Whole Roasted Chicken

Impress your family and dinner guests with this super simple, super delicious Whole Roasted Chicken. Stuff the bird with an apple and an onion, top with butter, salt, pepper, Sriracha sauce and paprika, then bake until golden brown and cooked through. This makes the perfect centerpiece for a weeknight meal!

Overhead view of whole roasted turkey on white platter with yellow gravy boat

I’m not one of those people who (normally) gets weirded out when touching raw meat.

I wasn’t even weirded out by it during pregnancy. Nope. I saved that disgust for wilt-y spinach and spearmint-flavored things.

I guess I should point out that I’ve never told y’all I was “normal.”

Knife and fork cutting into whole roasted turkey

join our party!

get our latest recipes delivered to your inbox every week — plus all my entertaining tips and tricks!


    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.

    However, the first time I prepared and roasted a whole chicken five years ago? I was horrified.

    Let me back up and say that I’d only purchased boneless, skinless chicken breasts before that point. But when I was grocery shopping, that whole chicken just called to me. And since I loved rotisserie chicken, I figured a homemade one would be delightful, too.

    Well, I was totally right. Except preparing the chicken for the first time — specifically, feeling the skin — was a shock.

    So I totally understand those of y’all who are disgusted by raw meat. I get it.

    But let me implore y’all to focus on the end result: a delicious, moist, flavorful roasted chicken. Think about that as you prep your bird instead of how the skin feels.

    That’s what gets me through each and every time.

    Close up of whole roasted turkey on platter with with fork and spoon

     

    That’s my trick: mind over matter. And it works like a charm.

    And this Whole Roasted Chicken turns out beautifully each time.

    So if you’re weird around meat? I totally feel you.
    But if you like roasted chicken? I believe that you can make this recipe!
    And if you want to give it a go? You can do it!

    This recipe has become my go-to because it’s pretty painless on the preparation front, and all you have to do is cook up your sides while the chicken roasts.

    Here’s how I do it:

    White platter of whole roasted chicken on linens

    White platter of whole roasted chicken on linens

    Whole Roasted Chicken

    Erin Parker, The Speckled Palate
    Impress your family and dinner guests with this super simple, super delicious Whole Roasted Chicken. Stuff the bird with an apple and an onion, top with butter, salt, pepper, Sriracha sauce and paprika, then bake until golden brown and cooked through. This makes the perfect centerpiece for a weeknight meal!
    5 from 1 vote
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 925 kcal
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 1 hour 20 minutes
    Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes

    Ingredients
      

    Whole Chicken

    • 5-6 lb. chicken bone in and skin on
    • 1 apple quartered
    • 1 onion quartered
    • 4 tablespoons salted butter softened
    • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    • 2 teaspoons Sriracha sauce
    • ½ teaspoon paprika

    Gravy

    • Rendered fat from the roasting process about 1/3 cup
    • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    • 1 cup chicken broth

    As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Instructions
     

    • Lower the rack to the bottom level, then preheat the oven to 400°F. Get out a poultry roaster pan or line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Set aside.
    • Place the whole chicken onto the roaster or baking sheet.
    • Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Remove any internal organs before proceeding.
    • Stuff the apple and onion in the bird's cavity. Season generously with salt and pepper.
    • Using kitchen twine, tie the legs together. Tuck the wings beneath the bird.
    • Mix together the butter, salt, pepper and Sriracha sauce in a small bowl.
    • Using a silicone pastry brush, brush the seasoning mixture onto the skin of the chicken.
    • Cover the chicken with aluminum foil, and transfer to the preheated oven.
    • Bake for 1 hour, taking the foil off so the bird will brown. Rotate the bird in the oven.
    • Lower the oven temperature to 375°F. Bake for an additional 20-30 minutes, or until cooked through. When the chicken's internal temperature reads 165°F, remove it from the oven. The juices should run clear.
    • Transfer the chicken onto a serving plate, and make the gravy in the roasting pan.
    • Measure in the flour, and mix it with the rendered fat from the chicken.
    • Whisk until smooth, then slowly pour in the warm chicken broth.
    • Whisk thoroughly until the mixture thickens, then remove from the heat, and pour into a gravy dish.
    • Carve the chicken, and serve warm with the gravy.

    Notes

    Please note that my oven is nearly 60 years old and is nowhere near efficient as a newer oven. Watch your chicken as it roasts to ensure it doesn't overcook, and check the temperature of the bird around the 45 minute mark, as well as hour mark to see how far you have to go.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 925kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 91gFat: 57gSaturated Fat: 19gPolyunsaturated Fat: 33gCholesterol: 376mgSodium: 533mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4g
    Keyword baking recipe, best roasted chicken, dinner, entree, how to roast chicken, poultry recipe, roasted chicken, roasting poultry, whole chicken recipe
    Course Entrees
    Cuisine American
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Have you ever roasted a whole chicken before?

    A woman with dark curly hair wearing a black tank top in front of a white wall

    About the Author:

    Erin Parker is a Southern gal living in Texas with her husband and two daughters. She started The Speckled Palate to share what she was cooking as a newlywed… and over the years, it’s evolved to capture her love for hosting. Specifically, the EASIEST, lowest key entertaining because everyone deserves to see their people and connect over good food. Learn more about her

    Similar Posts

    Before leaving a comment or rating, ask yourself:

    • Did you make the recipe as directed? If you didn’t or made an ingredient swap, please do not leave a rating. Recipe results are not guaranteed when changes have been made.
    • Is your comment helpful to others? Rude or hateful comments will not be approved. Please remember that this website is run by a real person.
    • Are you complaining about ads? I develop these recipes and provide them to you for free. Advertising allows me to continue to do so at not cost to you. It is also unavoidable on the internet and in everyday life. If you want recipes without ads, please purchase a cookbook or borrow one from your local library.

    2 Comments

    1. Whole roasters always look so creepy to me. Like a carcass. But you made this look so pretty! Gorgeous bird! And the seasoning? Drool. You win at chicken.

      1. They really ARE creepy, Heather! It’s not just you. But I’m glad that the final result was a pretty, gorgeous bird! It tastes pretty darn good, too, which is why I keep making it, in spite of being grossed out by the actual carcass…

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating