Look like a pro with this gourmet dish that's so easy to make. Easy roasted chicken is perfect for an easy weeknight meal, OR a fancy Sunday Dinner!
I haven't met a single person that doesn't like a Rotisserie chicken. They are so convenient to pick up at your local grocer and plop on the table. But how about taking it up a notch with an easy roasted chicken that you prepared at home yourself? The key word here is easy! I promise you, this doesn't take that long to make, and your family and friends will be impressed.
Easy Roasted Chicken
There are a couple of things you can do to make this chicken extra special, but today, I'll share a real basic recipe that's still loaded with flavor. Roasted chicken just might become a staple for you! Whole chickens are pretty easy to find and quite affordable.
All you need for this easy roasted chicken:
- A whole chicken
- 3-4 oranges, sliced in halves
- 100% orange juice
- honey (local if you can)
- olive oil
- dried rosemary
- dried thyme
- salt & pepper
You probably have most of it in your pantry already. 🙂
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Place the bird in a 9 x 13 inch pan, or a roasting pan breast side up. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine if needed. Combine orange juice and honey and whisk well, set aside for a moment. Rub some olive oil all over the bird, and sprinkle some salt, pepper, dried rosemary and thyme and rub it in. Place the orange halves around the bird, and one or two halves inside the cavity. Pour the orange juice mixture over the top of the bird.
Bake that bird!
First you'll bake the bird covered really well in foil. Later, remove the foil and let it finish, that way it will get nice and golden brown on the top, but remain juicy on the inside. You can baste it with the juices from the pan along the way.
Hot Tip!!!
I highly recommend an oven proof meat thermometer. You don't have to use one, but I have to say, every time I do, my bird turns out perfect. The trick to the thermometer is to get it placed in exactly the right spot. The most significant thing I learned from using a thermometer is that most people cook their chickens (and turkeys) way too long. The result--dry meat. It probably doesn't need to cook as long as you think it does. If you don't have one, use the following guidelines, but take notes, so you'll know for the next time how to tweak it. But if you can, get a thermometer! You won't regret it!
Stage 1
Roast the chicken covered at 275 for 10 minutes for each pound. So, if it's a 5 pound chicken, you'll roast for 50 minutes.
Stage 2
Uncover the chicken, baste it with the juices. Turn the oven up to 350. Return the chicken to the oven for an additional 15-20 minutes or so for a five pound chicken. Obviously, longer with a larger chicken. This is where the oven proof thermometer comes in really handy. It stays in the bird while cooking and will let you know when to take it out.
Let the chicken rest (cover to keep warm) for 15 minutes before carving! Enjoy!!
What to do with all those chicken bones? Why not make some homemade chicken broth?
Equipment
- 9x13 baking dish
Ingredients
- 5 pound A whole chicken
- 3-4 oranges sliced in halves
- 1 cup orange juice 100% juice
- ¼ cup honey local if you can
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 275°
- Place the bird in a 9 x 13 inch pan, or a roasting pan breast side up. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine if needed.
- Combine orange juice and honey and whisk well, set aside. Rub olive oil all over the bird, sprinkle salt, pepper, dried rosemary, and thyme, and rub it in. Place the orange halves around the bird, and one or two halves inside the cavity. Pour the orange juice mixture over the top of the bird.
- Cover the chicken in foil, and roast for 10 minutes per pound. I used a 5 pound chicken, so it was 50 minutes.
- After the inital cooking time, uncover the chicken and baste it with the juices. Turn the oven up to 350°. Return the chicken to the oven for an additional 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature is 165°. An oven thermometer is very helpful.
Notes
chellie
Oh, I love Old Bay too! Honestly though, I forget it's in my spice rack. Thanks for the inspiration! 🙂
Angie @ ambient wares
One is...my husband makes a killer barbecue sauce and the other...we purchase Old Bay Seasoning which we also use in so many other things. We never seem to tire of the Old Bay 😉
chellie
Oh good! So glad you have another one to add to your repertoire! Would love to know your other favorite ways to eat it!
Angie @ ambient wares
I so need this recipe because we only ever have chicken two ways because we know we'll like it 😀 I just find it so hard to flavor! I'm very excited to try this so thanks for the idea and for sharing with us at Funtastic Friday!
Easy Peasy Life Matters
This sounds to die for!! There is nothing more tasty than citrus 🙂 Thank for sharing!
chellie
Isn't it great to walk into the house and smell dinner ready?! Give it a try, you'll love it. 🙂
chellie
I love lemon chicken too, this will be a nice change of pace for you. And ya gotta love that crockpot!!
Becky
Roasted chicken is one of my favorites so I need to give your recipe a try because I have not tried Orange Chicken. I have made Lemon Chicken many times so I look forward to giving this one a try!
Erin - Suburban Simplicity
I love the way a roasted chicken makes the house smell wonderful and homey. The orange glaze sounds delish!
chellie
Awesome! I just love things that are super simple but taste gourmet!
Michele
Had this for dinner last night....everyone loved I! It smelled so good coming out of the oven with the orange coming through.....will definitely do a repeat on this one! Thanks for sharing all your great recipes 🙂
Nikki Frank-Hamilton
This looks so delish! We do our turkey with oranges and I don't know why I never thought of doing it with a whole chicken too! Probably cause I'm lazy and purchase the rotisserie chickens! UG! This looks so much more tasty and I'm sure it's better for us! Pinned!
Audrey
That orange glaze sounds fabulous. Thanks for sharing on the Creative K Kids Linky Party this week. I hope you will join us again next week.