Buying a whole chicken will always be more affordable. If you aren't up for dissecting it yourself, ask your butcher to cut it into pieces for you. If there's no knife-wielding butcher about, you can always cheat and go for chicken thighs. If you're unsure whether the chicken is cooked through, pierce the flesh with a sharp knife; the juices from the chicken should run clear. Get Ahead: The veg and chicken can be prepared up to 1 day in advance, then simply pop it all in the baking dish and cook.