Crispy Roast Chicken

Nothing beats the amazing smell of a perfectly golden roast chicken coming out of your oven! This classic recipe will have your whole family gathering around the dinner table, and the best part is you get that restaurant-quality crispy skin right at home.

Recipe Details

Timing & Servings: Active Time: 10 minutes, Additional Time: 1 hour 50 minutes, Total Time: 2 hours, Serves: 6 people.

Nutrition Profile: Nut-Free, Soy-Free, Egg-Free, Gluten-Free.

Nutrition Facts (per serving): 236 Calories, 11g Fat, 32g Protein.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Whole chicken: You’ll need one 4½ to 5-pound whole chicken with the giblets removed. This size feeds a family of 6 perfectly and gives everyone plenty of juicy meat to enjoy!

Unsalted butter: Just 1½ tablespoons of softened butter is all you need. This goes right under the skin to keep everything super moist and flavorful.

Kosher salt: One teaspoon of kosher salt seasons the butter mixture perfectly. I love kosher salt because it spreads so evenly!

Black pepper: Half a teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper adds just the right amount of warmth and spice.

Lemon: Half a small lemon cut into wedges goes right into the cavity. It keeps the chicken moist and adds a lovely fresh scent while cooking.

Yellow onion: Half a small yellow onion cut into wedges also goes inside the chicken. This adds amazing savory flavor from the inside out!

Garlic cloves: Three medium garlic cloves, just smashed with the flat side of your knife. The smell while this roasts is absolutely incredible!

How to Make Crispy Roast Chicken

Step 1: Pat your chicken completely dry with paper towels. Place it breast-side up on a wire rack set in a large rimmed baking sheet. Let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes – this helps it cook evenly!

Step 2: Preheat your oven to 425°F. Gently loosen the skin from the breasts, thighs and legs with your fingers. Don’t worry about being perfect – just get your fingers under there without tearing the skin completely off.

Step 3: Mix together the softened butter, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Spread this mixture evenly underneath all that loosened skin. Then carefully smooth the skin back into place.

Step 4: Stuff the lemon wedges, onion wedges and smashed garlic cloves into the chicken cavity. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine to keep everything neat and tidy.

Step 5: Roast in your preheated oven for 60 to 70 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the breast reads 165°F. The skin should be golden brown and crispy!

Step 6: Let the chicken rest for 20 minutes before carving. This keeps all those delicious juices inside the meat. Remove and discard the lemon, onion and garlic from the cavity before serving.

Easy and Quick Crispy Roast Chicken Version

Want to speed things up a bit? You can skip the 30-minute room temperature step and add about 10 extra minutes to your cooking time! Also, if you’re short on time, just rub the butter mixture all over the outside of the chicken instead of getting under the skin. You’ll still get amazing flavor and that crispy skin we all love!

Serving Ideas

This beautiful roast chicken makes a complete meal that everyone will remember! Serve it with creamy mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or a fresh green salad. The crispy skin and juicy meat pair perfectly with just about any side dish you love.

Storage

Store leftover chicken in the fridge for up to 4 days in a covered container. To reheat, pop it in a 350°F oven for about 15 minutes until warmed through. You can also use the leftover meat cold in sandwiches or salads – it’s delicious either way!

Substitutions

No butter on hand? You can use olive oil instead – just use the same amount. If you don’t have lemons, try orange wedges or even apple slices in the cavity. Fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme work great too if you want to switch up the flavors!

Pro Tips

• Dry skin is key: Really pat that chicken dry before you start – moisture is the enemy of crispy skin!
• Room temperature matters: Don’t skip letting the chicken sit out for 30 minutes. Cold chicken cooks unevenly.
• Use a wire rack: This lets air circulate all around the chicken for the crispiest skin possible.
• Don’t skip the rest time: Those 20 minutes of resting keep all the juices where they belong – in the meat!
• Check the temperature: A meat thermometer is your best friend here. 165°F in the thickest part means it’s perfect!

FAQs

How is this recipe healthier than other roasted chicken recipes?

This recipe uses way less butter than most traditional roast chicken recipes, which cuts down on fat while keeping the chicken super juicy! Plus, when you make it at home, you know exactly what’s going into it – no mystery ingredients like store-bought rotisserie chickens often have.

Are chicken thighs healthy?

You bet they are! Sure, thighs have a bit more fat than breasts, but they absolutely fit into a healthy diet. Plus, that extra fat is what makes them so incredibly juicy and flavorful!

Why should I stuff the chicken cavity?

Great question! Stuffing the cavity with lemon, onion and garlic keeps the chicken moist and gives it amazing flavor from the inside out. The aromatics create steam while cooking, which helps keep everything tender and delicious.

What’s the best oven temperature for crispy skin?

425°F is the sweet spot! This higher temperature gives you that gorgeous golden-brown, crispy skin we all crave. Lower temperatures just won’t get you the same crispy results.

What should I serve with this chicken?

So many delicious options! Try it with garlic mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or a simple green salad. Leftover chicken is amazing in sandwiches, salads, or grain bowls the next day too!

What’s the secret to getting really crispy skin?

The magic is in the prep! Pat the chicken completely dry, let it come to room temperature, and roast it on a wire rack for better air circulation. That high oven temperature of 425°F seals the deal for perfectly crispy skin every time!

Let’s Connect!

I’d love to hear how your crispy roast chicken turned out! Drop a comment below and let me know if you tried any fun variations. Happy cooking, and I hope your family loves this recipe as much as mine does!