Skip to main content

Chile-and-Citrus–Rubbed Chicken with Potatoes

3.7

(4)

A roast chicken colored orange from a spicy chile rub on a platter with potatoes set on a white tablecloth.
Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich

It's never a bad move to cook chunks of potato underneath a chicken as it roasts. But here, we boil Yukon Golds and tear them into craggy pieces: It makes for tender, buttery pieces that can better soak up the tomatoey spiced pan sauce. Do be sure to let the chicken rest: Letting it sit for 45 minutes helps prevent the juices from running out of the meat as soon as you slice into it.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4 servings

Ingredients

1 3 1/2–4-lb. chicken
Kosher salt
1 Tbsp. coriander seeds
1 Tbsp. fennel seeds
Zest of 1 small orange
Zest of 1 medium lemon
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp. mild red pepper flakes (such as Aleppo-style, Maras, or Urfa)
1 Tbsp. smoked paprika
3/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth or water
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 Tbsp. tomato paste
4 garlic cloves, crushed
2 lb. medium Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled
2 Tbsp. finely chopped parsley

Special Equipment

A spice mill or mortar and pestle

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Pat chicken dry with paper towels and season generously inside and out with salt. Tie legs together with kitchen twine. Place on a rimmed baking sheet and let sit 1 hour at room temperature.

    Step 2

    Preheat oven to 425°F. Coarsely grind coriander and fennel seeds in spice mill or with mortar and pestle. Transfer to a small bowl and add orange zest, lemon zest, oil, red pepper flakes, and paprika; mix well. Pat chicken dry with paper towels, then rub all over with spiced oil.

    Step 3

    Whisk broth, wine, and tomato paste in a cast-iron skillet or 3-qt. enameled cast-iron baking dish to combine. Place chicken in the center and scatter garlic cloves around. Roast chicken, turning pan halfway through and adding an additional 1/4 cup water if pan looks dry, until chicken is golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of breast registers 155°F, 50–60 minutes (temperature will climb to 160°F as chicken rests). Transfer chicken to a cutting board and let rest 45 minutes.

    Step 4

    Meanwhile, strain liquid left in pan through a fine-mesh sieve into a heatproof measuring glass or small bowl; discard anything in sieve. Taste; season sauce with salt if needed. Set aside.

    Step 5

    Place potatoes in a large pot and pour in cold water to cover by 1". Add a large handful of salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are fork-tender, 25–30 minutes. Drain and transfer potatoes back to pot.

    Step 6

    Cut potatoes into large pieces (or, if you can handle the heat, break up with your hands). Pour reserved sauce over potatoes. Add parsley, season with salt, and gently toss to combine.

    Step 7

    Place chicken on a platter and serve potatoes alongside.

Read More
Berbere is a spicy chile blend that has floral and sweet notes from coriander and cardamom, and when it’s paired with a honey glaze, it sets these wings apart from anything else you’ve ever had.
An espresso-and-cumin-spiked rub (or brine) gives this smoked chicken impressive flavor.
This is one of the best fried chickens ever. From southern Thailand, gai hat yai is known for its crispy skin, great aromatics, and super juicy meat.
This sauce is slightly magical. The texture cloaks pasta much like a traditional meat sauce does, and the flavors are deep and rich, but it’s actually vegan!
Rather than breaded and fried as you might expect croquettes to be, these are something more akin to a seared chicken salad patty.
Tender, well-glazed, and just spicy enough, these ribs are the ultimate grill-out food. Cook fully in the oven ahead of time and finish them on the grill.
This summery sheet-pan dinner celebrates the bounty of the season and couldn't be simpler to make. Chorizo plays nicely with the salad, thanks to its spice.
Fufu is a dish that has been passed down through many generations and is seen as a symbol of Ghanaian identity and heritage. Making fufu traditionally is a very laborious task; this recipe mimics some of that hard work but with a few home-cook hacks that make for a far easier time.