All the best tips for how to roast a whole roasted chicken in the oven, tips for how long to slow roast a whole chicken in oven, and at what temperature to cook a whole chicken, & our best easy + delicious whole chicken recipes for making a homemade, healthy family dinner.
How to Roast a Whole Chicken in the Oven
There are so many recipes these days for boneless, skinless chicken breasts! But guess what – the bone + skin are where the meat gets all of it’s flavor so why not just cook the whole bird instead. One of my favorite easy, healthy family dinner recipes is a slow roasted whole chicken cooked in the oven.
As another installment in the new Family Dinner series, this recipe for a Rustic Whole Roasted Chicken is a go-to in our house and couldn’t be any easier, it’s quick too. This is right up there with some of my other favorite classic family dinner ideas or Sunday family dinner meals, like Pot Roast or Lasagna. Trust me, you’ll be cooking like Jamie Oliver or Ina Garten in no time with this one under your belt. Let’s learn how to slow roast whole chicken in oven.
I wanted to include this recipe in the family dinner series because often times people can be intimidated by a WHOLE chicken if they’ve never cooked one before but, fear not. This recipe is one of those easy prep + cook meals that looks impressive but couldn’t be more simple to prepare. Now, that’s a win/win in my book. This is something my kiddos will gladly clean their plates eating.
Sure, you can get a rotisserie style chicken from the grocery store but trust me, hot and home cooked chicken will be so much better. There are a few common questions people have from time to time about how to cook the best whole chicken. I’m here to answer them for you.
What temperature to cook a whole chicken?
One of the best features of a whole roasted chicken is it’s crispy skin. To get a really delicious crispy skin on your chicken, cook at 425 degrees uncovered in the oven. Some folks swear by cooking a whole chicken in the crockpot or cooking their whole chicken in a bag in the oven. Some folks have begun cooking their chicken in the InstaPot or Air fryer. To me this makes you loose out on the best, most flavorful part of the whole dish. I prefer to cook my whole chicken in a dutch oven in my traditional convection oven the old-fashioned way. You can cook your pot roast along with chopped vegetables for an easy + healthy side dish.
How long do you cook a whole chicken in the oven at 425 degrees?
If you’re cooking your whole roasted chicken in the oven at 425 degrees then you’ll want to plan approximately 30-35 minutes of cooking time. This will ensure your chicken is at the proper internal temperature to be fully cooked inside and safe to eat.
What is the proper meat temperature for cooking a whole chicken?
It is recommended that you use a meat thermometer to check that your chicken has fully cooked to the proper internal temperature to be food safe to eat. Just remember, the internal meat temperature of the poultry must reach 165 degrees at the thickest part of the chicken before consuming.
Check out our Meat Temperatures Linen Tea Towel for your Kitchen
The Best Recipe for a Whole Chicken Cooked in the Oven
Whole Roasted Chicken in the Oven
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 35
- Total Time: 50
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Dinner
Description
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken (approx. 4–5 lbs)
- 2 onions, quartered
- 8–10 cloves of garlic
- 2 lemons, quartered
- 6 TBSP unsalted butter
- 1 bundle fresh rosemary
- 1/4 tsp cayenne powder
- Kosher salt
- Ground pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees and position your oven rack in the lower third of the oven.
- Remove the package of giblets from the cavity of your whole chicken and set until at room temperature. Pat the chicken dry and rub half of the softened butter and 4 minced garlic cloves all over over the chicken. Season with minced rosemary, cayenne powder, salt and pepper.
- Generously season cavity of chicken with salt and pepper and stuff with lemon quarters, several cloves of whole, smashed garlic, 2-3 quarters of onion and 2 whole rosemary sprigs. Truss legs with cooking twine and tuck wings under bird.
- Place chicken in a roasting pan breast-side-up with the remaining onion, garlic, lemons and rosemary. Roast for 25 minutes and then baste with juices. Roast another 25-30 minutes longer, until the skin is lightly browned. Roast for about 15-20 minutes longer or until your thermometer reaches 155°- 160° as measured on the thickest part of the thigh, until juices are running clear.
- Allow the bird to rest for 15 minutes and carve to serve. Enjoy!
Keywords: whole roasted chicken in the oven, chicken recipes, family dinner recipes, dinner, chicken, entree
Other tips for slow cooking a delicious whole chicken in the oven
A few little tricks for making this slow roasted chicken in the oven a success. First, I like to buy fresh chicken so I don’t have to deal with any defrosting and love this meal because it cooks in under an hour. Also, you can also cook up roasted veggies or potatoes in your pan at the same time & your whole meal is ready to go. Play with recipes for different seasonings or brines for your chicken to mix it up. I personally love flavors of fresh lemon, garlic, rosemary + sea salt for my chicken.
heirloomed is a lifestyle brand with a mission of “keeping heirlooms around for another generation.” Our blog features stories about family recipes, creating traditions with your family, interior design and entertaining by mixing new and vintage pieces, classic style, and small town + historic travel. Our shop features a collection of “goods inspired by the past, for generations to enjoy” with an array of products and meaningful gifts including linen aprons, tabletop linens, art, ceramics and beyond. Learn more at www.heirloomedcollection.com.
