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Photo credit Ronnie Fein

Perfect Roast Chicken

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A few simple tricks to ensure a moist, flavorful roast.

  • Total Time: 2-3 hours
  • Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients

Units

For the master roast chicken:

  • 1 whole roasting chicken, 4-6 lbs
  • 12 Tbsp olive or vegetable oil
  • salt, freshly ground black pepper, garlic powder and paprika, to taste
  • 1 cup liquid, such as stock or juice

For the lemon-oregano roast chicken: 

  • 1 whole roasting chicken, 4-6 lbs
  • cup lemon juice
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 large clove garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 Tbsp finely chopped fresh oregano (or 1 tsp dried oregano)
  • 2 Tsp finely chopped fresh basil
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. Remove the plastic bag of giblets from inside the bird. Wash the giblets if you want to roast and eat them. Put them in the roasting pan.
  3. For the master roast chicken: Wash the chicken inside and out (optional); dry with paper towels. Place the chicken on a rack in the roasting pan. Rub the surface with the oil. Sprinkle the chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika. Place the chicken breast-side down on the rack.
  4. Put the chicken in the oven. Roast 15 minutes. Reduce the oven heat to 350°F. Roast for 30 minutes, basting once or twice during that time with stock or juice. Turn the chicken breast-side up. Continue to roast the chicken for about 45-60 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165°F, or when the juices run clear when the thigh is pricked with the tines of a fork. Do not baste for the last 20 minutes of roasting time. After you take the chicken out of the oven, let it rest for 15 minutes before you carve it.
  5. For the lemon-oregano roast chicken: Wash the chicken inside and out (optional); dry with paper towels. Mix the lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, oregano, basil and salt and pepper in a bowl. Either marinate the chicken for at least 1 hour before cooking or pour over the chicken when you put it in the oven and use the pan fluids for basting. Roast the chicken according to direction 4.
  • Author: Ronnie Fein
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes-1 hour 15 minutes + 15 minutes rest time
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Category: Main
  • Method: Roasting
  • Cuisine: Basics