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The Best Simple Oven Roasted Whole Chicken Recipe with Crispy Skin and Juicy Meat

A beautifully roasted whole chicken with golden-brown, crispy skin resting on a white plate.
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Make a truly tender and juicy whole roast chicken with perfectly browned, crispy skin. This easy recipe is perfect for family dinners and becomes your go-to comfort food classic.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 whole chicken (about 4–5 lbs)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 lemon, halved
  • 4 sprigs fresh rosemary

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the whole chicken from its packaging and remove any giblets from the cavity. Pat the chicken completely dry, inside and out, using paper towels. This step helps you get crispy skin.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together the kosher salt, black pepper, dried thyme, and garlic powder. This is your simple seasoning blend.
  3. Rub the entire surface of the chicken with the olive oil. Sprinkle the seasoning blend evenly over the chicken, making sure to coat the entire bird.
  4. Place the lemon halves and rosemary sprigs inside the chicken cavity. You can truss the legs together with kitchen twine if you wish, but it is not required for this simple method.
  5. Place the seasoned chicken breast-side up in a roasting pan or a cast-iron skillet.
  6. Roast the chicken for 15 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit to start crisping the skin.
  7. Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Continue roasting for about 60 to 75 minutes more, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh (avoiding the bone) reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
  8. Once cooked, remove the chicken from the oven. Tent it loosely with foil and let it rest for 15 minutes before carving. This resting period keeps the meat juicy.

Notes

  • For extra flavor, rub softened herb butter (butter mixed with minced fresh herbs) under the skin over the breast meat before seasoning.
  • If the skin starts browning too quickly before the chicken is done, loosely tent the top with foil.
  • Use the pan drippings to make a simple gravy to serve with your juicy roast chicken.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://blissbatter.com/best-simple-oven-roasted-whole-chicken-recipe/