Please share traybake recipes that work!

[minipie]

Hi all

I’d love to cook more traybake meals but have been put off by a few recipes that didn’t work (potatoes still undercooked while veg burnt or meat overcooked for example)

Please can you share the ones that have actually worked for you with everything cooked properly, and taste good? Would love links if possible.

The only one that has genuinely worked as written for me so far is this one https://www.recipetineats.com/lemon-garlic-salmon-tray-bake-easy-healthy/ www.recipetineats.com/lemon-garlic-salmon-tray-bake-easy-healthy/]]]] although my asparagus was quite thick so I cut it lengthways. Possibly helps that it doesn’t involve potato or chicken?!

looks fab, thank you! In fact I have all the ingredients except leeks and could make this weekend… I wonder if red onion would work… or spring onion maybe

This is my absolute fave
https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/roasted_sausage_and_39127

The only one where I've ever had the potatoes cook properly. I agree that's always a problem. But if I start faffing around with pre-cooking things, it takes away the best bit of the traybake: being hands off!

About the size of my thumb down to the first bendy joint iyswim

also 3x

I rarely use a recipe, I tend to throw things in and hope for the best (usually based on a recipe I used in the dim and distant past) but I often give potatoes a head start. I usually use baby potatoes, I stick them in first while I’m doing any chopping before adding everything else.

Thanks so much Oncemoreunto......

We had this last night - excellent - it will become one of our regular dishes.
I did peel the garlic and used baby toms as I already had some, but otherwise followed all instructions!
Oh, actually I rested it for a few minutes too for the chicken to relax.

Yes, love this recipe. Tastes fresh and healthy.

I second Mary Berry’s sausage tray bake mentioned up thread, it’s lovely!

I also like Jane’s Patisserie Fajita Chicken Tray bake, the spice is fine for our youngsters but for adults I would add a sprinkle more of everything!

Thank you all - I have some great options to try!

Jamie Olivers giant meatballs. It's a two stage one rather than a 'throw everything in' one but a favourite here.

Diana Henry did a great book, from the oven to the table, full of wonderful, easy, bung it all in dinners. It’s been around a good while, but there’s loads of very repeatable meals in there that makes it a good investment of a book.

Three of my favourites:

1. Cock-a Leekie Traybake (possibly a bit wintery for now)
2. Hot Honey Salmon Traybake
3. Smoky Chickpea & Carrot Traybake

I cook salmon with sweet potato and broccoli quite often.
It was originally off a web site but I've changed it quite a bit.
Serves 4 moderately hungry people
4 salmon fillets, I use the fatter ones, not the flat ones
3 tablespoons mayonnaise, can use full fat or low fat
1/2 -1 teaspoon schwarz cajun spice mix (in a jar), or you can use chilli flakes or your own choice of spice
2 large sweet potatoes
2 medium heads of broccoli
Lime juice

Line a big baking tray or roastng tin with foil
Peel sweet potatoes, chop into 1.5cm cubes. Toss in oil. Spread evenly on baking tray, cook 20 mins 200°c.
Chop brocoli into florets, make a vertical cut in stalks. Toss in oil.
Mix spice into mayo in a small bowl.
After 20 mins, carefully stir sweet potato on tray to turn pieces over, then push to two rows at either side. Lay the salmon skin side down in the middle of the tray. Spread about half the mayo onto the top of all the salmon.
Put the broccoli stalk side up on top of the sweet potato.
Bake for 25 to 30 mins until the salmon is cooked. Keep an eye on the broccoli, depending on your oven it can get a bit cremated.
Add a good shake of lime juice to the remaining mayo to make a sauce like single cream.
When you serve, the fish skin will probably stick to the foil. I don't like the skin, so that's an advantage for me. Otherwise you might want to oil the skin before cooking.
You can serve with with cubed feta and coriander leaf.

This is where an exact recipe isn't going to work - you have to learn your oven etc. And I think with Traybakes, if you follow the recipes exactly, over time you'll work out where to tweak them whether that's in the size of the veggies, or the temperature of your oven. My mum, who was an excellent baker, always said tha tyou have to bake for the oven you have and that it takes a while to master exactly how to use your oven to get the results you want.

The trick with potatoes is to cut them smaller for a quicker cooking time, I usually cut mine into wedges (around 2-3cm on the wide, outside edge) or into cubes as already mentioned.

Another tip is to do prep your vegetables all together, but put them in the oven in two batches. So put your potatoes and any hard/longer cooking veg in first, then when there is about 15-20 minutes cooking time left, throw in your quicker cooking veg.

This salmon recipe is fab, I do parboil the potatoes though
muddystilettos.co.uk/wellbeing/nutrition/healthy-in-one-3-one-pot-dinners-to-try-at-home/

I’ve made this a few times. However it tastes better with eg Waitrose or M&S asparagus:-

https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/oven-baked-asparagus-and-parmesan-tortilla/

this is technically a tray bake as it is in one tray, absolutely delicious but calorific:-

https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/chicken/fantastic-roasted-chicken/

The roasting tin books are good but not all of them (the recipes) are great.

Chunky sausages with quartered red onions or halved long shallots, sliced fennel, baby potatoes fresh sage, rosemary or thyme or all three. Toss the veg in a tablespoon of olive oil, salt and pepper. Add 100ml cider. Bake for 25-35mins.

I second this, it’s one of our regulars now. I buy the Picard frozen dill so I’ve always got some kicking around for this dish (or fish).

This Jamie Oliver one is good too. I’ll often add some slices of courgette and onion wedges with the tomatoes, and sometimes crumble feta over for the last 10 minutes of cooking…
https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/pork/sweet-cherry-tomato-and-sausage-bake/

Red and yellow peppers cut into chunky strips, red or spanish onions peeled and quartered, lots of loose garlic cloves, chunks of chorizo sausage, a tin of chickpeas, drained, toss the lot in a tablespoon of olive oil with two heaped teaspoons of smoky paprika, one teaspoon of dried thyme or oregano and one level teaspoon of cumin powder. Bake for 30 mins.

This is also a nice alternative to a regular Sunday roast. I don’t bother with the lemon wedges or the chickpeas though (mainly because i forgot them the first time and we loved it). It’s a bit of a faff making the dressing, buts it tastes amazing.

https://www.bbcgoodfoodme.com/recipes/roast-chicken-with-peppers-and-feta/

This is a good one if you have leftover protein or are happy with veg only: https://www.recipetineats.com/oven-baked-rice-and-vegetables/

works really well and I often add a few extra veg to take for lunch.

I bought a fantastic cook book in Sainsbury’s recently as I love a good tray bake (both work full time and 5 kids in the house!) as I don’t have time to stand and faff with stirring things but hate ready meals but also need to make sure everyone is well fed.
I picked up ‘The Greatest Traybake cookbook ever’ by John Gregory-Smith and I’ve done about 10 of them so far and all of them have been delicious and no longer than 30/45 mins to make! Absolute winner and my new favourite book