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A Fantastic Chicken Dinner with Peppers: An Easy & Flavourful Recipe

Are you ever find yourself in a midweek meal slump, longing for something that is both delightful to eat and wonderfully straightforward to make? We certainly understand. When the day is done, a complex recipe followed by a sink full of dishes is the last thing on your mind. You’re after a meal that is bright, full of flavour, and nourishing enough to make you feel good. Allow us to introduce the perfect solution: our sensational chicken dinner with peppers.

This recipe is far more than just a list of ingredients; it’s our answer to the weeknight dinner challenge. It’s a vibrant, aromatic, and deeply satisfying dish that you can bring together with very little effort, giving you more precious time to unwind in the evening. We’re here to walk you through each easy step to craft a meal that is bound to become a new staple in your home.

Why You’ll Adore This Recipe

So Simple and Speedy: We’ve designed this as a genuine one-pan meal. By combining all the ingredients on a single baking tray, you dramatically cut down on preparation and, most importantly, the washing up afterwards. It’s perfect for those hectic weeknights.
Packed with Flavour: We employ a straightforward yet potent mix of spices that elevates simple chicken and peppers into an exceptionally tasty feast. Every mouthful offers a delightful harmony of savoury, smoky, and subtly sweet tastes.
Wholesome and Vibrant: Filled with lean protein from the chicken and a rainbow of vitamins from the sweet bell peppers, this is a meal that you can feel truly great about serving. Healthy eating has never looked or tasted so good.
Wonderfully Adaptable: The ways you can serve this dish are nearly limitless! You could wrap it in soft tortillas, spoon it over fluffy rice, mix it through pasta, or enjoy it by itself for a lower-carb meal. The choice is all yours.
Ideal for Meal Prep: This recipe is a fantastic addition to your weekly meal preparation routine. The flavours deepen and develop beautifully overnight, making it a brilliant choice for packed lunches or quick, reheated dinners.

What You’ll Need for This Chicken and Peppers Recipe

The true charm of this dish is rooted in its simplicity. We count on fresh, easy-to-find ingredients to produce something genuinely delicious. There’s absolutely no need for an extensive, complicated shopping expedition. In fact, you probably have most of the spices ready in your kitchen right now!

The Core Ingredients

Chicken: Our preference is for boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced into even, bite-sized pieces. They cook through quickly and readily absorb all the wonderful seasonings. Boneless chicken thighs are also a superb option if you prefer their richer flavour.
Bell Peppers: Using a colourful assortment of red, yellow, and orange bell peppers not only creates a visually appealing dish but also provides a variety of sweet notes. You’ll want around three large peppers, with the seeds removed and cut into slices.
Onion: A single large red onion, sliced, introduces a lovely sweetness and depth that beautifully complements the peppers.
Olive Oil: Using a good quality extra virgin olive oil is key to helping the chicken and vegetables roast perfectly, achieving those irresistible caramelised edges.
Garlic: A few cloves of freshly minced garlic provide an aromatic kick that is absolutely essential to the dish.

The All-Important Fajita Spice Mix

Although shop-bought fajita seasoning is an option, creating your own is incredibly simple and gives you full control over the flavour profile and salt level. This special blend is what really elevates the dish, turning it into a truly memorable fajita chicken dinner. Just combine the following spices in a little bowl:

2 teaspoons of smoked paprika
2 teaspoons of ground cumin
1 teaspoon of dried oregano
1 teaspoon of mild chilli powder (or add a bit more for a fiery taste)
1/2 teaspoon of onion powder
1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of black pepper

Step-by-Step Guide to Your Perfect Sheet Pan Chicken and Peppers

And now, we get to the enjoyable part! We have outlined the process in four straightforward steps. By following our method, you are guaranteed a perfectly cooked and flavourful meal, time after time. You’ll be amazed at just how easily this brilliant dinner comes together.

Get Everything Ready: To begin, preheat your oven to 200°C (180°C Fan/Gas Mark 6). As it warms up, dice your chicken into 2-3 cm pieces. Slice your bell peppers and red onion into strips of a similar width, and mince your garlic. Having all your components prepared in advance ensures the assembly is wonderfully smooth and hassle-free.
Toss and Season: In a large bowl, place your chicken pieces, sliced peppers, and onion. Drizzle over the olive oil and scatter in the minced garlic. Now, sprinkle your homemade spice mix all over. It’s time to use your hands to give everything a good mix, making sure every last piece is generously coated in the seasoning. This is where the flavour journey starts!
Arrange on Your Baking Tray: Transfer the seasoned chicken and vegetable mix onto a large baking tray with a rim. It’s vital to spread it all out in a single, even layer. This is the most important secret to a fantastic sheet pan chicken and peppers meal. If the tray is overcrowded, the ingredients will steam rather than roast, and you’ll miss out on those delicious, slightly charred bits. If necessary, use two trays.
Roast Until Perfect: Pop the tray into your preheated oven and let it roast for about 20-25 minutes. We suggest giving everything a good stir halfway through the cooking time for an even roast. The dish is done when the chicken is thoroughly cooked (with no pinkness inside) and the vegetables are tender with lightly browned edges.

Tips for Success and Delicious Variations

We’re committed to helping you make this chicken dinner an absolute triumph. Here are a couple of our top tips, along with some exciting variations you can experiment with once you’ve perfected the original recipe.

Getting That Perfect Char

The secret to a truly great roasted chicken and bell peppers dish lies in achieving that lovely, flavour-enhancing char on the vegetables. As we’ve noted, the golden rule is to not overcrowd the pan. Allowing space for the ingredients lets the hot air circulate freely, which promotes roasting instead of steaming. A properly hot oven is also crucial, so be sure it has reached the correct temperature before you put the tray in.

How to Make it a Spicy Chicken and Peppers Dish

If you’re someone who likes a bit of heat, it’s very easy to turn up the spice level. When you’re mixing your seasoning, simply increase the quantity of chilli powder or add a dash of cayenne pepper for a noticeable kick. For an even spicier version, you could slice up a fresh jalapeño and add it to the tray with the other vegetables. It’s all up to you!

Storage and Meal Prep

This dish is an absolute star when it comes to meal prepping. Let any leftovers cool down completely, then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The flavours will have a chance to meld together, making it taste even better the following day. Reheat it gently in the microwave or enjoy it cold in a salad or wrap for a quick, wholesome lunch.

What to Serve with Your Chicken Dinner

While this dish is certainly a complete and satisfying meal on its own, it also serves as a brilliant centrepiece for a larger feast. If you’re planning to expand it into a full spread, here are a few of our favourite ways to serve it:

Tacos or Fajitas: Accompany with warm flour or corn tortillas and offer bowls of soured cream, guacamole, grated cheese, and fresh salsa for an interactive, build-your-own dinner that everyone will enjoy.
Rice Bowls: Serve the chicken and peppers over a generous portion of fluffy white or brown rice. For an extra boost of protein, quinoa is also an excellent choice. A final squeeze of fresh lime juice really brings all the flavours together.
With Pasta: For a speedy and vibrant pasta dish, toss the cooked chicken and peppers with your preferred pasta shape, adding a splash of the pan juices to create a light sauce. For another simple chicken meal, our Lemon Garlic Chicken is a wonderful option.
On a Salad: Allow the mixture to cool for a few minutes before spooning it over a bed of fresh, crisp lettuce. A light vinaigrette dressing completes this hearty and healthy salad perfectly.

The array of colourful vegetables in this recipe isn’t just for aesthetics; they are bursting with nutrients. Incorporating a variety of colours into your meals is an excellent strategy for ensuring a broad intake of vitamins and minerals—a principle often called ‘eating the rainbow’. You can discover more about its advantages from reliable sources like the British Heart Foundation.

If you appreciate straightforward, one-pan dishes that are big on flavour, we think you’ll also love our recipe for Garlic Butter Chicken And Veggies, which embraces a similar philosophy of being easy to cook and even easier to clean up.

FAQ

Q: Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?

A: Of course! Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are a brilliant substitute. They are known for being more forgiving during cooking and tend to remain exceptionally juicy. Simply be mindful that they may require an additional 5-10 minutes in the oven to ensure they are cooked all the way through.

Q: Can I use frozen peppers for this recipe?

A: While it is possible, we strongly suggest using fresh peppers to achieve the best texture. Frozen peppers tend to release a significant amount of water as they cook, which can lead to a slightly watery dish and prevent the vegetables from developing that delicious roasted char. If you opt for frozen, add them straight to the tray without thawing and expect a softer final texture.

Q: How do I know when the chicken is properly cooked?

A: The most reliable method is to use a meat thermometer. The internal temperature in the thickest part of the chicken should register 74°C (165°F). If you don’t own a thermometer, you can carefully cut into one of the larger chicken pieces; the juices should run clear, and the meat should be white all the way through with no signs of pink.

Q: Can I make this on the hob instead of in the oven?

A: Yes, this recipe can be easily adapted for a large skillet or frying pan on the hob. Warm a little oil over a medium-high heat. Sauté the chicken for 5-7 minutes until it’s nicely browned. Next, add the peppers and onions, and continue to cook for another 8-10 minutes, stirring regularly, until the vegetables are tender-crisp and the chicken is fully cooked.

Your New Go-To Weeknight Meal

And there you have it—a straightforward, adaptable, and wonderfully tasty chicken dinner with peppers that we are sure will earn a permanent place in your collection of favourite recipes. It’s proof that you don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen or dirty a multitude of pans to produce a meal that is both nourishing and deeply satisfying. This is the type of dependable, family-pleasing dish that makes busy weeknights feel that little bit easier and a great deal more delicious.

So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to grab your baking tray and some colourful peppers and get ready to revolutionise your dinner routine. We are certain that you and your family will absolutely love it. We invite you to give this fantastic recipe a go tonight, and please do leave a comment below to tell us how you got on. We always enjoy hearing from you!