This is a perfect dinner to have on a lazy weekend when you don’t feel like doing much or there is a great game on TV in the afternoon. This dinner is easy to fix in the morning and put it into the refrigerator until it is time to bake. Another advantage is that all the dishes go into the oven and bake together – so no extra pots or last-minute cooking.

Normally, I make recipes for two servings, but there are some things I like to double up on for extra meals and leftover creations. Chicken and salmon are often two of those ingredients. In this post I am doubling up on the amount to chicken and stuffing, so I can use the extra for other meals and the stuffing can be divided into smaller portions and frozen to serve at another time, You will see later in the week how I use up some of my leftovers.

Roasted Chicken Breasts

If you like dark meat chicken by all means substitute chicken leg quarters.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoons dried thyme leaves
  
• 1 teaspoon whole fennel seeds
  
• 1 tablespoon coarse sea salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  
• Olive oil
  
• 1 lemon, halved and sliced 1/4 inch thick
  
• 1 sweet onion, halved and sliced 1/4 inch thick
  
• 2 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  
• 4- bone in chicken breasts
  
• 1/2 cup dry white wine

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Combine the thyme, fennel seeds, salt and pepper in a small bowl.

Distribute the lemon slices, the onion and garlic in a baking dish large enough to hold the chicken. Dry the chicken pieces well with paper towels.

Place the chicken, skin side down, on top of the onion and brush with oil and sprinkle with half of the herb mixture. Turn the chicken skin side up and brush it all over with oil and the remaining herb mixture.

Roast the chicken for 30 minutes. Pour the wine into the pan and roast for another 15 – 20 minutes, until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast registers 155 to 160 degrees.

Remove the chicken from the oven, cover the skillet tightly with aluminum foil and allow to rest for 10 to 15 minutes. Serve the chicken with the pan juices, cooked lemon and onion. Reserve remaining broth for leftovers.

Italian Bread & Sausage Stuffing

Reserve one-third of the stuffing for this meal and set aside the remaining stuffing for other meals. I assembled this recipe a few days ahead and set aside some for this meal.

Ingredients

• 8 cups Italian bread, like ciabatta, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 lb. sweet Italian sausage, diced
  
• 1 large onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice
  
• 2 large ribs celery, cut into 1/4-inch dice
  
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
  
• 1 tablespoon fresh sage leaved
  
• 1 teaspoon. kosher salt
  
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  
• 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
  

Directions

Place the bread cubes into a large mixing bowl and set aside.

In a large skillet over medium heat add the olive oil and sausage. Cook until light brown, about 5 min. With a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage to the bowl with the cubed bread.

In the same skillet, sauté the onions, celery and garlic until the onions are tender about 8 minutes.

Stir in the thyme, sage, salt and pepper, cook 1 minute and then add the mixture to the bread. Add the broth to the bread mixture; stir until well combined.

This stuffing can be baked at a range of oven temperatures, depending on what else you are cooking.

For this dinner, I put the stuffing in the oven with the chicken and let it bake for the same amount of time.

Place the stuffing in a casserole dish or baking pan and bake it covered until heated through, 45 minutes to 1 hour. For a crunchy top, uncover it for the last 15 minutes of baking.

Roasted Broccoli Florets

Ingredients

• 1 large head of broccoli
  
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced
  
• Extra virgin olive oil
  
• 1 teaspoons kosher salt
  
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  
• 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. If baking this dish with the chicken, place the broccoli in the oven after the chicken has roasted for 30 minutes and you are going to add the wine.

Wash the broccoli and cut the broccoli florets from the thick stalk, leaving some of the stalk attached. Pull the florets apart. You don’t want the pieces too small.

Place the broccoli florets in a single layer in an oiled baking pan. Toss the garlic on the broccoli and drizzle with about 3 tablespoons olive oil. Sprinkle with the salt and red pepper flakes.

Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, until crisp-tender and the tips of some of the florets are browned.

Remove the broccoli from the oven and sprinkle with the cheese.

Posted by Jovina Coughlin in Bread, broccoli, celery, Cheese, Chicken, Herbs, lemon, onion, Sausage, Stuffing/Dressing, Wine Tags: dinner baked in the oven