Put raw chicken quarters in the glass dish and 4 everyday items to get a meal so incredible your whole family

If your family likes a little more flavor but you still want to keep things simple, you can swap or add seasonings without changing the basic idea of using just four everyday pantry items plus chicken. Try using seasoned salt instead of regular salt for a slightly more complex taste, or replace the garlic powder with onion powder if that’s what you have on hand. For kids who prefer milder flavors, cut the black pepper in half and rely more on the salt and garlic powder.

If you want a hint of smokiness, use a light sprinkle of paprika in place of some of the black pepper, keeping the total number of ingredient types the same. To stretch the meal, add a few peeled potatoes or carrot chunks around the chicken in the glass dish—just remember that adds extra ingredients, so keep the seasonings the same and treat the vegetables as a bonus if you’re not strictly counting.

Leftover chicken can be shredded and used in sandwiches, quesadillas, or tossed with cooked noodles and a little of the reserved pan juices for an easy second meal. For crispier skin, move the dish to the top rack for the last 5 minutes of baking and turn on the broiler, watching closely so it doesn’t burn.