Description
This Roasted Chicken Recipe delivers juicy, flavorful chicken with crispy golden skin every time. Featuring a simple blend of herbs, spices, and pantry staples, it transforms an ordinary whole chicken into a mouthwatering, fuss-free meal perfect for family dinners or entertaining guests. Versatile, budget-friendly, and easy to prepare, it ensures tender, succulent meat with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Whole chicken: 3-4 pounds, fresh or thawed
- Olive oil: 2-3 tablespoons
- Salt: 1-1.5 teaspoons, or to taste
- Black pepper: 1 teaspoon, freshly ground
- Garlic cloves: 4-6, halved
- Fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme): 2-3 sprigs each
- Lemon: 1, quartered
- Onion: 1 medium, quartered
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Remove any giblets from the cavity. Pat the chicken dry using paper towels to ensure crispy skin. Season generously inside and out with salt and pepper, covering all areas thoroughly.
- Season and Stuff the Chicken: Rub the entire skin with olive oil to promote even browning. Stuff the cavity with halved garlic cloves, quartered lemon, fresh rosemary, thyme, and onion pieces to infuse flavor during roasting.
- Truss the Bird: Tie the legs together with kitchen twine and tuck the wings under the body to help the chicken cook evenly and present neatly.
- Roast in the Oven: Place the chicken breast-side up on a roasting pan or wire rack set over a baking sheet. Roast in a preheated oven at 425°F (220°C) for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, or until the juices run clear and the internal temperature at the thickest part reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Rest Before Carving: Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 10-15 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring the meat remains moist and tender when carved.
Notes
- Patting the chicken dry is essential for crispy skin every time.
- Let the chicken sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes before roasting for even cooking.
- Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness instead of guessing.
- Resting the chicken after roasting locks in juices and makes carving easier.
- This recipe is naturally gluten-free with no added sauces containing gluten.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe (about 6 ounces cooked chicken)
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
Keywords: roasted chicken, whole chicken recipe, crispy chicken, simple dinner, easy roasted chicken
