Easy One-Pot Summer Chicken Casserole: A Burst of Fresh Flavors with New Potatoes and Tomatoes

Welcome to the ultimate guide for a truly delightful and effortlessly simple meal: a one-pot chicken casserole that will become a staple in your kitchen. While perfect for any time of year, this recipe truly shines in the warmer months, allowing you to showcase the vibrant bounty of fresh summer produce. Imagine tender, juicy chicken thighs mingling with sweet cherry tomatoes and earthy new potatoes, all infused with fragrant herbs. The best part? It all comes together in a single pot, minimizing cleanup and maximizing flavor. Just add a generous slice of crusty bread to soak up every last drop of the delicious juices, and you have a complete, satisfying meal ready to impress family and friends.

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I first prepared this exquisite dish early one summer for my father’s birthday, and it quickly became a household favorite. A casserole might seem like an unusual choice for the summer season, but trust me, this particular one-pot wonder perfectly encapsulates the essence of summer dining. It thoughtfully highlights some of the season’s finest ingredients: tender new potatoes, bursting cherry tomatoes, and aromatic fresh herbs, all cooked to perfection. The choice of chicken thighs is intentional; not only do they make this meal incredibly inexpensive to prepare, but their inherent fat content ensures the meat remains wonderfully moist and tender throughout the cooking process. As is often the case with recipes inspired by culinary maestros like Jamie Oliver, its simplicity belies a spectacular depth of flavor, making it elegant enough to serve to guests for a casual al fresco dinner on the patio. Pair it with a rustic, crusty bread to sop up the savory pan juices, a crisp rocket salad dressed with a zesty lemon vinaigrette, and a lovely bottle of chilled white wine for an unforgettable dining experience.

The Magic of One-Pot Cooking: Convenience Meets Flavor

The beauty of a one-pot meal cannot be overstated. In today’s busy world, anything that saves time and reduces cleanup is a win, and this chicken casserole delivers on both fronts. By cooking all the ingredients together in a single dish, the flavors have ample opportunity to meld and deepen, creating a harmonious and incredibly rich taste profile that simply doesn’t happen with separate preparations. This method also ensures that the chicken absorbs the essences of the tomatoes, potatoes, and herbs, resulting in a more flavorful and cohesive dish. It’s perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prepping for the week ahead, or even entertaining when you want to spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the company of your guests.

Ingredient Spotlight: Why Each Component Matters

Every ingredient in this casserole plays a crucial role in its overall success and flavor profile:

• Chicken Thighs: Beyond being budget-friendly, boneless, skinless chicken thighs are the star for their robust flavor and ability to stay exceptionally moist. Unlike leaner breast meat, thighs have a higher fat content, which renders down during cooking, keeping the chicken tender and preventing it from drying out in the oven. Cutting them into strips also ensures they cook evenly and absorb the surrounding flavors beautifully.
• New Potatoes: These small, tender potatoes are a seasonal delight, particularly in summer. Their thin skins mean no peeling is required, saving prep time. When lightly crushed after boiling, they create delightful nooks and crannies to capture the savory juices from the chicken and tomatoes, adding a satisfying texture and earthy sweetness to the dish.
• Cherry Tomatoes: Bursting with natural sweetness and vibrant acidity, cherry tomatoes are a cornerstone of this casserole’s fresh, summery appeal. Pricking and briefly blanching them, as recommended, allows for easy skin removal. While optional, this step significantly enhances the dish’s texture, making the tomatoes incredibly soft and allowing their concentrated sweetness to infuse more deeply into the potatoes and chicken.
• Pancetta (or Unsmoked Bacon): This crispy addition isn’t just for texture; it’s a flavor powerhouse. Frying the pancetta first renders its fat, which then forms a flavorful base for browning the chicken. The crispy pancetta pieces are later added back into the casserole, providing pockets of salty, savory crunch that beautifully complement the tender chicken and vegetables.
• Fresh Herbs (Oregano and Chives): Fresh herbs are non-negotiable for this recipe. Oregano brings a warm, earthy, slightly peppery aroma that is quintessential to Mediterranean-inspired cooking. Chives, added at the end, provide a delicate oniony freshness and a pop of color, lifting the entire dish. Using fresh herbs amplifies the summer essence of the casserole.
• Extra-Virgin Olive Oil and Red Wine Vinegar: These two liquid gold ingredients form the simple yet effective dressing that ties everything together. The olive oil provides richness and helps carry the flavors, while the red wine vinegar adds a crucial tang and acidity that brightens the dish and cuts through the richness of the chicken and pancetta, balancing the overall taste.

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One-Pot Chicken Casserole with New Potatoes and Cherry Tomatoes

Discover this incredibly easy one-pot chicken casserole, designed for delightful, year-round enjoyment. It truly shines when highlighting the fresh, vibrant flavors of summer produce like sweet cherry tomatoes and tender new potatoes. A perfect family meal or casual dinner party dish, simply serve with your favorite crusty bread for an unforgettable culinary experience!

Servings 4 servings

Author marie asselin (foodnouveau.com)

Ingredients

• 1¾ lb 800 g new potatoes, scrubbed
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• ½ cup 125 ml diced pancetta (or unsmoked bacon)
• 12 boned skinless chicken thighs
• 1¼ lb 560 g cherry tomatoes
• ¼ cup 60 ml picked leaves of fresh oregano
• ¼ cup 60 ml extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp 15 ml red wine vinegar
• Fresh chives to serve (optional)

Instructions

• Begin by preparing your new potatoes. Place them into a large saucepan of well-salted boiling water. Boil until they are tender when pierced with a fork, which typically takes about 10-15 minutes, depending on their size. Don’t overcook them, as they’ll continue to cook in the oven.
• While the potatoes are cooking, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to get it ready for baking. Next, prepare the chicken: cut each boned skinless chicken thigh into three even strips. Place these strips in a bowl and generously season them all over with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Heat a large, heavy-bottomed frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the diced pancetta (or unsmoked bacon) and fry until it’s beautifully golden brown and crisp. Once cooked, use a slotted spoon to scoop out the crispy pancetta, transferring it to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess fat. Leave the rendered pancetta fat in the pan – this is crucial for flavor! Add the seasoned chicken strips to the same pan, ensuring all the pieces fit snugly in a single layer. If your pan isn’t large enough to accommodate all the chicken at once, cook it in two batches to avoid overcrowding, which can lead to steaming rather than browning. Fry over high heat for about 10 minutes, tossing occasionally, until the chicken is almost cooked through and nicely browned. Remove the chicken with a slotted spoon and transfer it to a large ovenproof pan or dish, ideally one that’s relatively shallow to allow for good browning.
• Now, prepare the cherry tomatoes. Using a sharp knife, carefully prick each cherry tomato. Place them in a heatproof bowl, then cover them with boiling water and let them sit for just about a minute. Drain the tomatoes and, once they are cool enough to handle comfortably, gently pinch off their skins. While you could certainly leave the skins on for a rustic touch, removing them truly intensifies their natural sweetness and allows their flavor to more readily infuse into the new potatoes, contributing to a more refined texture in the final dish. Add the peeled tomatoes directly to the ovenproof pan with the chicken.
• By this point, your potatoes should be cooked. Drain them thoroughly in a colander. Lightly crush each potato with a fork – you don’t want a mash, just enough to break them open and create surfaces for absorbing the delicious casserole juices. Add these crushed potatoes to the chicken and tomatoes in the ovenproof dish. In a small bowl, prepare the flavorful dressing: blend ¾ of the picked oregano leaves (reserving the rest for later), a generous pinch of sea salt, freshly ground black pepper to taste, the extra-virgin olive oil, and the red wine vinegar. Drizzle this aromatic mixture evenly over the chicken, potatoes, and tomatoes. Scatter the fried pancetta and the remaining oregano leaves over the top. Gently toss everything together in the pan to ensure all ingredients are well coated and evenly distributed. Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 40 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through, the potatoes are golden, and the tomatoes have softened and released their juices, creating a rich, flavorful sauce.
• Once out of the oven, immediately sprinkle with freshly chopped chives, if using, for a final burst of freshness and color. Serve this delicious casserole piping hot. One of its many charms is that leftovers are often even more delicious the next day, as the flavors continue to meld and intensify overnight. This makes it a fantastic option for meal prep or a delightful lunch.
• Recipe Credit: Adapted from Jamie Oliver, Jamie at Home

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Serving Suggestions & Variations

While this chicken casserole is a complete meal on its own, a few thoughtful accompaniments can elevate the dining experience. A good, crusty artisanal bread is almost mandatory to scoop up the savory pan juices – don’t let a drop go to waste! A simple green salad, such as peppery rocket or crisp mixed greens, dressed with a light lemon vinaigrette, provides a refreshing contrast to the richness of the casserole. For wine lovers, a dry white wine, perhaps a Sauvignon Blanc or a light-bodied Chardonnay, pairs beautifully with the chicken and fresh flavors. If you’re looking to adapt this recipe, consider adding other seasonal vegetables; bell peppers or zucchini could be lovely additions in the summer, while in autumn or winter, you could swap out some of the new potatoes for chunks of butternut squash or sweet potato and perhaps use fresh rosemary instead of oregano for a different aromatic profile. A sprinkle of Parmesan cheese in the last 10 minutes of baking can also add a delightful cheesy crust.

Why This Recipe is a Keeper: Inspired by Jamie Oliver’s Philosophy

This recipe embodies the culinary philosophy often championed by chefs like Jamie Oliver: taking simple, high-quality ingredients and transforming them into something truly special with minimal fuss. The “deceptively simple” aspect refers to the straightforward steps and accessible ingredients, making it achievable for home cooks of all skill levels. Yet, the “spectacular enough in flavor” part is where the magic lies. The combination of perfectly cooked chicken, sweet tomatoes, tender potatoes, and savory pancetta, all brought together with a vibrant herb dressing, creates a dish that is comforting, fresh, and deeply satisfying. It’s a testament to how good food doesn’t need to be complicated to be absolutely delicious.

Embracing the Seasons with Your Cooking

One of the greatest joys of cooking is adapting your dishes to the seasons. While this one-pot chicken casserole is a fantastic year-round option, it truly celebrates summer when made with freshly harvested new potatoes and sun-ripened cherry tomatoes. The natural sweetness and vibrant flavors of these in-season ingredients require very little intervention to taste incredible. As the seasons change, don’t hesitate to experiment. For example, in cooler months, you could roast the potatoes with a few sprigs of rosemary and use canned diced tomatoes or sun-dried tomatoes for a deeper, more concentrated flavor. This adaptability ensures that this versatile recipe remains a favorite in your cooking repertoire, no matter the time of year.

Health Benefits of This Wholesome Meal

Beyond its incredible taste and ease of preparation, this one-pot chicken casserole also offers several nutritional benefits. Chicken thighs provide a good source of lean protein, essential for muscle repair and growth. New potatoes, with their skins on, are rich in fiber, vitamins (like Vitamin C and B6), and minerals (such as potassium). Cherry tomatoes are packed with antioxidants, particularly lycopene, which is beneficial for heart health and skin. Fresh herbs like oregano and chives not only add flavor but also contribute additional antioxidants and vitamins. When cooked with healthy fats like extra-virgin olive oil, this meal becomes a wholesome and balanced option that nourishes your body while delighting your taste buds.

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