Easy Roasted Chicken Recipe

(Photo : Easy Roasted Chicken Recipe)

There are not many food items better than a roasted chicken. A staple Sunday dinner in many households across the world

This article will show you how to roast a chicken in a super easy and effective way, as well as the differences between roasting and baking in order to achieve that perfect taste and texture. 

The best thing about a roast chicken recipe is the relative lack of ingredients you need to cook it.

Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken (4 lb)

• 2 tbsp salt or kosher salt

• Ground black pepper

• 4 cups of dry bread cubes

Directions

1. Remove the top two rungs from your oven and leave the third rung empty to place the chicken later. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Using paper towels or similar apparatus, pat the chicken dry and season with the salt/kosher salt and pepper. Optionally, you can tie the legs of the chicken together using kitchen twine.

3. Open your Dutch oven and lay the bread cubes around the outside, allowing for a space in the centre for the chicken to fit into.

4. Place the chicken into the center position created and cover it. Roast for one hour.

5. Once the time is up and the chicken has been roasted, uncover it and roast again, this time for 30 minutes.

6. Once the skin becomes crisp and golden, whilst the juices run clear, insert an oven thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh - this needs to read at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

7. Remove the pot from the oven. The chicken then needs to rest for a total of 15 minutes.

8. Move the chicken onto a carving board, then carve and serve.

Roasted Chicken FAQs

What is the best type of cookware for cooking roasted chicken? 

We'd advise cooking the chicken in a cast-iron dutch oven, which can be used to cook for groups of people, as well as having a non-stick surface for easy cooking and cleaning. Dutch ovens retain moisture well, which can prevent the chicken from drying out as it is being roasted.

What sides can I serve with roasted chicken?

You can serve almost any side with a roasted chicken using this Dutch oven recipe.

Vegetables like butternut squash are highly recommended, whilst you could also go down the traditional route of using the likes of carrots, broccoli, and sprouts. 

For more serving ideas, check out this article full of great foods.

How can I enhance the flavor of my roasted chicken?

There are plenty of ways you can enhance the flavor of your chicken dish, even before it is placed in the oven.

At the same time as the salt and pepper, or other seasonings, simply rub the butter on top of the chicken.

When it comes time to roast the chicken in the Dutch oven, the butter will then melt in, combining with the chicken juices that is a by-product of the roast. 

We recommend using softened butter to do this, but you can also use hardened butter, and curry butter is also a viable alternative if you want to try something completely different.

For more information on how to create curry butter, see this handy recipe from Taste of Home. 

Can I roast chicken without a Dutch oven?

A Dutch oven is without a doubt one of the best and most efficient ways to roast a chicken, but you can use other methods that work well. 

You could use a roasting pan if you have one available, or alternatively a cast-iron skillet. 

Bear in mind that for both options, the same temperature checks apply - insert your thermometer into the thickest region of the thigh, making sure it reads at least 175 degrees Fahrenheit. 

You could also cook the chicken using a slow cooker, for four hours on the high setting.

Can I bake chicken and for how long?

The answer is yes, you can. 

Whilst roasting and baking are two relatively similar cooking methods in this instance, the difference is how the meat is originally prepared. 

The key for baking is that, instead of using a whole chicken, you should use chicken breasts or chicken pieces.

In order to bake chicken, follow these simple steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Sprinkle both sides of each chicken breast with salt and pepper, or other seasonings, and add olive oil.

• Place chicken in a pan or cast-iron skillet, before baking for 10 minutes.

• Turn the chicken onto its other side and cook for a further 15 minutes, until it is no longer pink in its center. As with the roasting recipe, the juices should run clear.

• Check the temperature is at least 175 degrees Fahrenheit by inserting a meat thermometer into the thickest region of the thigh.

• Remove chicken from pan and serve

The time required should be around 30 minutes for the baking phase, with extra time required for preparing the ingredients and the cleaning up afterward. 

This may take slightly longer if baking - a Dutch oven used for roasting can be easily cleaned due to the non-stick surface, making it a popular option.

Roasted chicken is one of the world's most popular dishes, and now you can enjoy it in all its glory!