While many roast chicken recipes call for an elaborate and lengthy list of herbs, vegetables, and aromatics, we’ve intentionally kept this particular simple roast chicken recipe straightforward and approachable, focusing on just five key core ingredients:

• Whole chicken: Look for a 4- to 5-pound chicken. If your bird happens to be a bit larger or smaller, simply adjust the cooking time accordingly to ensure it’s cooked to perfection. Planning to feed a larger crowd? You can easily roast two chickens side by side for a truly impressive and delicious feast!
• Butter: Unsalted butter is recommended to control the salt content.
• Garlic: Fresh garlic cloves provide a pungent and aromatic flavor.
• Fresh rosemary: The fresh rosemary sprigs add a fragrant, woodsy aroma to the chicken. If you’re fresh out of fresh herbs, dried rosemary will work in a pinch. Just reduce the amount by half since dried herbs are more concentrated.
• Lemon: A lemon is halved to impart a bright, citrusy flavor to the chicken as it roasts.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

As seemingly simple as a roast chicken is to prepare, there are some definite dos and don’ts when it comes to achieving poultry perfection and creating a truly memorable culinary experience:

• DO meticulously dry off the skin of the chicken as thoroughly as humanly possible. Remember, the drier the skin, the crispier and more golden the skin will become as it roasts to perfection.
• DON’T ever skip the crucial step of tying the chicken legs together with kitchen twine. Tying the legs ensures that they stay closer to the body of the chicken, which ultimately guarantees more even and uniform cooking throughout the bird. If you find yourself without kitchen twine, you can cleverly use unflavored (and we repeat, unflavored!) dental floss as a surprisingly effective substitute.
• DO make it a point to baste the chicken every 15 to 20 minutes throughout the roasting process. Basting is the true secret to achieving roast chicken success, so don’t underestimate its importance in building flavor and achieving that perfect skin.
• DON’T carve the chicken immediately after removing it from the oven. Similar to a roast turkey, the roast chicken needs a period of rest to allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat. This essential step ensures that the chicken remains wonderfully moist and tender, delivering a truly exceptional eating experience.

Chef’s Note: You can use any roasting pan, baking dish, or cast iron skillet for this recipe. Just make sure it’s big enough to hold the chicken with some room to collect all those delicious juices, which we’ll be using for basting!

1. Preheat your oven: Set your oven to 450ºF (232ºC) and ensure that your oven rack is positioned in the center of the oven to facilitate even cooking.
2. Prep the chicken: Remove the giblets from the chicken cavity. Trim any excess fat from around the cavity opening. Give your bird a quick rinse under cold water and then dry it thoroughly using paper towels. Place the prepared chicken in your chosen roasting pan.
3. Melt butter in a saucepan: In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Once the butter has completely melted, remove the saucepan from the heat source and immediately add the garlic cloves and rosemary sprigs to the melted butter. Allow the butter to sit and infuse with the garlic and rosemary for approximately 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together beautifully.
4. Stuff and season: Gently pop the garlic cloves and rosemary sprigs inside the chicken cavity, then generously brush the chicken all over with the melted garlic-rosemary butter. Season the chicken liberally with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Don’t be shy with the salt and pepper—season the inside, outside, and even under the skin if you can, as this will ensure that the chicken is seasoned throughout. Add the halved lemon halves to the chicken’s cavity, nestling them amongst the herbs.
5. Tie the legs with kitchen twine: Using kitchen twine, tie the chicken legs together to help the chicken cook evenly. Keep it simple with a basic loop around each leg, then knotted securely in the center.
6. Roast for approximately 1 hour, basting every 15 minutes: Place the chicken in the preheated oven and roast for approximately 1 hour, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the thigh. Be sure to baste the chicken every 15 minutes. Rotate the pan each time you baste to encourage even browning.

Once your chicken is perfectly roasted and beautifully golden brown, it’s time to carve it and reveal its succulent, juicy interior! If you’re seeking a step-by-step guide on how to cut up a whole chicken, you’ll be able to easily carve the cooked bird into perfect portions. The technique remains the same, but remember to be a bit gentler with the knife due to the tenderness of the cooked meat.

Optimal Time and Temperature for Roasting Chicken

Roasting the chicken at a temperature of 450ºF (232ºC) strikes the perfect balance between yielding juicy, tender meat and achieving beautifully crispy skin. To accurately check for doneness, always use a reliable meat thermometer. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165ºF (74ºC) in the thickest part of the breast, away from the bone.

Remember that you’ll have to adjust the cooking time if your chicken is significantly larger or smaller than the suggested 4 to 5 pounds. A general rule of thumb is to estimate approximately 20 minutes of cooking time per pound of chicken. However, it’s always wise to rely primarily on your trusty meat thermometer to ensure that the chicken is thoroughly cooked to a safe and delectable internal temperature.

From classic pairings to more creative culinary creations, here are some of our all-time favorite side dishes that will effortlessly transform this simple roast chicken meal into a well-rounded and health-conscious dinner experience:

• Honey roasted carrots
• Bacon-wrapped asparagus
• Crispy Brussels sprouts
• Buttery dinner rolls (or try pumpkin dinner rolls for a seasonal twist)
• Crispy roasted potatoes
• Mashed sweet potatoes (or go for secret ingredient creamy mashed potatoes!)
• Homemade French fries

Or, sneak some veggies onto your plate with these delicious, kid-friendly veggie tots: cauliflower tots, butternut squash tots or broccoli tots.

One of the very best things about roasting a whole chicken, aside from the delicious main course, is the bounty of tasty leftovers that it provides. Here’s how to make the absolute most of them:

• Storage: Properly store any leftover roast chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days to maintain its freshness and quality. For longer-term storage, you can freeze the chicken in conveniently portioned containers or freezer bags. Be sure to label and date your storage containers, so you can easily keep track of when the chicken was frozen and how long it’s been stored.
• Reheating: To ensure that the chicken remains moist and succulent when reheating, you can gently cover it with aluminum foil before warming it in a 300ºF (149ºC) oven. This helps to prevent the chicken from drying out during the reheating process. If you’re pressed for time, a quick zap in the microwave will also do the trick. Just add a splash of broth or water to the chicken before microwaving to add extra moisture and prevent it from becoming dry.
• Meal prep magic: Leftover roast chicken is incredibly versatile and can be used in a wide variety of exciting dishes. It’s perfect for adding to comforting soups, refreshing salads, delicious sandwiches, heartwarming casseroles, and so much more! Some of our absolute favorites include Chicken Wild Rice Soup, Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad, Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup, and even sheet pan nachos!

More Chicken Recipes to Try