Got 5 minutes for dinner? Make this incredible baked chicken recipe! Crispy oven roasted chicken thighs and drumsticks that makes its own gravy in the same baking pan.
It’s the chicken version of this Sausage Bake with Gravy, a long time reader favourite. Minutes to prep, zero maintenance to cook. 100% delish!
Gravy Baked chicken recipe – make its own gravy!
This is another one* of those super speedy recipes that came about at the end of a long cook day when I had to use up ingredients before the expiry date but had zero energy to expend. It’s a dump-and-bake recipe, but entirely made from scratch – no canned soup shortcuts around here!
Chicken is coated in a simple spice mix for flavour (plus it makes the chicken crispy!) then it’s baked IN a flour/beef stock liquid that magically thickens into a gravy by the time the chicken is cooked.
Just LOOK at the gravy perfection!! ↑↓↑↓
* Sausage Bake, and the Ultra Lazy Series (Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake, Chicken Rice Bake and speedy Corn Chowder) being to more such examples! Handy for busy midweek cooking. 🙂
What you need
Here’s what you need for this baked chicken. Very few ingredients, right?? Hard to believe it’s going to make something so delicious… but I promise it does! It’s all in the cooking logic. Read on!
How to make this baked chicken dinner
And here’s how it’s made:
The key to this recipe is how the “self saucing gravy” is made. You simply whisk together flour with beef stock/broth, then pour it around the chicken. As it bakes in the oven, 3 things happen:
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The chicken flesh under the liquid stays moist and absorbs the stock flavour = tasty chicken flesh even without marinating;
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The chicken leeches juices into the stock, adding even more flavour into what will end up as gravy; and
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The flour in the broth makes it thicken into a gravy.
WARNING: When it comes out of the oven, you’ll be looking at a congealed mess in the pan instead of the silky gravy you see. Have faith! Just give it a good whisk and it comes together beautifully!
And here’s what you end up with – crispy chicken….
…. AND a gravy to douse everything on your plate!
And what did that take you to prepare? All of 5 minutes? If that!
Serve with anything your heart desires. Pictured at the top of the post with creamy mashed potato (possibly cauliflower – can’t remember if I was attempting low carb on that day) and a side of Rocket Salad with Balsamic Dressing.
And in the photo above, this crispy baked chicken is served with buttery Seasoned Rice (think Rice-a-roni, except homemade, excellent freezer standby) and steamed greens drizzled with the herb & garlic dressing from this Cucumber Salad.
But honestly? Chicken and gravy. It goes with anything (non Asian). You could even pull the meat off the bones, toss in the gravy then stuff it in bread rolls to make Chicken and Gravy Rolls. YES! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Gravy Baked Chicken (thighs & drumsticks) - 5 min prep!
Ingredients
- 1.25 kg/ 3 lb bone in, skin on chicken thighs and/or drumsticks (all of one, or mix, Note 1)
- 2 tsp olive oil (or other oil)
Chicken seasoning:
- 1 tsp paprika powder
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp onion powder (or garlic powder)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Gravy:
- 4 tbsp flour , plain/all purpose (Note 2 for GF)
- 1 1/2 cups beef stock/broth (yes, beef, not chicken! Note 3)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200°C/390°F (180°C fan).
- Seasoning - mix in a small bowl.
- Season chicken - Place chicken in a 23 x 33cm / 9 x 13" baking pan. Drizzle with oil then rub all over Sprinkle & rub in the Seasoning, using most on the skin side.
- Arrange chicken skin side up in the pan.
- Gravy mixture - Whisk flour with about 1/2 cup of stock until lump free, then whisk in remaining stock and pepper (forgot in video!). Pour into the pan around the chicken.
- Bake uncovered for 50 minutes, or until chicken is crispy and golden.
- Whisk gravy - Remove chicken onto a plate, then give the gravy a good whisk to make it smooth. Adjust Gravy thickness if required - Note 4. Taste and add salt and pepper, if needed.
- Serve - Pour gravy into a jug. Serve alongside chicken!
Recipe Notes:
- Seasoned Rice (excellent freezer standby to serve with everything)
- steamed veg tossed with the Herb & Garlic dressing from this Cucumber Salad
- creamy mashed potato (or cauliflower for low carb)
- Rocket/Arugula salad with balsamic dressing (super speedy, no chop salad)
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
It would be kind of cute that he stands there for ages with his head pushed through the dog door….except it’s winter here, and ice cold air is blasting into the house through that considerably large hole…😖
Another winner, thank you Nagi! Absolutely delicious and the recipe works perfectly. So quick to prep, as was the Seasoned Rice we served it with.
I’ve made this in the past & it turned out excellent. Can I add carrots to it as it bakes without messing up the gravy? Thank you & can’t wait to get your cookbook!!
Made this tonight. Turned out great. Gravy was so good. Accompanied the chicken with green beans w/ mushrooms, fried shallots, and parmesan.
Absolutely delicious. Your recipes are packed with flavour and I love them to bits! The pepper gives the extra zing to the whole. Thank you Nagi!
Excellent easy meal. Very tasty and simple, will make this again! Thanks Nagi!
I forgot to rate this recipe. I would give it 10 stars if I could.
Absolutely totally delicious. I have made this using bone-in thighs and thigh fillets. Both worked perfectly. The perfect recipe for a cold winter’s night.
I did not have broth,is it okay just to use chicken gravy in a jar?
Another successful recipe. Cooked this tonight with buttery herbed rice and steamed veggies. The gravy was so flavoursome and the rice perfectly cooked. I didn’t have beef stock so used the 4 min gravy trick of using chicken stock and adding a couple tablespoons of soy sauce to brown it up. Easy to time the two recipes together too. Thanks!
Another wonderful recipe! I used a cube as I didn’t have stock handy, but the chicken was wonderful. We served over mashed potatoes and it was a hit! Thank you again!
Chicken and mash with gravy – that sounds sooooo good right now! N x
Just made this for dinner tonight with a side of mashed cauli and it was DELICIOUS. I strayed from the recipe a bit and used seasoning that you’d use for fried chicken and it came out sooo good. I also used chicken broth (not beef) and the gravy came out perfectly. The only thing I’d do differently next time is maybe cut back on the salt because it was more salty than I would’ve liked. But overall, it was super easy to throw together and tasted amazing. Thank you for another great recipe, Nagi!!
That’s great Mitali! I’m so thrilled you enjoyed it! N x
Hi Nagi,
This is one of my favourites of yours. Not due to my choice, I am gluten free and have fructose malabsorption. (No onion and garlic for me now!) I used my gluten free plain flour (I like White wings the best) and my low fodmap onion substitute powder. (I get this posted to me from Melbourne) Absolutely next level. You are my only go to for recipes.
I am happy that you are able to enjoy this one Jacinta! It must be difficult to find recipes that suit you so I am glad I could help! N x
Hello Nagi,
This is insanely delightful! My family loves it…
Woo hoo!! I am happy that they like it Maria! N x
Hello Nagi,
This is insanely delightful! My family loves it… I just added garlic powder in the seasoning and it’s heaven!
Love love love this recipe. Just added some garlic powder and added the same seasonings to my broth but this was a great easy recipe!!
That’s great Melissa!! I am happy you liked it! N x
I mixed my gravy with warm water so it turned out thick. Will it still turn out okay?
We already know you are a genius Nagi but the amount of flavour in this is insane for the minimum effort. Loved it
I am so glad you enjoyed them Anya!! N x
I’m cooking this recipe right now and it smells so good I can’t wait for my family to enjoy it!!!
It does smell great Doniesha! I hope you enjoy it!! N x
I don’t like following recipes usually but this one is perfected. Of course spicing is up to each individual but most can figure that out. It really makes cooking more relaxing as you can depend on it turning out each time! Thanks for sharing & simplifying it too.
I am happy that you liked it Angela!! N x