Ingredients:
- 1 kg (2.2 lbs) bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1.5 lbs (680g) Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 1-inch wedges
- 1 large head of garlic, halved crosswise
- 1 large lemon, half sliced and half juiced
- 1/4 cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh oregano, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1.5 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven. Set your rack to the middle position and crank it to 400°F (200°C). Note: This ensures the heat hits the pan evenly from top and bottom.
- Whisk the marinade. Combine olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, rosemary, oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Prep the chicken. Pat the 1 kg of thighs bone dry with paper towels. Note: This is the secret to skin that sounds like a cracker when you tap it.
- Toss the potatoes. Place the 1.5 lbs of wedges in a bowl and pour over half the marinade, tossing until they look glossy and coated.
- Coat the protein. Rub the remaining marinade over the chicken, making sure to get some under the skin if possible.
- Arrange the pan. Place the chicken on the sheet pan, then scatter potatoes around them. Ensure nothing is overlapping to allow for maximum crispness.
- Add the aromatics. Nestled the halved garlic head and lemon slices among the chicken and potatoes.
- Initial roast. Slide the pan into the oven for 30 minutes. Listen for the sizzle as the fat starts to render.
- The final crisp. Continue roasting for another 15 minutes until the skin is dark golden and the potatoes are fork tender.
- Rest before serving. Let the pan sit on the counter for 5 minutes. Note: This allows the juices to redistribute so they don't flood the plate when you cut in.