If you need to know how to make Perfect Roast Chicken in the oven, I’ve got you covered!
Perfect Roast Chicken In Oven
This Perfect Roast Chicken recipe has eight ingredients total and is an absolute breeze to make.
Lemon Chicken Garlic
All you need is a whole chicken, garlic, onion, thyme, lemon, salt, pepper, and olive oil.
Chicken Recipes Simple
I often make this easy chicken recipe on Mondays at the start of a busy week because it’s so simple.
You can assemble all of the ingredients in the morning (or night before), then pop the bird into the oven to cook right before dinner.
Leftover Chicken Easy Recipes
After we finish dinner, I pull out my Insta Pot and turn the carcass into Bone Broth, and use the leftover meat to make tacos or Chicken Salad the next night for dinner.
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My favorite part of this whole roast chicken is the leftovers it provides. Roast chicken is the gift that keeps on giving.
Roast Chicken Whole
A couple of nights ago, one of the boys made roast chicken in the oven.
He followed the recipe below but instead of onion used scallions and he replaced the garlic and thyme with ginger. It was one of the best whole roasted chickens I’ve ever had!
Roast Chicken Thighs Recipe
If whole chicken isn’t your thing and you are looking for a roast chicken thighs recipe, check out my fan favorite Spicy Chicken Grilled with Lime.
For a roast chicken breast in oven recipe check out my Baked Chicken in Oven with Mustard and Lime.
Roast Chicken How Long
This roasted chicken recipe takes ninety minutes to cook, the perfect amount of time for the inside to become tender and the skin to get nice and crispy.
Back in the day this was just enough time to get the kitchen cleaned up, do a couple other chores and get the boys started on their homework.
Perfect Roast Chicken in Oven
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken, 2-3 pounds
- celtic sea salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- 1 bunch fresh thyme
- 1 lemon, halved
- 1 in head garlic, cuthalf crosswise
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, quartered
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F
- Remove chicken giblets and rinse chicken inside and out
- Pat chicken dry
- Place chicken in a 9 x 13 inch baking dish
- Liberally salt and pepper inside of chicken
- Stuff cavity with bunch of thyme, both halves of lemon and all garlic
- Brush outside of chicken with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper
- Tie legs together with butcher’s string and tuck wings under body of chicken
- Place each onion quarter into a corner of dish
- Roast chicken for 1½ hours or until juices run clear
- Allow to cool slightly and serve
Roast Chicken Lemon
My version of Perfect Roast Chicken is based upon one from Ina Garten. My favorite thing about it is the lemon which gives it a wonderful tang.
Low-Carb Healthy Dinner
While Ina’s recipe for Perfect Roast Chicken calls for wheat flour, chicken stock, and butter, mine is a tad simpler and a great low-carb dinner that’s healthy!
My boys adore this roasted chicken recipe and I think you will too!
Broccoli with Chicken
One of our favorite dinners of all time is broccoli with chicken.
Use this Perfect Roast Chicken recipe, and serve alongside my recipe for Grilled Broccoli.
Or, try my broccoli that’s oven roasted if you don’t have a grill, or it’s too cold to grill outside.
Bone Broth Insta Pot
Every time I make this healthy chicken recipe I save the carcass and make a big batch of my homemade Bone Broth Insta Pot recipe.
I keep some of the bone broth in the refrigerator, and the rest in the freezer.
I love using the bone broth for snacks and in other dinner recipes throughout the week.
Chicken Recipe Low Carb
Since I’m on a Keto Diet, it’s wonderful to have a chicken recipe that’s low carb.
And the herbs and veggies in this recipe are wonderfully healing which makes this a perfect functional food recipe.
Healthy Functional Food Recipe
First, let’s start with a question. What are functional foods?
According to the Mayo Clinic, a functional food is something that has a potentially positive effect on health beyond caloric nutrition.
Every ingredient in my low-carb chicken recipe is a functional food:
- Chicken -rich in protein, bones full of collagen
- Pepper -antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
- Salt -necessary electrolyte for cellular metabolism
- Thyme -rich in vitamins A and C; fiber, iron, and copper
- Lemon -full of vitamin C, fiber, and beneficial plant compounds
- Garlic -contains antioxidants and antibiotic compounds
- Onion -protective against cancer; lowers blood sugar, LDL cholesterol
- Olive Oil -rich in good fats and full of antioxidants
Good Food Tastes Great and Heals
Some of the ingredients above have extra special properties.
The collagen in chicken bones supports healthy hair, skin, and more, while the compounds found in thyme provide great respiratory support. Good food is healing!
The Best Roast Chicken Vegetable Sides
Now that we’ve got the chicken we need to figure out what to serve it with! Here are the best vegetable sides for roast chicken.
Okra How to Cook
I learned how to cook okra three decades ago during my Yoga & Ayurveda Teacher’s Training.
It seems that okra is a love or hate vegetable, meaning people either love it or hate it. I love it!
If you’re looking for okra on the grill or a recipe for roasted okra, go to my How to Cook Okra post –many readers have left fantastic comments with their okra hacks, along with my wonderful recipe.
Carrot Fries
Carrot Fries are incredible, far healthier than traditional french fries, and they add a fun pop of color to your plate.
When they were little, my boys loved helping prep the carrots into sticks with their junior knives!
Roasted Zucchini in Oven with Cauliflower and Carrots
If you haven’t figured it out by now, we love recipes with Roasted Vegetables.
My Roasted Zucchini with Cauliflower and Carrots is no exception. It’s another pop of fun color with a variety of flavors that will keep your family asking for more.
Tahini Roasted Carrots Oven
These Tahini Roasted Carrots are based on a recipe by the incredible Adeena Sussman.
The salty lemon of the tahini with the lightly sweet carrots makes for a massive wow factor.
Better yet? It’s beautiful served right on the baking sheet saving you an extra platter to clean!
Asparagus Salad with Tomatoes and Basil
Asparagus Salad with Tomatoes and Basil is one of those perfect keto side dish recipes.
Anytime I see a rainbow of vegetables on our plates at dinner I’m a truly happy mom.
Chicken Recipes in Oven
I hope you enjoyed my chicken and roast vegetable recipes.
I love making roasted chicken in the oven because it’s a healthy fast food that everyone loves. What’s your favorite chicken dish? Leave a comment and let me know!
This post is an oldie but goodie from the archives, I first published this Perfect Roast Chicken in Oven recipe in 2011.
Mihaela says
Great recipe for roasted chicken! I’m sure it tastes even better, can’t wait to try it! Thanks for sharing!
Elana says
Thanks Mihaela!
Ellen says
This tasted divine, but smoked up my whole house. Any idea what I could have done differently? I followed the recipe to a T and it was delicious but I nearly killed us all with the smoke! We literally had to eat outside!
Elana says
Ellen, sounds like it’s time to clean the bottom of your oven :-)
Pierre says
Hm…..yummy! Can’t believe such simplicity produces such good taste. I remember all too well the hustle I had to go through garnsihing n then actually baking a whole chicken before this. Cheers mate
Elana says
Pierre, so glad you enjoyed!
Doris says
I just made it and my husband keeps saying that it was soooo delicious. Thank you Elana!
Elana says
You’re welcome Doris!
Alisa says
Hi – I just made this roasted chicken. Got my chicken from our Sunday Market here in sw France. The chicken is local and raised on a farm not far from my house, it was the best roasted chicken I’ve made. Thanks!
Elana says
Alisa, so glad to hear this is the best roast chicken you’ve made!
Katie says
Just made this chicken and it was AMAZING. How could I do two at once for company? Same temperature in the oven with just a little more cooking time?
Our family of 3 just about ate the whole thing, but I’d love to make this when we have people over.
Elana says
Thanks Katie! I haven’t tried that, if you do please let us know how it goes :-)
jennifer_hart says
elana, this roasted chicken is just wonderful! i did follow the suggestions of the the first poster and used butter and lemon in addition to the other ingredients. This is my new favorite recipe!
Elana says
Jennifer, so glad to hear this is your new favorite recipe!
bob says
I have tried roasting a whole chicken a few times with varying degrees of success. I tried this recipe tonight, and it was so simple and delicious! I will definitely be using this recipe again! Thanks Elana!
Tomorrow – roast chicken stock =)
Elana says
You’re welcome Bob!
agnesgordon says
Love all your recipes.
Elana says
Thanks Agnes!
The Omnivore says
This was wonderful! I served it with some homemade garlic aioli and the carcass is in my freezer waiting to be turned into stock!