Perfect Roast Chicken

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There’s nothing like a well-roasted whole chicken for dinner! In this post, I share my tips on how to roast a whole chicken. With these tips, you should get the Perfect Roast Chicken every time.

For serving ideas, check out this post on What To Serve With Roast Chicken.

Perfect Roast Chicken in a cast iron skillet.

I rejoice when I have a perfectly roasted chicken sitting in my kitchen. That’s because, with the perfect roast chicken, all I need is a side dish, and lunch or dinner is served.

This Roast Chicken goes well with Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes, Garlic Butter Green Beans, or Garlic Herb Rice.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

There are so many reasons why this roast chicken recipe works:

  • It is beginner-friendly. If you are intimidated by roasting a whole chicken, this recipe breaks it down for you to tackle. It is simple to execute.
  • It could be made into a complete meal. You could throw in some potatoes and vegetables, and roast together with the chicken to make a complete meal.
  • It makes for a pretty presentation. Want to impress some guests? Make some whole roasted chicken. It is a beauty to behold on the dining table!
  • It is so tasty! This is something that is so simple to make and so tantalizing to the taste buds. Don’t mistake simplicity for blandness. The herb and spice mixture for the chicken, which I will show you how to make is finger-licking good and it is the secret to this chicken’s epicness. Finger-licking good! No more bland and boring roast chicken!
  • It is great for meal prep. Make this roast chicken, shred and store it in the fridge to make Quick Chicken Noodle Soup, chicken wraps, or tacos.

If you love roast chicken recipes, also check out my Herb Roasted Chicken.

Perfect Roast Chicken in skillet.

The Perfect Roast Chicken

Whether you are serving yourself, your family, or guests, this perfect roast chicken is the way to be a culinary star. It is juicy, flavorful without being overpowering, and crispy on the outside.

Each time I make it, I wonder why I don’t make it often. I always look forward to the leftovers because they make great meals too. I’m talking tacos (or taco-ish meals)stir-fry, and a whole lot of other delicacies.

I could do a whole post talking about what to do with leftover roast chicken- if you are lucky to have any left. But I won’t allow myself to digress. Not today. Not in this post. So let’s get to the crux of the matter.

Raw chicken for Perfect Roast Chicken.

What Kind of Chicken Should I Use?

The perfect roast chicken begins with the perfect chicken. For those in Africa note this: It should be the soft kind of chicken.

If you use the hard kind of chicken here known in Cameroon, my country of origin as ‘contri fowl’, it will not work. Your chicken will get hardened in the oven.

And we don’t want that. We want soft, juicy, chicken. So please no contri fowls allowed in this zone. Let’s leave them for Khati Khati.

A whole roasted chicken in a cast iron skillet.

Herbs and Spices For Chicken

Then you need the perfect combination of spices. I’m talking about herbs: celery, parsley or cilantro, fresh or dry rosemary, and some garlic. If you have some thyme at home, you could throw some in there too.

But I wouldn’t advise you to run to the store because there is no thyme at home. You could use either fresh or dry herbs. I use both interchangeably and they work well.

Now listen to me: there is this very special ingredient I want to tell you about. Do you know how oil is always added to spice rub mixes? I’m asking you to ditch the oil for some butter

Unleash your kitchen superpower with this epic spice rub of butter, garlic, and herbs. It makes the chicken 10x more flavourful and the butter also helps the skin crisp up as the chicken cooks.

See the recipe card below with a detailed list of ingredients and instructions.

Carved whole chicken on a white platter.

Top Tips For Roasting A Whole Chicken:

1. Ensure that the chicken is well-patted dry before you add on the seasonings. This helps the skin to be crispy when it is cooked.

2. Always add some melted butter to the spice rub for your chicken. The butter adds more flavor and equally ensures nice crispy skin.

3. After the first hour of roasting the chicken, rotate the roasting pan in the oven. This helps to ensure that the chicken cooks evenly.

4. Tie the chicken legs with kitchen twine also known as butcher’s twine and tuck the wings in the back. This helps to ensure that the chicken cooks evenly and the wings don’t dry out.

5, Baste the chicken with the juices from it as soon as it is out of the oven and also before serving. This makes the chicken glisten and look more appetizing.

6. To ensure roast chicken is done, insert an instant-read meat thermometer into a chicken thigh. It should read 165 degrees Fahrenheit for the chicken to be considered done.

7. Always remove thawed chicken from the fridge and bring to room temperature one hour before seasoning and roasting. Roasting chicken that is not at room temperature will lead to uneven cooking.

Let the chicken rest for about 15 minutes so it can reabsorb its juices then you can carve it and serve!

How Long to Roast a Whole Chicken

A good rule is to roast 1 pound of chicken for 15 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit. So if you are roasting a 5-pound chicken, you’ll have to roast each pound for 15 minutes and the total roasting time will be 75 minutes or 1 hour 15 minutes.

Note that if your temperature is different, you will need to roast your chicken for a period that matches the temperature. A lower oven temperature will require a longer roasting time.

Perfect Roast Chicken - How to Roast a Whole Chicken

This roast chicken rocks! Whether for a regular meal or for a feast, it is a must-try. You know what will make it rock even better? Some good sauce or gravy to go with it!

Sauce Ideas For Roast Chicken

I use the same herbs used in marinating the chicken: celery, fresh parsley (or cilantro), and fresh basil together with some garlic, onion, and hot (habanero) pepper to make a killer sauce.

I put them in a blender and blend it into a paste. Then I season it with salt and 2 stock cubes, add some oil to it, simmer for a few minutes, and make the most amazing green sauce. Ever.

Try this chicken, together with some great sauce on the side this holiday season and you will be a star.

Another epic sauce that rocks with this roast chicken is the chicken juice itself – the one that comes out of the chicken as it cooks. It is pure gold! I have drizzled it over rice and enjoyed it together with the chicken. So good!

This Perfect Roast Chicken was on my table three Thanksgivings ago. You could roast two chickens if you have many mouths to feed. May it bring some kitchen stardom into your life!

This Roast Chicken also goes well with African Pepper Sauce.

Watch How To Roast a Whole Chicken

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What To Serve With Roast Chicken

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Perfect Roast Chicken - How to Roast a Whole Chicken

Perfect Roast Chicken – How to Roast a Whole Chicken

5 from 3 votes
Tips on how to roast a whole chicken in the shortest time possible while ensuring that the chicken is super flavorful. This is a hit on the dinner table!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 1 hour 15 minutes
Total: 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients  

  • 5 pound whole chicken (2.5 kg)
  • 2 Tablespoon unsalted butter – melted
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon powder substitute with 2 4g stock cubes
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground white/black pepper
  • 1 onion – peeled and cut into two pieces
  • 1 large celery stalk – cut into 3 pieces

Instructions 

  • Remove thawed chicken from the fridge and bring to room temperature one hour before preparing.
  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees F or 220 degrees C.
  • Rinse chicken and pat dry with paper towels.
  • Mix melted butter together with parsley, garlic powder, bouillon powder, dried rosemary, and red pepper flakes if using.
  • Rub salt and white/black pepper all over the chicken then rub the butter and herb mixture over the chicken, making sure to rub some on the inside. Place the onion and celery into the cavity of the chicken. Tie the chicken legs with a kitchen string then tuck the wings beneath the chicken. Watch the video above to see how to tuck the wings under the chicken.
  • Place chicken on a cast iron skillet, a roasting pan, or a heavy-duty aluminum foil pan. Roast in preheated oven for 1 hour 15 minutes until the juices run clear. If able to use a meat thermometer, insert it into the inner thigh near the leg and the breast, being careful not to touch the bone. When the chicken is done, it should read 165 degrees Fahrenheit or 73 degrees Celsius.
  • Let the chicken rest for about 15 minutes so it can reabsorb its juices then you can carve it and serve!

Notes

1.  A good rule to follow when roasting chicken is to roast for about 15 minutes per pound at 425 degrees Fahrenheit (220 degrees Celsius). I used a 5-pound chicken in this recipe so I cooked it for 75 minutes following the rule of 15 minutes per pound. Adjust your cooking time based on the size of your chicken.
2. Since it is unlikely that you might get the exact same size chicken like mine, I advise that you adjust the quantity of your salt and white/black pepper as needed. If your chicken is closer to 6 pounds, sprinkle on a little more salt. If your chicken is less than 5 pounds, use less salt.
3. Note that you do not need to add so much salt on the chicken because chicken bouillon powder is salty. 

Nutrition

Calories: 76kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 276mg | Potassium: 88mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 145IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 0.5mg

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Fusion, International
Calories: 76
Tried this recipe?Mention @preciouscore or tag #PreciousCore!

*This post was first published in November 2016. It has been updated with lots of tips, adjusted cooking temperature and time, new pictures and a recipe video.

Collage of chicken with text \"Perfect Roast Chicken Juicy and Flavorful!\"

About Precious

Welcome to my core! I am Precious Nkeih, the recipe developer and writer right here on my blog, Precious Core. My goal is to show you insanely delicious recipes you can replicate in your kitchen. And I love to tell stories too. Hope you find recipes here that will make cooking easier for you! Check me out on YouTube at YouTube.com/PreciousKitchen.


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30 Comments

  1. Thanks for this recipe ,please when you say cook time ,is it broiling or baking. If baking at what temperature should the oven be set?. Plan to make this for thanksgiving.

  2. Thanks so much. I am on it now. Will season and leave in the fridge overnight. Can’t wait for tomorrow. I pray it comes out yummy as this one.

  3. hmmm
    i know now what i’ll use to wow my girls and friends when they come home on sunday 11 February. Trust boarding school girls to drool over this chicken. Thanks Pre

  4. I made this for dinner last night I must say was absolutely delicious. However I think I put too much salt in the brine water and along with the salt that I added to the seasonings to put on top of the chicken it was way too salty.