Description
Cooking chicken is straightforward when you follow a few basic steps to ensure your poultry turns out juicy and fully cooked. Whether you’re roasting, pan-searing, or grilling, getting your chicken to the right temperature while keeping the meat tender is what matters most to you.
Ingredients
Scale
Main ingredients:
- 1 whole chicken (about 4–5 pounds)
- 1/4 cup olive oil
Seasonings and aromatics:
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons chopped rosemary
- 2 tablespoons chopped thyme
- 1 lemon, sliced
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Rinse your 4-5 lb whole chicken under cold running water, then pat it completely dry with paper towels.
- Mix together 1/4 cup olive oil, 6 minced garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons chopped rosemary, and 2 tablespoons chopped thyme in a small bowl.
- Rub the herb mixture all over your chicken, inside and out, then tuck 1 sliced lemon into the cavity.
- Season your chicken generously with 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon black pepper on all sides.
- Place your chicken breast-side up in a roasting pan and roast at 425°F for 1 hour and 15 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F when you check the thickest part of the thigh.
- Remove your chicken from the oven and let it rest untouched for 10 minutes so the juices stay inside the meat.
- Carve your chicken into pieces and serve it warm with the pan drippings spooned over top.
Notes
- Pat your chicken completely dry before cooking so the skin gets crispy and browns evenly, rather than steaming in moisture.
- Season your chicken generously at least 15-20 minutes before cooking, or even the night before, so the salt has time to penetrate the meat and make it juicier.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the thickest part near the thigh for 165°F, since relying on color alone can lead to undercooked or dry chicken.
- Let your cooked chicken rest for 10-15 minutes before cutting into it, which keeps the juices inside the meat instead of running onto your cutting board.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-45 minutes
- Category: Baked Chicken
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 360 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg