The Best Roasted Chicken
We love a good roasted chicken in this house. It is absolutely mouthwatering. This is a super easy recipe that anyone can do and is always a winner with my family and I know it will be with yours too. Learn how to easily roast a chicken that can feed your family more than just once!
Jump to RecipeRoasting a Chicken
I’m sure you’ve had a roasted chicken before, and you probably weren’t blown away with the results. Sometimes when people roast a chicken, they tend to be a little dry. Well, I am here to tell you that I have perfected the recipe and I want to share it with you.
More importantly, this is a healthier way to prepare a meat for your family. Fired chicken is the first choice for many in the South where we are but it isn’t the best for our health, so I have dedicated time to perfecting roasting a chicken in the oven. Especially if you have an oven with the “convection” option that’s the way to go.
The secret to this juicy chicken with the crispy skin is what I coat the outside with, what I cook it in and the seasonings! Our family will easily be fed from this one chicken 2-3 times which is a total win in my busy Mama book.
What You’ll Need
- A whole chicken. (I buy based on how many I’m feeding. Keep in mind the more it weighs the longer you’ll have to cook it.)
- Something to cook it in. You can use a 9×13 glass casserole dish but I swear by my cast iron skillets. They just keep better flavor to me. You can find my post about cast iron here.
- Seasonings. This is where you can get creative! My go to seasonings are: Cavender all-purpose Greek seasoning (its the best, just trust me – I put it on everything!), onion powder, salt and pepper.
- Coconut oil (kitchen staple in our home)
- Meat thermometer (this one is the bomb!)
- This is optional. I like to stuff the chicken with a small onion (cut into chunks) small orange and garlic.
Thats it!
Prep
First, preheat the oven to 450 degrees (I use the convection setting on my oven for a crispier skin)
Then, wash the chicken and pat dry with a paper towel.
Next, place in cast iron skillet. Breast facing up.
Finally, melt some coconut oil (about 3-4 tablespoons)
Season The Chicken
After you’ve melted our coconut oil go ahead and pour it over the chicken evenly and then if you see you need any more melt a little more.
Now you’ve got something for your seasoning to hold on too. Season with Greek seasoning, onion powder, salt and pepper.
I don’t ever measure with the seasonings. I just make sure it is coated well. This is what’s going to give you a delicious crispy skin on the outside.
*Just a note: I prefer to cook my chicken on the convection setting. It’s similar to how a rotisserie chicken is cooked with the heat circulating around for a more even cook. If you don’t have this option don’t worry. When your chicken is cooked to the proper temperature turn the broiler on for just a few minutes. Don’t walk off and leave it because it won’t take long at all to crisp up the outside.
How Long Should I Roast the Chicken?
Typically, your time will vary based on how bog the chicken is. A good guideline is for every pound of chicken cook 20 minutes. 20 minutes/lb.
I personally like to use the meat thermometer to make sure all part of the chicken is cooked thoroughly, and every part reads 165 degrees or higher.
How Can I Stretch the Meal into More Than Once?
When you are done eating a roasted chicken, you can de-bone the rest of the meat and set aside. Later, what I like to do is use this chicken for a casserole or a soup (depending on what season we are in), chicken salad is another idea. Just think of all the dishes you’ve had chicken with! The possibilities are endless.
The next thing I will do after the roasted chicken had been deboned is grab my instant pot from the pantry and place the chicken carcass in there. I am using the carcass to make bone broth! Perfect for cooking, seasoning, gravy or soups! This broth is so rice and I know there isn’t any bad added ingredients because it was made right in my kitchen.
Find out how I make Homemade Chicken Bone Broth here. (SUPER EASY)
So, it is 100% worth us having an easy roasted chicken on a regular basis because I know I’m able to feed my family a wholesome meal and really stretch my dollar to cover other meals.
Check Out My Other Posts
How to Use and Care for Cast Iron
The Best Homemade Bread Recipe
Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies
Easy Roasted Chicken
Equipment
- 1 large cast iron skillet or a pyrex glass pan
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken
- 3-4 Tbsp coconut oil can me melted or solid
- Salt
- Greek Seasoning
- Onion powder
- 1 small onion
- 2-3 cloves garlic
- 2 small oranges this is optional for stuffing chicken with
Instructions
- Rinse the chicken and remove any organs than may be left
- Pat dry with a paper towel and place in the cast iron pan (breast side up)
- Coat the chicken with coconut oil (melted or solid)
- Season the chicken with salt, Greek seasoning and onion powder
- Place in an oven at 450o F for about 2 hours. Check internal temperature of the bird. Making sure the meat always registers at or above 165 degrees F.
