Roast chicken is an all-time classic meal that can suit pretty much every occasion, from a quick weeknight dinner to an outdoor cookout party to a special celebration. Even when it is a common dish, ending up with an undercooked or overcooked, dry chicken can happen anytime. However, we’ve found some very simple tips that will help you cook a moist and juicy roast chicken every time. This way, you will make every dinner night one to remember.
Seasoning is one of the most important parts of the process, and the majority of rotisserie chickens have that blast of flavor because of the seasoning they use on the meat. If you want to start with a basic but tasty seasoning, try finding the right balance between salt and cracked black pepper. Yet, if you feel like trying something more adventurous and unique, don’t be afraid of using oregano, thyme, rosemary, smoked paprika, truffle salt, cumin, or any other herbs and spices you want to try.
In order to enjoy a crispy and juicy roast chicken, we should consider adding fat to the mix. Whether we want to use a butter blend or olive oil, for example, slathering our chicken with it will result in a crispy crust. Also, don’t forget to add a layer of butter or oil under the skin of the breasts and legs to get the best results while still giving us a moist and juicy inside.
Vegetables can play an important role when cooking roast chicken, and we shouldn’t leave them aside. Before getting the bird in the oven, stuff it with fresh veggies and herbs in order to give the meat a unique flavor. Also, try to make a roasting surface under the chicken so that it doesn’t stick to the pan or cooking tray. This roasting veggie bed will also permeate the chicken with additional flavors, resulting in a delicious recipe that can be easily personalized.
One of the key elements of getting a crispy and juicy roast chicken is finding the best oven temperature. More often than we think, cooking at the wrong temperature will result in dry or undercooked chicken, so we must pay a lot of attention to this part. The ideal temperature for cooking roast chicken is 425°, and occasionally basting the chicken while it’s cooking will help us get even better results. Just remember to take the chicken out of the fridge around 30 minutes before cooking so that it cooks evenly.
Along with temperature, cooking time will ensure we get a moist and juicy chicken on the inside while still being crispy on the inside. The right cooking time will depend on the size of the chicken but giving 15 minutes per pound tends to be the rule of thumb.