Cast Iron Chicken With Potatoes
Andrea Potischman
Oct 23, 2021
Winner winner chicken dinner. Can anyone ever have enough chicken recipes? Here is a fantastic one and one that has been on repeat in my house for some time now. But before I tell you why I love this dish so much, I need to offer a little backstory on this popular phrase that everyone seems to know about.
For anyone under 25 years of age, “winner winner chicken dinner” seems to be a direct reference to “PUBG” (Player Unknowns Battlegrounds). This phrase became uber popular online after the release of the 2017 multiplayer shooter video game. If a player manages to be the sole survivor of the game, they are greeted with this chicken praise upon winning. Those that are older, associate this phrase with the Las Vegas scene. This is because during the 1970s, an actual chicken dinner in Las Vegas used to cost less than $2.00 and the usual bet at that time was about $2.00. So, when you won you had enough for a chicken dinner. Hence “winner, winner, chicken dinner!”
But this catchy phrase goes back another 40 years to 1933 when President Roosevelt’s policies on workers’ rights propelled one of the first Milwaukee strikes at the Sperry Candy Company. Edgar Wood, the attorney for the candy company, helped bring the company and strike leaders together to settle the dispute. Afterward, once everyone agreed and was happy with the re-negotiations, Edgar Wood stood up and proclaimed the mutually beneficial settlement as “Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner.”
“Chicken Dinner”, the Candy Bar
No chicken dinner article would be complete without mention of the chicken dinner candy bar. Yes, I am serious. Introduced in 1923 by the Sperry Candy Company, the oddly named bar sold for 10 cents and featured a roasted chicken on each package. “An expensive, high-grade candy” was how Sperry described Chicken Dinner, giving it a puzzling air of exclusivity, considering it didn’t contain any actual chicken, but rather, it was filled with nuts and coated in chocolate, that kids were the target market for. This candy predates me, production of Chicken Dinner bars ceased in 1962, so perhaps ask a grandparent if they’ve ever had one–I sure am curious.
Catchphrase aside, this cast iron chicken with potatoes dish is a true winner. Why? because it’s simple, straightforward, and best of all, effortless. The cast iron magic is the trick in this any-day-of-the-week comfort meal. The thinly sliced potatoes crisp up nicely thanks to the cast iron pan’s ability to retain heat.
Cooking With Cast Iron
Cast iron’s weight is another reason why it performs so well. Although cast iron doesn’t conduct heat that well; it’s slow to heat up and cool down, and until fully heated, will have hot spots. But, its weight and thickness compared with other metal pans means that once it’s heated, it retains that heat, making it the top choice for all kinds of cooking methods. As oil seeps into the surface of the pan, it eliminates any microscopic roughness on the metal that can cause food to cling, creating a virtually nonstick surface.
Nowadays, a new cast-iron pan will likely come preseasoned from the factory; both Lodge, the largest maker of cast-iron cookware in the United States, and Camp Chef sell them that way. Yet even a preseasoned pan will continue to improve with use. If you don’t already cook and bake with cast iron, it’s time to start. Below are some important tips for seasoning and caring for your cast iron, to make it last for years to come.
How To Season Your Cast-Iron Skillet
- Scrub the skillet well in hot water.
- Dry thoroughly.
- Spread a thin layer of vegetable oil over the skillet.
- Place it upside down on a middle oven rack at 375 degrees F.
- Bake for 1 hour; let cool in the oven.
How to Care for Cast Iron
- To rid of rust stains, use a special rust eraser on the stain, and then reseason the pan. Lodge makes one or you can find this type of thing at hardware stores, bike shops, or woodworking shops.
- To clean, use a stiff brush or plastic scrubber under running water while the cast iron is still warm but cool enough to handle with ease. Kosher salt is also a good scrubbing agent for baked-on stains. The most important tip is to never use soap.
- Before cooking, apply vegetable oil to the cooking surface, and preheat the pan on low heat, increasing the temperature slowly.
- Never marinate in cast iron. Acidic mixtures will damage the seasoning. Re-season, if food particles start to stick, rust, appear, or you experience a metallic taste.
The takeaway, if you don’t have a large cast iron skillet yet, no judgment, but go get one and give this foolproof winner-winner chicken dinner a go.
Cast Iron Chicken With Potatoes
Ingredients:
- 2 pound organic whole chicken
- Kosher salt
- 2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, scrubbed, thinly sliced crosswise
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves
Directions:
- Rinse the chicken with cold water and chicken dry with paper towels. Rub the chicken with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Season the chicken generously with salt, inside and out. Using butcher string, truss the chicken to help it stay juicy while roasting. Set aside.
- Place a rack in upper third of oven. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the sliced potatoes, butter, remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, salt and pepper, toss well to coat.
- Using a 12" cast-iron skillet or 3-quart enameled cast-iron baking dish, place the trussed chicken in the center of skillet and arrange potatoes around the chicken slightly overlapping.
- Next, place the chicken in the oven and roast until the potatoes are golden brown on the edges and beginning to get crisp and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of breasts registers 155 degrees F, about 50–60 minutes (temperature will climb to 165° as chicken rests).
- Remove from the oven and allow the chicken to rest in skillet at least 20 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and carve. Serve with the roasted potatoes.
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