Oven Roasted Chicken is such an essential part of my cooking routine and to make a juicy oven roasted chicken is easier than you may think. I love stopping to grab a quick chicken from my local box store or grocery store, but there is something about roasting my own chicken at home that I can’t resist. I like the fact that I use the seasoning I prefer and make my chicken both juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. In this recipe I will share with you this easy recipe. With just a few simple ingredients you can prepare a dinner your family will love and you can have dinner on the table in no time. Walk with me as I show you how to make the best roasted chicken.
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How to Make Juicy Oven Roast Chicken
For this recipe there are two keys to making a delicious roasted chicken. The first is in the selected seasonings. For this recipe I used four simple seasoning that you already have, Kosher salt, black pepper, Rosemary and Thyme. These simple seasoning when combined with the butter, will give your chicken a earthy and delicious flavor. The second key to making a juicy oven roasted chicken is to spatchcock the chicken.
What is Spatchcock? Spatchcock is a simple cooking method where you butterfly the chicken. Simply remove the backbone from the chicken and flatten it. This method will allow your whole chicken to cook more evenly and quickly. The meat will come out juicy and the skin will be extra crispy. Watch the video tutorial and follow the instructions below for the easy recipe.
What’s the Difference between Roasting and Baking?
Roasting and baking are both dry-heat cooking methods that use an oven, but they differ in terms of the types of food they are best suited for and the temperatures used. Roasting typically involves higher temperatures, usually above 400°F (200°C), and is used for cooking foods that already have a solid structure, such as vegetables, meats, or poultry. The high heat in roasting helps create a caramelized, crispy exterior while keeping the inside moist. Roasting is often used to enhance the natural flavors of the food through browning, making it ideal for dishes where you want a rich, roasted flavor, like roasted chicken or vegetables.
Baking, on the other hand, generally uses lower temperatures, around 300–375°F (150–190°C), and is primarily used for foods that start in a softer, batter-like form, such as bread, cakes, or casseroles. The slower, gentler heat of baking allows the food to cook more evenly and solidify without browning too much on the outside.
Watch Video Tutorial for Juicy Oven Roast Chicken
Ingredients
- Whole Chicken: Select a whole chicken no more than five pound. Make sure to select a great quality whole chicken for the best results.
- Butter (softened): Butter locks in the moisture and the flavor, creating a golden-brown crust on the chicken.
- Rosemary: Rosemary adds a woodsy flavor to your chicken enhancing the overall flavor.
- Thyme: Thymes gives the chicken a distinct flavor that complements the rosemary and enhances the overall flavor profile of the dish.
- Kosher Salt: Kosher salt brings out the chicken’s natural flavors and helping to crisp up the skin.
- Ground Black Pepper: Black Pepper adds a slight kick that balances the richness of the butter, rosemary and thyme.
What You Will Need
Instructions for Roasted Chicken
Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
Prepare the Seasoned Butter: In a small bowl, mix the softened butter with the kosher salt, black pepper, rosemary, and thyme until well combined. Set aside.
Prepare the Chicken:
- Place the chicken on a cutting board, breast side down.
- Using sharp kitchen shears, carefully remove the backbone of the chicken.
- Flip the chicken over so it’s breast side up, and ensure it’s thoroughly dried with paper towels.
Season the Chicken: Generously cover the entire chicken with the seasoned butter, making sure to spread it evenly across the entire chicken.
Roast the Chicken:
- Place the chicken on a wire rack in a baking pan.
- Transfer the chicken to the preheated oven and roast for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Rest and Serve: Once the chicken is cooked through, remove it from the oven and let it rest for about 10 minutes before serving.
What to Eat With Roasted Chicken
Roasted chicken is such a versatile main dish and it pairs well with many side dishes. If you are looking for some hearty options, try pairing your chicken with mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes or dirty rice. To complete this hearty meal add collard greens, cabbage or green bean and some cornbread. If you are look for some lighter options, roasted asparagus, Brussel sprouts or a light salad would make a good choice.
Roasted chicken also is great as a main ingredient in many other dishes. For example, I use leftover roast to create such meals as chicken pot pie, chicken and dumpling and chicken noodle soup. The options are endless for enjoying roasted chicken.
How to Store Leftovers Roasted Chicken
Leftover roasted chicken can be stored in the in the refrigerator and the freezer. In both cases, make certain that your chicken has cooled. For the refrigerator, store the chicken in an airtight container, plastic wrap or foil or plastic bag. The chicken can be kept in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
When placing in the freezer, be sure to place in an airtight container that is freezer safe. Roasted chicken is recommended to keep for no more than 4 months in the freezer. It is helpful to date the storage container to keep track of the time your chicken has been stored.
To reheat the chicken when stored in the refrigerator, place the chicken in an preheated oven (350 degrees) or air fryer and allow it to cook for 15 minutes. You can reheat your chicken in the microwave but be mindful that the microwave can dry out the chicken. When reheating from the freezer, allow the chicken to thaw overnight in the refrigerator then use the same method for reheating.
Other Great Recipes
- 45 Easy Chicken Recipes – a host of easy chicken recipes that you and your family will love.
- Perfect Pot Roast Recipe – comfort food at it’s best.
- How to Make a Thanksgiving Turkey – easy instructions on how to make the best Thanksgiving turkey.
- Thanksgiving Recipes – all the recipes you will need for a perfect Thanksgiving feast.
Oven Roasted Chicken
9
servings15
minutes1
hour11
minutesIngredients
1 whole chicken (approximately 5 lbs)
½ cup softened butter
1 tablespoon rosemary
½ tablespoon thyme
½ tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon kosher salt
Directions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a small bowl, mix the softened butter with the kosher salt, black pepper, rosemary, and thyme until well combined. Set aside.
- Place the chicken on a cutting board, breast side down.
- Using sharp kitchen shears, carefully remove the backbone of the chicken.
- Flip the chicken over so it’s breast side up, and ensure it’s thoroughly dried with paper towels.
- Generously cover the entire chicken with the seasoned butter, making sure to spread it evenly across the skin.
- Place the chicken on a wire rack in a roasting pan.
- Transfer the chicken to the preheated oven and roast for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Once the chicken is cooked through, remove it from the oven and let it rest for about 10 minutes before serving.
Recipe Video
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