F} is the sweet spot that ensures the chicken skin gets crispy while the potatoes turn tender and caramelized at the same time.
- Citrus Brightness: Don’t hold back on the Fresh Lemon Juice; the acid tenderizes the chicken and prevents the final dish from tasting too heavy.
- One-Pan Simplicity: This method is prized for being a complete, Easy One-Pan Dinner, combining protein and starch with minimal cleanup.