Oven Roasted Chicken - how do you prepare and cook?

I've never made an oven roasted chicken before but it sounds delicious and I'd like to try it this weekend. Can anyone share how they prepare and cook theirs?

Re: Oven Roasted Chicken - how do you prepare and cook?

I made my first oven roasted chicken thanks to Pioneer Woman! She has pictures of every step.. so it's nearly impossible to mess up!

Best tutorial EVER!

Oven Roasted Chicken - how do you prepare and cook?

I take a roaster chicken, clean it thoroughly, then pat it dry.

I take 2 sticks of softened butter and add lemon juice, lemon zest, fresh pasley/thyme/marjoram/rosemary, garlic and shallots. I puree it in my food processor until it becomes a thick paste.

Then, I begin to rub the butter all over the entire chicken, and even in between the skin and the meat. Use it ALL. If I'm feeling citrusy, I'll cut the lemons into wheels and put them beneath the skin as well. I also like to throw a roughly chopped onion, a halved orange and some fresh sprigs of thyme or a bouquet garni into the cavity. I also truss my chicken as well, then place in a roaster rack and put in the oven at 400 until the timer pops. If the skin is not crisping enough, I will drizzle a little bit of EVOO as it roasts.

This is the best oven roasted chicken I've ever made, and the meat is so incredibly tender and most importantly, flavorful. I love shredding the leftovers and using it for lemon basil chicken salad...delectable!

Re: Oven Roasted Chicken - how do you prepare and cook?

Oven Roasted Chicken - how do you prepare and cook?

I take a chicken and pat it dry

I melt 1 stick of butter and grate in 2 garlic cloves, rosemary and thyme about 1T each. I separate the skin from the chicken and pour a little bit of this between the skin and meat. I pour the rest over the chicken and put salt and pepper over it.
Inside the chicken I put in 2 whole garlic cloves, 1 roughly cut up onion, and a cut up orange or lemon. Whatever I have on hand.

Now you can do the roasting 2 ways.......
Good for crunchy skin all over- place chicken in a bundt pan. Just place the cavity over the center of the pan and place it on a baking sheet. Roast at 400 for roughly 1.5 hours. The package should say how long per pound and check with a meat thermometer


If you want a really nice gravy- take a cast iron skillet and place a cut up onion, garlic, and a tad of butter in it. Place chicken over the onion mixture and roast like above. When you take the chicken out gather the onion and bits. Place the skillet on the stove and add 1/4C white wine and 1-2C chicken broth. Salt and pepper to taste and cook down.

This is an amazing recipe that gets rave reviews!

Re: Oven Roasted Chicken - how do you prepare and cook?

Re: Oven Roasted Chicken - how do you prepare and cook?

Re: Oven Roasted Chicken - how do you prepare and cook?

I wash and dry the chicken.
Season the cavity with salt (don't like pepper)

Then lightly stuff with cut carrots, onion quarters, garlic cloves, sprigs of thyme and parsley.
Rub the outside with softened butter, sprinkle with salt.

Or : lightly stuff the cavity with onion quarters, garlic cloves, spings of thyme, parsley and rosemary, cut up lemon.
Rub the outside with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and lemon juice.

Or : make an herb butter of softened butter, minced garlic, minced shallot, parsley, rosemary and thyme. Rub all over the bird, including between the skin and the meat. Lightly stuff the cavity with onion and carrot.

Tie the legs together, then place on a roasting pan with cut up onions, carrots, garlic, springs of thyme, sprinkle of salt. I add a bit of water too.
Roast at 375 for 25 minutes per pound.

I use the pan juices to make a gravy, adding chicken stock if necessary.

Re: Oven Roasted Chicken - how do you prepare and cook?

Re: Oven Roasted Chicken - how do you prepare and cook?