I must be honest, I’m not a big fan of white meat, I don’t particularly like chicken, so you can understand how significant it is for me to offer you a recipe with chicken as the undisputed protagonist! This baked chicken is not like the ones you have prepared until now, it has something extra, because despite the cooking method, it does not remain dry and stringy, quite the opposite! It will melt in your mouth and its flesh will be tender and juicy. You will discover a truly surprising aromatic taste thanks not only to the herbs and spices added in the marinade but also to the yogurt and honey sauce. And here’s the novelty: the dressing will not be brought to the table to accompany the chicken, but will be added just before baking it, ensuring the right amount of moisture and tenderness from the first bite! The vegetables cooked together with the chicken will then be the perfect crowning of this unusual and super succulent main course! It will be suitable for the whole family because it is complete, nutritious, and digestible, and you can propose it both for everyday meals and for a special occasion. You’ll impress everyone with just a few simple moves!
If white meats are your passion, here are some other ideas to enjoy them in a more original and tasty way:
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Economical
- Rest time: 20 Minutes
- Preparation time: 25 Minutes
- Portions: 4 people
- Cooking methods: Stovetop, Electric oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients:
- 4 chicken thighs
- 4 fresh spring onions
- 4 potatoes (medium)
- 4 carrots
- 1.5 oz white wine
- 2 cloves garlic
- to taste herbs (thyme, rosemary, chives)
- to taste garlic powder
- 2 tsps sweet paprika
- 5 tbsps extra virgin olive oil
- salt
- to taste black pepper
- 3 tbsps Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsps honey
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp mustard
- 1 lemon juice
Tools:
- 2 Gloves
- 1 Scissors
- 1 Cutting board
- 1 Knife
- 2 Bowls
- 1 Pan
- 1 Ladle
- 1 Whisk
- 1 Strainer
- 1 Baking tray
Steps:
With the help of gloves and kitchen scissors, start removing the chicken skin (fig. 1).
Place the thighs in a large bowl and season them with 2 tablespoons of oil, the fresh herbs, dried chives, garlic powder, paprika, or another spice of your choice, and a sprinkle of pepper to taste (fig. 2). Massage the thighs with these aromas and let them rest for about 20′ (fig. 3).
Meanwhile, take care of the vegetables: wash, trim, and cut the carrots and potatoes into medium chunks, and the spring onions into rings, including the green part of the stem, with a knife (fig. 4). In a large non-stick wok or pan, brown the spring onions with 2 cloves of garlic and 2 tablespoons of oil over high heat for about 1′ (fig. 5).
Add the potatoes and carrots, cover with a lid, and let them stew over low heat for 13′, moistening the vegetables with a little hot water only if necessary (fig. 6). After this time, turn off the heat, salt and pepper to taste, and let cool slightly (fig. 7).
Once cooled, transfer the vegetables to a large baking dish (fig. 8). In the pan where you cooked the vegetables, add a tablespoon of oil to the residual juices, and sear the chicken thighs over high heat for 5′ per side until they acquire a nice golden and dark color* (fig. 9).
In a separate bowl, combine the Greek yogurt with the honey, add the soy sauce, mustard, and finally the strained juice of a lemon using a strainer (fig. 10). Mix with a whisk until all ingredients are combined (fig. 11).
Transfer the seared chicken thighs to the baking dish along with the vegetables and completely cover the surface with yogurt and honey sauce (fig. 12).
Put it in a preheated oven at 350°F for 35′-40′ or until it looks well cooked. Serve garnished with a few lemon slices.
And voila… your baked chicken with potatoes and carrots in yogurt and honey sauce is ready to be enjoyed!
Bon Appétit from La Cucina di FeFè!
Storage
👉 You can store the baked chicken with potatoes and carrots in yogurt and honey sauce in the fridge in suitable containers for refrigeration and reheat the thighs in the microwave for a few minutes before serving.
Tips, notes, variations, and suggestions
🔵 * Searing the meat in general and the chicken in this recipe is an essential step if you want to prepare certain types of dishes like roasts or slow-cooked dishes. When you sear meat, whether white or red, its natural sugars are caramelized, and proteins are browned, forming a rich brown crust on the surface that amplifies the savory flavor of the finished dish. The initial hot searing in the pan of the chicken is therefore crucial to achieving this delightful browning. Moreover, it also helps seal in the juices, keeping the chicken moist and tender.
