“I know chicken dishes are a great favourite in many families, so I’ve included plenty of recipes here”, says Mary Berry to introduce Simple Comforts, a cookbook packed with hearty, wholesome recipes to feed the whole family.
Over the years, Mary has given us plenty of nifty midweek and weekend dinner ideas that make the most of a whole chicken or a pack of chicken breasts or thighs. For all chicken-loving cooks and Mary Berry fans, we’ve put together our favourite chicken recipes from across her cookbooks.
Mary Berry’s Chicken Tartiflette
Mary’s take on the classic Alpine dish is a simple, one-tin traybake with parma ham-wrapped chicken breast, potatoes, and mushrooms. It’s hearty, creamy, and perfect for feeding a hungry family.
Roast Chicken with Tarragon Butter
Mary’s latest version of roast chicken comes with a tarragon, ginger and lemon butter slathered under the skin before cooking. Roasted on top of meltingly soft onions, and served with rich homemade gravy, this is a must for an autumn Sunday dinner.
From the book
Simple Comforts
Heart-warming comfort dishes from the nation’s favourite cook
With easy, family-friendly recipes as well as all-out weekend feasts
Including chapters full of indulgent bakes and sweet treats
Chicken Hot Pot with Potato Topping
A healthy, hearty dinner, this chicken and mushroom stew is topped with slices of golden potato. Dish it out into comforting bowlfuls with crusty bread to mop up the juices.
Mediterranean All-In-One Chicken
An all-in-one traybake dinner, this is one of the best ways to cook chicken so all the juices meld and mix with the vegetables as they cook. Mary has added preserved lemons for a citrus tang.
Mary Berry’s Warm Chicken and Dill Salad with Mustard and Parmesan Dressing
With crispy chicken, crunchy lettuce and a creamy Parmesan dressing, this is a riff on Caesar salad but with plenty of dill, pickles and paprika to give it some oomph.
Chicken and Fennel Fricassee
This is a great midweek supper, pairing chicken with fennel, crème fraîche and tarragon. “We like chicken thighs, skinned but left on the bone for full flavour, but you could also use skinned chicken breasts”, recommends Mary.
Mary Berry’s Smoky Firecracker Chicken Drumsticks
These sweet, smoky marinated drumsticks could not be simpler to throw together, and can be roasted and eaten with sticky fingers around a November bonfire.
Parmesan-crusted Chicken
Make chicken breasts a bit more interesting by topping them with a combination of lemony cream cheese and Parmesan breadcrumbs for moisture and crunch. Bake in the oven with a selection of seasonal veg for a healthy meal.
Honey Chicken
“An old favourite of mine and one the family still love”, says Mary. With a few storecupboard basics, you can make a BBQ-style marinade within minutes. Roast in the oven until sticky and sweet.
Pesto Lemon Chicken
Inspired by the Mediterranean tricolore salad, Mary combines chicken and avocado with a zesty pesto dressing in this simple and healthy salad.
