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.

Ooh la la! 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.

Also, I could throw in some Irish potatoes and roast together with the chicken to make a complete meal. This is something that is so simple to make and so tantalising to the taste buds. It is a beauty to behold on the dining table!

The herb and spice mixture all over, 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!

If you love roast chicken recipes, also check out my herb roasted chicken.

Whether you are serving yourself, your family or guests, this perfect roast chicken is the way to be a culinary star. It is moist, flavorful 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.

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.

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.

Here are my 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, turn the side of the roasting pan in the oven. This helps to ensure that the chicken cooks evenly.

4. Tie the chicken legs with kitchen 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.

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.

Note that if your temperature is different, you will need to roast your chicken for a period that matches the temperature.

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!

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 crush. Then I season 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!

Watch How To Roast a Whole Chicken

More awesome dinner recipes:

• CHICKEN IN WHITE SAUCE
• AFRICAN BEEF STEW
• POULET YASSA: CHICKEN YASSA

*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.