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This cheat’s roast chicken and vegetables is ready in under an hour

Name: Cheat’s roast chicken and vegetables recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 750g white potatoes, thickly (about 1.5cm) sliced lengthways; 1 large lemon, sliced; 3 bay leaves; 1.5kg chicken; 80ml olive oil; 2 red onions, cut into wedges; 4 large carrots, halved lengthways; 1 garlic bulb, cut crossways

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15m

45m

Cheat’s roast chicken and vegetables — Brett Stevens

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by Lucy Nunes

Delicious Team

Jun 22, 2026

This is for when you feel like a roasted chook and veg without having to wait for 2 hours. We’ve butterflied and slashed the chicken and par-cooked the potatoes before adding to the pan to speed up the cooking time. Meanwhile, sneaking lemon slices and bay leaves under the chicken will keep it moist and give you delicious pan juices.

750g white potatoes, thickly (about 1.5cm) sliced lengthways
1 large lemon, sliced
3 bay leaves
1 whole (1.5kg) chicken, butterflied
1/3 cup (80ml) extra virgin olive oil
2 red onions, cut into wedges
4 large carrots, halved lengthways
1 garlic bulb, cut crossways

Method

1.

Preheat oven to 240°C/220°C fan-forced. Bring a kettle of water to the boil.
2.

Fill a medium saucepan with boiling water. Season with salt and add the potatoes. Boil for 6-8 minutes, until partially cooked.
3.

Meanwhile, arrange lemon and bay leaves in the base of a large baking tray. Rub the chicken all over with half the oil and season with salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper. Place chicken, skin-side up, over the lemon and bay leaves. Using a sharp knife, slash the chicken a few times. Arrange onion, carrots and garlic around the chicken, and drizzle with the remaining 2 tbs oil. Season with salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper and roast for 35 minutes.
4.

When potatoes are done, drain well and add to pan with chicken and vegetables, tossing in oil and pan juices. Continue to roast for remaining cooking time. Baste chicken with pan juices and switch oven to grill. Cook under grill for 5-10 minutes, until golden.
5.

Serve straight to the table.