How To Roast Chicken In The Oven That Tastes Delicious

We have really taken to roasting chicken in the oven for dinner.

We love rotisserie chickens but sometimes it is just easier to bake a chicken in the oven than run to the store and them possibly be out of chicken. 

In the recipe below we seasoned the roasted chicken with onion and garlic powder along with rosemary.

We used butter but you could use olive oil if you prefer. We have cooked our chicken both ways and they turn out great either way.

Our daughter has a sensitivity to dairy so if she is coming over for dinner we use olive oil.

If you plan to roast chicken on a regular basis I highly recommend that you invest in a good roasting rack and roasting pan.

We love ours and use them so often.

Why use a roasting rack to roast chicken?

A roasting rack allows air to circulate all around the chicken. This process helps the chicken brown on all sides and it helps it cook evening. 

If you don’t have a roasting rack you could place the chicken directly on the oven rack. Place a large baking pan with sides on the rack directly beneath the chicken.

This pan must be larger than the chicken and it must have sides so that it can contain the juices.

A tip is to put a row of veggies on this pan to absorb the juices as they drip. This will help keep the oven from smoking. 

How to know when roasted chicken is done

The best way to know if a roasted chicken is done is to insert a meat thermometer deep into the breast or thigh of the chicken.

If the temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees it is done.

If you don’t have a meat thermometer you can check if your chicken is done by piercing the skin of the chicken.

If the juices dripping is clear with no signs of pink, cut the chicken. Verify that the chicken meat is fully white without signs of blood or deep pink.

Tips on roasting a chicken

• Season the heck out of your chicken. Don’t be shy about using seasonings and get creative. The reason that those rotisserie chickens taste so yummy is that they go crazy with the seasonings. Our recipe below is delicious to us but that is after tons of experiment. If you love garlic consider adding whole garlic cloves in the cavity. Rub your chicken with minced garlic.
• For a juicy chicken bake it breast side up.
• If you don’t have a roasting rack layer the bottom of your pan with loads of veggies. They will add flavor and aroma but also help your chicken from sticking to the pan.
• It is important that your baked chicken rest prior to eating. Plan ahead so that your chicken can rest for 30 minutes after it comes out of the oven.
• When checking the internal temperature of the chicken place the thermometer deep into the breast or thigh but be cautious not to touch the bone. If your gauge is touching the bone your reading will be inaccurate.

What to serve with roasted chicken?

We love a great main dish but sometimes the real star is the side dish. If nothing else, side dishes really do compliment a meal and make it even better.

These are our favorite sides to serve with roasted chicken. 

• Wild rice
• Cornbread Stuffing
• Glazed Carrots
• Mashed Sweet Potatoes
• Green Beans
• Baked Potatoes