Get ready for a dinner that delivers maximum flavor with absolutely minimal cleanup! This Piri Piri Chicken and Smashed Sweet Potato Traybake is the ultimate one pan meal. Imagine crispy skinned chicken thighs roasted alongside sweet potatoes and red onions, all coated in a vibrant, smoky piri piri spice blend. Then, we take it to the next level by smashing the potatoes right in the pan with all the delicious chicken juices. It’s a healthy, hearty, and incredibly satisfying meal that the whole family will love.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- One Pan Wonder: Everything roasts on a single sheet pan, which means incredible flavor and easy cleanup.
- The “Smashed Potato” Trick: Smashing the sweet potatoes in the pan with the chicken drippings creates the most flavorful “mash” you’ve ever tasted.
- Perfectly Balanced Meal: You get your protein, starch, and veggies all from one pan; it’s a complete dinner.
- Crispy & Tender: The chicken skin gets perfectly crispy while the meat stays incredibly juicy.
Ingredients for Piri Piri Chicken & Smashed Sweet Potato Traybake
- 2 large sweet potatoes (about 2 lbs), peeled and cut into 2 inch chunks
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 6-8 bone in, skin on chicken thighs
- 2 red onions, cut into wedges
- 1 (1 oz) packet piri piri seasoning (or use a mild version)
- 1 bunch broccoli (or 10 oz broccolini)
- Salt and black pepper
Instructions for Making Piri Piri Chicken & Smashed Sweet Potato Traybake
1Prep and Season: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
On a very large, rimmed baking sheet, toss the sweet potato chunks with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Push the potatoes to one side of the pan.
In a large bowl, combine the chicken thighs and red onion wedges with the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the piri piri seasoning. Toss until everything is evenly coated. Arrange this mixture on the empty side of the baking sheet.
2Roast to Golden Perfection: Roast for 40 minutes, stirring everything and flipping the chicken thighs halfway through the cooking time. This ensures everything gets beautifully browned and cooks evenly.
3Add the Broccoli and Finish: After 40 minutes, remove the pan from the oven. Add the broccoli to the pan, drizzle it lightly with a bit more oil, and season with salt and pepper.
Return the pan to the oven and roast for another 10-15 minutes, until the broccoli is tender crisp and the chicken skin is deep golden brown and crispy.
4The Magic “Smash” Step: Carefully transfer the chicken, onions, and broccoli to a serving platter.
Using a fork or a potato masher, roughly smash the roasted sweet potatoes right there in the baking sheet. Make sure to scrape up and incorporate all the delicious, spicy chicken juices and browned bits from the bottom of the pan; this is where the magic is!
5Serve Family Style: Spread the smashed sweet potatoes evenly over the bottom of the pan. Artfully arrange the crispy chicken, roasted onions, and broccoli on top. Bring the entire pan to the table for a beautiful, family style presentation that’s sure to impress.
Piri Piri Chicken & Smashed Sweet Potato Traybake
Ingredients
- 2 large sweet potatoes 2 lbs, peeled and cubed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 6-8 bone in skin on chicken thighs
- 2 red onions cut into wedges
- 1 1 oz packet piri piri seasoning
- 1 bunch broccoli cut into florets
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- On a large baking sheet, toss sweet potatoes with 1 tbsp oil, salt, and pepper. Push to one side.
- In a bowl, toss chicken and onions with remaining 1 tbsp oil and piri piri seasoning. Arrange on the other side of the pan.
- Roast for 40 minutes, stirring and flipping halfway.
- Add broccoli to the pan, drizzle with oil, and season. Roast for 10-15 more minutes.
- Remove chicken, onions, and broccoli to a platter.
- Smash the sweet potatoes in the pan with a fork, incorporating all the pan juices.
- Spread smashed potatoes on the pan and top with the chicken, onions, and broccoli. Serve.
Notes
- Pan Size is Key: Use the largest baking sheet you have to avoid overcrowding, which steams the food instead of roasting it.
- Spice Level: Piri piri seasoning can vary in heat. Look for a "mild" version if you're sensitive to spice.
- Crispy Chicken Skin: For the crispiest skin, pat the chicken thighs completely dry with a paper towel before seasoning.
