Classic Roasted Chicken (EASY!!) (2024)

This is the best crispy roast chicken recipe. The skin is perfectly crisp and crackly, there’s no basting, and it results in a lovely pan gravy at the finish. Easy enough for a weeknight dinner!

I have many other easy chicken recipes in the oven on this site, like my oven baked chicken breasts and air fryer chicken thighs. But this super simple roast chicken recipe is the one that I make the most often. It’s fuss free, a crowd pleaser, and if you happen to have any leftovers, they’re great for making White Chicken Chili, Chicken Soup or Sesame Noodles.

Roasting a whole chicken has always been a bit of a feat for me. It’s one of those classic dishes that everyone has to make at least once I think. I finally found a recipe that I will repeat over and over again!

It’s so easy just to go to your grocery store and pick up a rotisserie chicken that’s cooked and hot and ready for you. However, it’s much more fulfilling to make one on your own. To get just the right crispy skin, brown color and drippings to create a yummy pan gravy!

Yep – The pan gravy is where it’s at with this easy roasted chicken recipe!

I’ve tried several recipes for roasted chicken in the past. One called for using baking bags from Reynolds. That was a bit of a failure. The skin never got crispy and the color was just not there. Others called for stuffing lemons inside of the chicken and roasting with vegetables. Again, not quite what I was looking for. The chicken was somehow dry and the skin not crispy.

This easy roasted chickenrecipe starts your chicken off at a high temperature (450 degrees). Pop the chicken into the scorching hot oven andthen immediately turn theheat down to 375 degrees for the duration of the roasting time. That high heat at the outset is what makes this the best roast chicken recipe and gives it that great, crackly skin.

And, by not stuffing the bird, or roasting with veggies, you cut down on any added moisture in the oven, providing that perfect environment to keep the skin dry and crispy. Because you’re roasting the chicken with no added accompaniments, you’ve got the base for great, quick chicken gravy at the end.

Or, try one of these 15+ delicious sauces for roasted chicken.

🍗 How To Prepare a Chicken for Roasting

• Rinse the chicken and be sure to remove any giblets, etc. from the cavity.
• Season by using a spice rub under and over the skin. Use your index finger to gently separate the skin from the meat and rub some spices in there to be sure you are not only flavoring the skin, but also the meat.
• Truss. This isa great resource for learning how tie up a chicken. However, if you don’t have kitchen twine on hand, feel free to skip this step.

📋 How to Make Crispy Roasted Chicken

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
2. Rinse and pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
3. Rub spice mix under the skin and on the outside of your chicken.

4. Tie up the chicken legs and wings using kitchen twine.

   • Here’s a great resource for learning how truss a chicken. However, if you don’t have kitchen twine on hand, feel free to skip this step.

5. Place in your preheated oven and immediately reduce the heat to 375 degrees.

🕕 How Long To Roast a Chicken

• Roast chicken cooking times will depend on the weight. Roast for approximately 20 minutes per pound.

🌡 How To Check if it’s Done

Place an instant read thermometer in the thickest part of the breast, being careful not to touch the bone. A roast chicken internal temperature should register at 165-degrees.

If you don’t have a meat thermometer, you can check if the chicken is done by piercing the meat with a knife – if the juices run clear, it is done. If they are pink, continue cooking. You can also cook into the chicken when the meat is the thickest. It should not be pink inside.

• Don’t have a meat thermometer yet? This is my favorite meat thermometer, and it’s under $15!

🥄 How to Make Gravy from Pan Drippings

The gravy couldn’t be simpler, and it cooks in just the right amount of time to let the roast chicken cool on your cutting board for a bit to let the juices redistribute.

1. Place that cast iron skillet with the pan drippings over a burner set to medium-high heat.
2. Add in some white wine (or dry vermouth) for amazing flavor.
3. Make a slurry of cornstarch and water by shaking them up together in a small jar.
4. Add the slurry to the pan and let it all cook together for a minute or two, until it thickens up.
5. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

🔪 How to Carve a Roasted Chicken

1. Let the roast chicken rest for at least 15 minutes before carving. This allows the juices redistribute in the meat, meaning they won’t go all over your cutting board when you carve into it.
2. Pull the legs slightly away from the rest of the bird and carefully slice through the leg meat and skin, removing the leg and thigh from the rest of the body. (Here is a handy step-by-step with photos.)
3. Slice the breast meat from one side of the center breastbone at the front of the breast cavity. Move your knife from the front to the back of the chicken while simultaneously pulling the breast meat away from the bone. Repeat with the remaining breast.
4. Be sure to save the bones from your roasted chicken to make a simple, nutritious bone broth with the help of your slow cooker or instant pot!

✔️ How to Store

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. You can also freeze the chicken for up to three months.

✔️ How to Reheat Roasted Chicken

• Oven: Heat oven to 350-degrees (convection preferred). Place chicken in oven safe baking dish and add 1 cup chicken broth or water. Cover with foil and bake 25 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking 5 minutes to crisp the skin.
• Air Fryer: Heat air fryer to 350-degrees. Add chicken to basket and cook 4-5 minutes until heated through.

ℹ️ FAQ

What herbs & spices go best with roast chicken?

Feel free to stray from the recipe below and use your favorite seasonings. Here are some spices that are great with chicken:

• Paprika
• Cumin
• Rosemary
• Chili Powder
• Garlic Powder
• Onion Powder
• Oregano
• Basil
• Turmeric (careful – it stains)

Or, try using my homemade Italian seasoning, chili seasoning, or cajun seasoning.

🥄 Sauces for Roast Chicken

• Aji Amarillo
• Onion Gravy
• Red Wine Jus
• Peruvian Green Sauce
• Cilantro Lime Sauce
• Lemon Butter Sauce
• Chimichurri Sauce
• More → 15+ simple sauces for roasted chicken

🍷 Wine Pairings

• A Viognier or unoaked Chardonnay would pair nicely with this dish.
• If you would like to go the red route, I’d suggest a Pinot Noir, or other light bodied red. Avoid hard, oaky tannic reds and they can overwhelm the delicate flavors of the chicken.
• MORE —> the 8 BEST chicken wine pairings

🍽 What to Serve With It

• Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream
• Simple Sauteed Spinach
• Glazed Carrots
• Roasted Sunchokes
• Vinegar Slaw
• Easy Roasted Sweet Potatoes
• Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
• Brussel Sprouts with Balsamic
• Miso Cauliflower
• Sweet Potatoes in the Instant Pot
• Click here for MORE 🌟45+ sides for roasted chicken🌟

More Easy Chicken Recipes

• Peruvian Grilled Chicken with Creamy Green Sauce
• Instant Pot Chicken Breasts (+Gravy)
• Air Fryer Drumsticks
• Tortilla Crusted Chicken
• Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
• Air Fryer Chicken Breasts

Did you try this crispy roast chicken recipe?

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Be sure to save that chicken carcass to make this leftover chicken soup or Instant Pot bone broth! Or, check out these 30+ recipes that use leftover roasted chicken.

This recipe was originally published in January 2018. It was updated in November 2022 to update the content. The original roasted chicken recipe remains the same. Enjoy!