This simple and satisfying recipe combines chicken, red potatoes, and green beans into a one-pan meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights or when you want something delicious without spending hours in the kitchen. With just a few ingredients, you can create a flavorful dish that will feed a family of five with leftovers for the next day.
Ingredients:
- 3 chicken breasts, cut up: Chicken breasts are lean and tender, making them a perfect protein for this dish. Cutting them into smaller pieces ensures they cook evenly and soak up the flavors of the seasoning and butter.
- 6 red potatoes: The number of potatoes can vary depending on their size, but around six medium-sized red potatoes should be sufficient. These potatoes are hearty and will absorb the seasoning and butter, becoming tender and flavorful.
- 1 large can of green beans and 1 small can of green beans: Canned green beans are convenient and quick to use. The mix of one large can and one small can ensures there’s enough for everyone, and the beans will soak up the delicious butter and Italian dressing.
- 1 pack of Italian dressing mix: This seasoning mix adds a burst of flavor to the dish, with a mix of herbs and spices that complement the chicken, potatoes, and green beans.
- 1 stick of melted butter per pan: Butter adds richness to the dish, helping to meld all the flavors together and giving the chicken and vegetables a beautiful golden finish.
Instructions:
- Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). This temperature is ideal for baking the chicken, potatoes, and green beans together, ensuring everything cooks through evenly without burning.
- Prepare the Ingredients:
- Chicken: Cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. This helps them cook faster and ensures that each piece is evenly coated with the seasoning and butter.
- Potatoes: Wash and cut the red potatoes into quarters or halves, depending on their size. You want the pieces to be roughly the same size so they cook evenly.
- Green Beans: Drain the canned green beans and set them aside.
- Assemble the Dish:
- Layer the Ingredients: In a large baking pan, evenly distribute the chicken pieces, potato quarters, and drained green beans. Try to spread them out in a single layer to ensure even cooking.
- Season with Italian Dressing: Open the pack of Italian dressing mix and sprinkle it evenly over the chicken, potatoes, and green beans. The dressing mix will add a savory and tangy flavor to the dish, making it irresistible.
- Add the Butter: Melt the stick of butter and pour it evenly over the entire pan. The butter will help the seasoning stick to the ingredients and add a rich, buttery flavor that enhances the dish.
- Bake the Dish:
- Place the baking pan in the preheated oven and bake for 1 hour. During this time, the chicken will cook through, the potatoes will become tender, and the green beans will absorb all the flavors.
- Halfway through the cooking time, you can give the ingredients a gentle stir to ensure everything is coated well and cooks evenly.
- Serve:
- After an hour, remove the pan from the oven. The chicken should be fully cooked, the potatoes tender, and the green beans infused with flavor.
- Serve the dish hot, directly from the pan. This meal is perfect as is, but you can also pair it with a side salad or some crusty bread to soak up any leftover juices.
- Enjoy Leftovers:
- This recipe makes enough to feed five people, with some leftovers for lunch the next day. The flavors will develop even more overnight, making the leftovers just as delicious, if not more so.
Tips and Variations:
- Use Fresh Green Beans: If you prefer fresh green beans over canned, you can substitute them in this recipe. Just trim and cut the beans before adding them to the pan.
- Try Different Vegetables: You can easily customize this dish by adding or substituting vegetables. Carrots, bell peppers, or zucchini would all work well.
- Add Cheese: For an extra layer of flavor, sprinkle some shredded Parmesan or cheddar cheese over the dish during the last 10 minutes of baking.
- Make It Spicy: If you like a bit of heat, add some red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the butter before pouring it over the dish.
This easy, one-pan meal is perfect for anyone who wants a delicious, homemade dinner with minimal effort. The combination of chicken, red potatoes, and green beans seasoned with Italian dressing and butter is a winner every time. Whether you’re feeding a family or preparing meals for the week, this recipe is sure to become a staple in your kitchen. Enjoy!
