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…😖
It was a great new recipe that was made all in one pan which is a plus ➕️ for me! I am a senior citizen and it was delicious with no big cleanup! Easy peasy, you will love it 😋
Yummy! I’ve made it twice now and my hubby inhales it! Gravy delicious! Thank you!!
This was easy and delicious. Gravy turned out perfect. It was followed by lots of “yums” and “can I have more?!”
Nagi , this turned out sooo yummy!! Thank you , yet again.
This was big hit at our dinner tonight. It was delicious! Thank you
Lovely recipe. I added potatoes in. Very, very nice. Will definitely cook it again. Thanks again.
My son made this last night! It was the bomb! Everyone complimented him on how awesome the gravy was! We will be making this again.
This recipe is so delicious and easy.
Another winner, thank you Nagi! Absolutely delicious and the recipe works perfectly. So quick to prep, as was the Seasoned Rice we served it with.
insanely delicious! Will make often!!
Absolutely amazing how tasty and comforting with so little prep time. Because I’m 2 hours away from the nearest anything (except a gas station and 3 bars–save your time trying to make sense of that!), I always have leftover mashed potatoes in my freezer & a couple cans of veggies on hand to fill in between trips to town. So, I was pleasantly surprised with this dish, especially since the taters and veggie took little effort as well. I’ve made it twice in the last month so next time I’ll play around with mixing up the seasonings. It’s pretty much fool proof.
Made this tonight. Simple and delicious! Looking forward to trying more of your recipes.
Hubby said this chicken was better than going out to a restaurant. High praise for sure!
I’ve made this in the past & it turned out excellent. Can I add carrots to it as it bakes without messing up the gravy? Thank you & can’t wait to get your cookbook!!
Made this tonight. Turned out great. Gravy was so good. Accompanied the chicken with green beans w/ mushrooms, fried shallots, and parmesan.
This recipe is AMAZING!!! Often you think “simple” means boring, but this is anything BUT boring! So flavorful. Serve w/ baked potato to use up that gravy. Reminds me of something my mom would’ve made. ❤️ Def in the dinner rotation.
Thank you for this recipe! I made this tonight, along with your cauliflower mash and no mayo coleslaw.
Omg – what a satisfying and scrumptious meal!
The best part, this dish is so easy to make!
Absolutely delicious. Your recipes are packed with flavour and I love them to bits! The pepper gives the extra zing to the whole. Thank you Nagi!
Nagi, you’ve outdone yourself!
I hadn’t even begun prepping this tonight and the chicken was still happily defrosting on the windowsill when I took a distressed call from my sick Father with a request I came over as he was struggling to breath. I literally chucked this together, threw it in the air fryer on the bake function and flew out the door leaving my husband to watch over it and finish it off alongside my 21 year old son son who was left to follow the rice recipe you suggested and some veg! Neither are confident cooks so I was a tad worried!
When I returned hours later, the chicken was done to perfection, the rice beautifully done and veg steamed gorgeously.
Thank you for another incredible meal even if done with haste! I’ll pack up the leftovers for my dad when he gets some strength.
Excellent easy meal. Very tasty and simple, will make this again! Thanks Nagi!