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How to roast a whole chicken technique tutorial

Perfect Roast Chicken Recipe

Steven Pennington
This roast chicken recipe has crispy skin, juicy meat, and a rich flavor. Follow these simple steps for a perfectly roasted chicken.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 7 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 7 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Classic
Servings 4 people
Calories 493 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 large Whole Chicken Average size 6 pounds
  • 12 sprigs Fresh Thyme
  • 1 tablespoon Garlic
  • ½ stick Butter (4oz)
  • 3 tablespoon Salt Be sure to season the inside of the chicken as well
  • ½ sliced Lemon
  • 2 tablespoon Olive oil
  • 1 large Onion
  • 1 teaspoon Paprika Chef suggests using Smoked Paprika

Instructions
 

  • Preparing the Chicken
    Rinse and pat dry the chicken.
    Place the ingredients: salt, onion, lemon, fresh thyme, and garlic, into the chicken's cavity.
  • Trussing the Chicken - Use kitchen string to tighten the legs and thighs. This promotes even cooking. For a professional guide to trussing, look to the post above for a tutorial.
  • Mix olive oil, butter, dry thyme, paprika, and garlic salt and rub all over the chicken; cover completely. Apply under the skins as well. The chicken skin is strong and will allow you to move butter underneath the skin and the meat.
    Place onion slices under the chicken; the onion will act as a roasting rack for the chicken to sit on. This will ensure even cooking as the heat convection in the oven will be able to brown the lower portion of the chicken and provide even cooking of the thighs.
  • Place chicken on a roasting rack (If you have one). Still place the onions underneath, but add some water or stock to the bottom of the roasting rack. This helps keep the chicken moist and stops the onions from possibly burning.
    Add, finally covering with salt and pepper all over.
  • Roasting the Chicken
    Place chicken in the preheated oven of 425. After 20 minutes, look at the chicken and see how the cook is going. Ovens cook differently, so make sure to watch and learn how your oven cooks before allowing the entire cook time to elapse.
  • Chef Tip: Place the chicken legs and thighs pointed to the back of the oven. The legs & thighs finish at a higher internal temperature than the white meat. The dark meat points to the back of the oven for this reason.

Notes

What are some tips for roast chicken?

1. One of the most important tips for roast chicken is to make sure that the chicken is thoroughly cooked before serving. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken; it should be at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Another important tip is to properly season the chicken before cooking. Be sure to use a variety of herbs and spices to give the chicken flavor.
3. Another roast chicken tip is to cook the chicken in a roasting pan that has a bit of water in it. This will help to keep the chicken moist while it cooks.
4. When roast chicken is done cooking, be sure to let it rest for a few minutes before carving. This will allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, making it more flavorful and tender.
Keyword Roast Chicken, Roasting Chicken