Got 5 minutes for dinner? Make this incredible baked chicken recipe! Crispy oven roasted chicken thighs and drumsticks that makes its own gravy in the same baking pan.
It’s the chicken version of this Sausage Bake with Gravy, a long time reader favourite. Minutes to prep, zero maintenance to cook. 100% delish!
Gravy Baked chicken recipe – make its own gravy!
This is another one* of those super speedy recipes that came about at the end of a long cook day when I had to use up ingredients before the expiry date but had zero energy to expend. It’s a dump-and-bake recipe, but entirely made from scratch – no canned soup shortcuts around here!
Chicken is coated in a simple spice mix for flavour (plus it makes the chicken crispy!) then it’s baked IN a flour/beef stock liquid that magically thickens into a gravy by the time the chicken is cooked.
Just LOOK at the gravy perfection!! ↑↓↑↓
* Sausage Bake, and the Ultra Lazy Series (Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake, Chicken Rice Bake and speedy Corn Chowder) being to more such examples! Handy for busy midweek cooking. 🙂
What you need
Here’s what you need for this baked chicken. Very few ingredients, right?? Hard to believe it’s going to make something so delicious… but I promise it does! It’s all in the cooking logic. Read on!
How to make this baked chicken dinner
And here’s how it’s made:
The key to this recipe is how the “self saucing gravy” is made. You simply whisk together flour with beef stock/broth, then pour it around the chicken. As it bakes in the oven, 3 things happen:
The chicken flesh under the liquid stays moist and absorbs the stock flavour = tasty chicken flesh even without marinating;
The chicken leeches juices into the stock, adding even more flavour into what will end up as gravy; and
The flour in the broth makes it thicken into a gravy.
WARNING: When it comes out of the oven, you’ll be looking at a congealed mess in the pan instead of the silky gravy you see. Have faith! Just give it a good whisk and it comes together beautifully!
And here’s what you end up with – crispy chicken….
…. AND a gravy to douse everything on your plate!
And what did that take you to prepare? All of 5 minutes? If that!
Serve with anything your heart desires. Pictured at the top of the post with creamy mashed potato (possibly cauliflower – can’t remember if I was attempting low carb on that day) and a side of Rocket Salad with Balsamic Dressing.
And in the photo above, this crispy baked chicken is served with buttery Seasoned Rice (think Rice-a-roni, except homemade, excellent freezer standby) and steamed greens drizzled with the herb & garlic dressing from this Cucumber Salad.
But honestly? Chicken and gravy. It goes with anything (non Asian). You could even pull the meat off the bones, toss in the gravy then stuff it in bread rolls to make Chicken and Gravy Rolls. YES! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Gravy Baked Chicken (thighs & drumsticks) – 5 min prep!
Ingredients
- 1.25 kg/ 3 lb bone in, skin on chicken thighs and/or drumsticks (all of one, or mix, Note 1)
- 2 tsp olive oil (or other oil)
Chicken seasoning:
- 1 tsp paprika powder
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp onion powder (or garlic powder)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Gravy:
- 4 tbsp flour , plain/all purpose (Note 2 for GF)
- 1 1/2 cups beef stock/broth (yes, beef, not chicken! Note 3)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200°C/390°F (180°C fan).
- Seasoning – mix in a small bowl.
- Season chicken – Place chicken in a 23 x 33cm / 9 x 13" baking pan. Drizzle with oil then rub all over Sprinkle & rub in the Seasoning, using most on the skin side.
- Arrange chicken skin side up in the pan.
- Gravy mixture – Whisk flour with about 1/2 cup of stock until lump free, then whisk in remaining stock and pepper (forgot in video!). Pour into the pan around the chicken.
- Bake uncovered for 50 minutes, or until chicken is crispy and golden.
- Whisk gravy – Remove chicken onto a plate, then give the gravy a good whisk to make it smooth. Adjust Gravy thickness if required – Note 4. Taste and add salt and pepper, if needed.
- Serve – Pour gravy into a jug. Serve alongside chicken!
Recipe Notes:
- Seasoned Rice (excellent freezer standby to serve with everything)
- steamed veg tossed with the Herb & Garlic dressing from this Cucumber Salad
- creamy mashed potato (or cauliflower for low carb)
- Rocket/Arugula salad with balsamic dressing (super speedy, no chop salad)
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
It would be kind of cute that he stands there for ages with his head pushed through the dog door….except it’s winter here, and ice cold air is blasting into the house through that considerably large hole…😖
I hadn’t made this for a while and I forgotten how good it is. Crispy skin, tender chicken and delicious gravy. Clean plates all round.
I’m a hopeless cook (who would have thought I wanted to be a Cooking Demonstrator when I first left school 40+ years ago) but everyone raved about this gravy baked chicken. The chicken was so nice, the gravy sensational and the mashed potato accompaniment went down a treat too! Thanks so much!
This was so good!! Served with plain rice and steamed vegetables. I did have some trouble with the gravy though…. I’m sure it’ll be better next time I make it!
Do you think I could omit the flour and add risotto instead to soak up the broth and chicken juices or would that completely change the cooking time and concept of the recipe too much? Really keen to try this!!
This was amazing, will make it again soon. Thanks for the great recipe!
I cooked this tonight with boneless chicken thighs (because my fussy kids don’t like bones) and it turned out amazing. Another great recipe thanks Nagi!
Delicious! What I did in the beginning was brown the thighs and drumsticks in a combo of olive oil and Irish butter. It gave them a wonderful color. Then I added the chicken to the gravy. I scraped my pan that had the remaining juices from the browning into the gravy mixture. I serviced with Dutch broad egg noodles and homemade biscuits on the side. I would have added some nice asparagus or French green beans but my family turns there noses up at veggies, They are missing out but totally enjoyed this dish
I sneak cauliflower into mashed potatoes. I feigned that I forgot to plug the veggie steamer in tonight so there was no side of veg. Little did the boys know the cauli was in with mashed potatoes, roughly 50/50 proportion.
So easy to make and so very delicious to eat. Another go to dish from #recipetineats.
This was absolutely delicious and super easy to make!
Was looking for a new way to do chicken, and had some chicken thighs and saw this recipe… DELICIOUS!! This will now be on regular rotation in my house!!
So excited to tell you how much I loved this that I forgot to give the stars!
Nagi – wondering, do you think cornstarch or arrowroot could be substituted for the flour as the thickening agent here?
OMG – this was the best! My boyfriend said when he walked in the door last night that he could tell from the aroma coming from the kitchen that it was going to be a wonderful meal, and it was. Kept it simple – steamed broccoli and a couple boiled new (small red) potatoes. Will make this one again and again.
Seriously the best recipe. It’s so easy and delicious. I’m a new mom and it’s a total lifesaver for me and my husband LOVES it to! Everyone must try this!
Absolutely delicious! The 5 minute prep is not an exaggeration. Serve it with mashed potatoes and roasted green beans. My husband, who loves crispy skin and loves gravy kept saying “Oh, this is SO good”. I don’t know that it’s a company dish, but it’s certainly added to our rotation. Thank you!
AMAZING CHICKEN, I served it with cauliflower rice and roasted cabbage steaks. Next time going to make cauliflower mashed potatoes. Now my husband wants it as my go to dish.
Made this dish and it was absolutely delicious! Really hit the spot. I season more heavily than you and it workde just fine.
This recipe is truly a winner! I only had boneless thighs, so it cooked perfectly in about 35min. I didn’t even have to whisk it and the gang just grabbed for the “gravy”. Served on mashed potatoes and yams with steamed veggies on the side. Great winter weeknight solution. Your recipes are consistently EXCELLENT. Thank you!
Perfect Shaila!!! N x
Hi Nagi can I make more gravy for this dish thanks
Hi Gary, you sure can – double the gravy ingredients if you like! N X
My family love this recipe.
Having reduced mobility and now using a wheelchair , your recipes have helped me and my support worker ( who helps prep some meals)provide yummy , interesting, easy meals for my family.l was forced to have a recipe printed up for the support worker to use follow so l combine your recipe with some tweaks of my own and easy peasy and yummo . Thankyou for making life easier
Wow this recipe was delicious! So easy and a hit with my husband and the kids. I never usually comment on recipes but this was too good not to. Can’t wait to make pies with the leftovers. Thanks for another amazing recipe!
I am in awe of how well this turned out.
The most succulent roast chicken I’ve ever made and so easy! The top is crispy and the rest is so soft and juicy.
Served with roast veg, your insanely good kale garlic rice and that incredible gravy that magically comes together at the end.
Nagi, you are a gift. Thank you.
Additional note – made this with three Marylands which my butcher cut for me to separate thigh and drumstick. All pieces were moist and delicious.
what are Marylands?
Hi Rosemary, a Maryland is widely available in Australia. It’s a cut of chicken that has the thigh and drumstick attached.
My local butcher cuts them up for me to separate the two or sometimes debones the whole thing so it is a large skin on chicken fillet.