Published 10/24/2023 I’ve made this recipe dozens of times, and it always turns out perfectly. The chicken is always moist and flavorful, and the skin is crispy and delicious. If you’re looking for an easy and delicious way to cook a whole chicken, this recipe is perfect for you. We love roasting whole chicken at the beginning of the week because not only is it delicious to eat the day of, but it’s so delicious as leftovers, too. This recipe is a great high-protein main (21g protein/serving) that’s made in a single pot, and serves a crowd! A quick rundown on roasting a whole chicken: Start by flavoring the chicken with butter and spices under the skin. Then, add onion and herbs to the cavity and lemon and garlic underneath. Add some white wine and chicken broth and roast for 30 minutes. Baste and roast for 30 more minutes.
What You Need to Make a Whole Roasted Chicken
Chicken: we used a 2-3 lb. bird and found that was the perfect size for our Dutch oven. Butter: butter will help infuse the chicken with yummy flavors. Seasonings/Herbs: seasonings and herbs will help perfectly flavor your chicken. Onion + Garlic: don’t forget the onion and garlic. 2 staple flavors in every roasted chicken recipe! Fresh Lemon: you can’t go wrong with fresh lemon on the bottom of your roasting dish. Wine + Chicken Broth: these liquids will help moisten the chicken and be used for basting.
Roasted Whole Chicken Variations
Fat: instead of butter, try using olive oil in stead. Seasonings: we kept things pretty basic, but you could also use a premade spice mix like chicken seasoning. Liquid for basting: of you don’t have white wine, feel free to use all chicken broth. Fresh herbs: any kind of herbs you have on hand will work. Try thyme, parsley, or sage.
How long to roast a whole chicken?
A 2-3 lb. whole chicken will take around 75 minutes (plus or minus) at 400ºF. The key is measuring the thickest part with a meat thermometer. It should read anywhere from 160ºF to 165ºF.
Have a bigger chicken?
If you have a whole chicken 4 lbs. or greater, start with 10 extra minutes. The goal is to reach 165ºF at the thickest part of the chicken. So continue cooking in increments of 10 minutes until it reaches that temperature.
The Perfect (smaller) Alternative to a Thanksgiving Turkey
If you’re looking to make a smaller Thanksgiving turkey recipe this whole roasted chicken is a great idea! A 2-3 lb. bird will feed around 4-6. Here are more recipe pairing suggestions to complete your meal:
Herby Mashed Potatoes Sausage Stuffing Healthy Green Bean Casserole
How to Serve Your Whole Roasted Chicken
While I love slicing and eating roasted chicken as-is (bigggg fan of both the breast and chicken legs!), there are so many different ways to serve it! Check out some ideas below:
Whole Chicken Recipes
Smoked Whole Chicken Recipe Grilled Whole Chicken Instant Pot Whole Chicken Juicy Spatchcock Chicken
Shred & Flavor: Once your roasted chicken has cooled completely, remove as much meat from the carcass as possible. Then, use 2 forks to shred the chicken. Season it with your favorite sauce and voila! Here are some sauce ideas:
BBQ Honey Garlic Sauce Teriyaki Sauce
Nachos: When in doubt, top your nachos with shredded roasted chicken and all the nacho fixings. Here is some good chicken nachos inspiration. Soup: Either shred/chop your roasted chicken and add it to a soup or chili for some extra protein and flavor. Try making our ultimate chicken soup.
