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Cupcakes and Cutlery

Easy Cocktails and Recipes | Mom Life and Style | Orange County Blogger

How to Roast a Whole Chicken Without Getting Grossed Out

January 7, 2014 By Sharon Garofalow 6 Comments

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When I finally learned to cook a whole chicken, my meal planning really leveled up!

It is possible to learn how to roast a whole chicken without getting grossed out. 

The meat is tender and delicious, plus you end up with enough chicken for about 3 meals! 

I resisted the idea of cleaning a whole chicken for years! So if you’re afraid, let me help you!

how to clean a whole chicken so you can roast it.

Some links in this post may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, I earn from qualifying purchases by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. I also participate in affiliate programs for other retailers. 

Updated December 2019.

How to Roast a Whole Chicken

My mom always told me that I should bake a whole chicken for an easy dinner idea.

But it felt too grown up/soccer mom. And also sounded super grody due to the fact that you basically have to get to 3rd base with a chicken. 

My mom finally talked me into learning how to cook a whole chicken when I was working on keeping my grocery budget down a few years ago. 

I can’t believe it took me so long to learn to make this!  You really need to do this. 

Why Cook a Whole Chicken in the Oven

how to make the perfect roast chicken. I make a few at a time to have chicken for a few meals!

If you wait until they’re on sale, roasting a whole chicken can be a super inexpensive dinner idea.

I know when I see the ads and a whole bird is $0.80 cents a pound, that is a great sale and you want to pick up a few of them.

You can see from the package the one on the right says the total cost is $3.25.  Just think of how much you pay for a package of chicken breast fillets!

And I say pick up a few of them because since you are going to be roasting something in the oven for an entire afternoon, it makes sense to make more than one at a time and make twice as much meat without hardly any extra work.

I always do at least two at once so I’m left with enough chicken for 3 meals! 

It’s a great thing to add to your meal plan so that you can cut out some of the cooking at least one night.

Plus the meat is super moist and delicious. It’s a pretty forgiving recipe so it’s hard to do it wrong (thank goodness). 

You can buy whole chickens year-round in your meat department at your local grocery. 

How to Clean a Whole Chicken

Don't be afraid to cook a whole chicken! It's easier than you think!So yes. It is gross. And the very first time my mom had me clean a whole chicken I was super squeamish. 

But it does get easier. 

Clean the chickens, focusing on one at a time.

I’m a super stickler for germs and such (I’m all about risk management, people) so I probably go a little overboard with my process.

Make sure you have any dishes and sponges out of both sides of the sink and clean the sink before you begin (you’ll do it again when you’re done).

Put one plastic grocery bag inside another one and put it in one side of the sink. This is where you will discard grody bird parts to.

Use kitchen shears to cut open one of the whole chickens.

This is the only thing you will use the shears for but I love that you can easily put them right into the dishwasher to ensure that they get cleaned and sanitized.

I guess you could wear gloves, but you will still feel squishy things through them…

I swear by my kitchen shears and use them from everything to opening food packages to cutting pizza and bacon. I even use them to cut Brussels sprouts smaller before I roast them. 

Yes, it's gross for a second but you CAN cook a whole chicken! Ok, so here we go.

To stick your hand all up in there feels a little bit like jumping into a pool that you know is going to be ice-cold. 

You know you are going to do it, but it isn’t going to be entirely pleasant, but then it will get better and then you will be done. 

Take a big deep breath and stick your hand in the cavity. 

Grab a handful and immediately stop thinking about it. Don’t think. Sing a song. Really loud.

Create an out-of-body experience and go watch some Real Housewives in your head. Do anything but think about what you are touching. 

This is how you won’t get grossed out. 

Take that handful and throw it in the grocery bag you have in your since. And don’t look at it again. 

Repeat until you have everything out of the bird. 

It really isn’t that bad. But trust me, I was right there with you a few years ago.

After you think you have all the big stuff out, take your hand and sort of sweet it around the inside to see if you come across smaller stuff that you think needs to come out. 

Roast the perfect chicken! It's a great weekend meal prep idea!Once you think you have most of the “stuff” out, give the cavity a rinse. 

There is stuff that comes streaming out that isn’t gorgeous. Continue your deep breaths and non-thinking. 

So after about five minutes of mild discomfort, you are finished cleaning.

You NEED to make roast chicken! This is the perfect method for cooking once and having a ton of chicken for several meals! Yeah!!!!  Whole chickens are fun!

How to Cook a Whole Chicken in the Oven

Pacifico beer, lime and chicken stock make for the most delicious roast whole chicken.

This is my normal, untrained person’s way of preparing and making roasted chicken. Because that is what I am. 

Just a gal who cooks for her family. No special training needed.

Well, I mean, probably a little bit more training would help but whose got time for that?

Ingredients

  • 1 – 2 Whole Chickens, cleaned
  • 2 cups Chicken Stock
  • 1 onion, quartered
  • 1 lemon, quartered
  • Extra flavoring ideas are herbs, spices, butter, beer

The basic recipe for roasting a whole chicken, at least according to my mom, is chicken stock, maybe some lemon and maybe some cut up onions. 

At the very least, you need a few cans of chicken broth with the other things just being flavor agents. 

But I came across this recipe for using a Mexican beer and lime (one for you, one for the bird) that I modified a little bit. 

YOU GUYS! 

The house smelled freaking ridiculous while these chickens were roasting.

And while the meat was flavorful, it didn’t make it taste so much that you would be unable to use the chicken in other kinds of dishes that were not of the Mexican variety. 

Because that is the point of cooking whole chickens.

You get a meal the night you cook them, but then with the leftovers, you can eat the chicken plain or work it into other recipes. 

So versatile.

Beer adds a wonderful flavor to your roast chicken dinner.

Directions

Preheat your oven to 325°F.

You want to put the chicken, breasts down, in a roasting pan. I used to have the hardest time knowing which side had the breasts. 

But you can tell from the picture above that if you look at them more like a person than a bird, you understand where things are. See their elbows? 

I mean, their wings look just like arms. And their legs look just like, well, legs. So butts up, breasts down. 

While I mixed beer and chicken stock when I photographed this, the included recipe is just the basic chicken stock version since that is what I make the most.   

roasting whole chickens with lime juice an chicken stock keeps them flavorful and moist. Don't forget the paprika!Add whatever spices you are using, salt and pepper, paprika, whatever feels good. 

If using lemons and onions, just place them in, on around the bird.

I like to squeeze out the juice on the bird and leave the rest to give off whatever flavor it still might have. 

You will want to baste the chickens every half an hour or so throughout the cooking process to keep it moist. 

It is not as tedious as it sounds. I am a super lazy cook and I was even ok with this step.  

How Long to Roast a Chickenpan-of-roasted-chickens

Roast the whole chicken in a 325-degree oven for about 3 1/2 – 4 hours. What? Are you crazy? No. Do it. 

I try to do these on a Sunday afternoon when we are being lazy at home. But you could easily put them in right after you get home from school pick up. 

The slow cooking at a low-ish temperature helps them to stay really moist (and I’ve never had a problem with the leftovers being dry either). 

If the birds start to get a little too brown for your taste, just tent them with foil. I’m not a chicken skin fan so I kind of just ignore it since I’m just going to remove it anyway.

pull-chicken-from-the-boneOnce they have cooled a bit, remove as much of the meet as possible. I discard the rest.

I know others keep the bones to create their own homemade chicken stock.

But I just don’t think I would use it that often. And then I’d have to store it. It’s a whole thing. 

I grab whatever chicken I’m serving for dinner and then portion the rest of the chicken into freezer bags in meal-sized portions. 

It makes it super easy to grab one to thaw out the night before I need it. 

Printable Roasted Chicken Recipe

Continue to Content
Yield: 4 servings

How to Roast a Whole Chicken

how to cook roast chicken in the oven

Once you learn how to roast a whole chicken you will wonder why it took you so long to try it! The flavor is delicious and you can make 2 at once and end up with meat to use for future easy dinners!

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 50 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 - 2 Whole Chicken, cleaned
  • 2 cups Chicken Stock
  • 1 onion, quartered 
  • 1 lemon, quartered
  • Extra flavoring ideas are herbs, spices, butter, beer

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F.
  2. Place the cleaned chicken breast side down in a roasting pan. (Spraying with oil isn't a bad idea).
  3. Add a cup or so of chicken stock to the pan.
  4. Season your bird with whatever spices you want, at the very least consider salt and pepper.
  5. If using, cut up lemons and onions and place in pan around the bird in the pan.
  6. Repeat with more stock every half hour or so, basting the top of the bird with a little liquid each time. 
  7. Place in the oven and roast at 325°F. total roasting time should be about 3.5-4 hours. A meat thermometer should read 180°F.
  8. Tent the outside with foil if the chicken is getting a little bit too brown.
  9. I like to remove the meat from the bird as soon as it is cool enough to handle.
  10. If eating a portion that night, I serve it as is with a veggie and starch.
  11. Whatever is leftover, I will portion into freezer bags and freeze so I can have cooked chicken ready for future meals. 

Notes

I always wait for whole chicken to be on sale for around .80 cents a pound before buying. And I always buy at least 2 to make at once since you are going to be cooking for hours.

I noted the servings as 4 since one bird can more than adequately feed my family of 4. If I make 2 chickens, I can usually get enough chicken for at least 3 meals for my family.

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 873Total Fat 45gSaturated Fat 13gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 27gCholesterol 275mgSodium 486mgCarbohydrates 27gFiber 2gSugar 21gProtein 86g

Nutrition information isn't always accurate.

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© Sharon Garofalow
Cuisine: American / Category: Recipes
how to cook a whole chickenI really feel like I was missing out by not knowing how to roast a whole chicken. 

I promise you the chicken cleaning part is not as bad as you think it is and will be done super fast. 

And then you have all this tasty chicken. Best. Thing. Ever.

More Easy Chicken Recipes

  • Crunchy Chipotle Lime Chicken – This quick recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners! 
  • Chicken Eden Isle – My all-time favorite chicken dish that you have probably never had before.
  • Simple Chicken Stir Fry – A go-to recipe that the whole family loves.

Pin How to Cook Roast Chicken for Later

a whole roasted chicken

No you know how to roast a whole chicken and get enough meat to use for multiple meals! 

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About Sharon Garofalow

Sharon lives in Southern California with her adorable family. She loves to share ideas to make mom life easier and encourage busy gals to make time for themselves too! Sharon's "me" time often includes watching Hallmark Channel movies, sipping sauvignon blanc, trying not to eat Salt and Pepper potato chips, and planning girlfriend getaways.

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Comments

  1. RubyDW says

    January 10, 2014 at 8:02 pm

    Love that you used Pacifico beer and limes! Nice I will have to try that!

    Reply
    • Sharon Garofalow says

      January 12, 2014 at 11:43 am

      Yes, try it! The house smelled SO good. But it kind of made me want to drink the beer all day too. ;)

      Reply
  2. Melissa Burton says

    January 9, 2014 at 8:40 am

    Good to know I’m not the only one who is adverse to cleaning and cooking whole chickens!

    Love the Mexican beer option (we love us some beer can chicken in our house). Beer boiled lobster is also amazing (the cheaper the beer the better).

    Reply
    • Sharon Garofalow says

      January 9, 2014 at 8:42 am

      Oh man! That lobster sounds amazing!!!

      Reply
  3. lyndsey says

    January 7, 2014 at 10:46 am

    um, this is the greatest post on the planet. not only did i totally LOL while reading, but i actually feel inspired to try cooking a whole chicken — something i, too, have not experienced as an adult. sharon, you’re the best.

    Reply
    • Sharon Garofalow says

      January 9, 2014 at 8:43 am

      I’m so glad I made you laugh. :) You should totally try it! It is awesome. But it will take a few times to feel comfortable with it.

      Reply

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Based in Southern California, I am the mom to two amazing boys and married to the raddest man in all the land. Cupcakes and Cutlery is your resource for simple solutions to help you be an awesome wife and mother and not lose yourself in the process. Email me at [email protected]! MORE ABOUT SHARON

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