This is going to be the best Roast Chicken you’ve ever made, and your family is going to go crazy for it! The perfect blend of herbs and spices, the crispy skin, and the tender, juicy chicken will have everyone asking for seconds, or even thirds. Don’t want to turn the oven on today? Make your whole chicken in the Instant Pot instead! For a smaller chicken, this recipe for Air Fryer Whole Chicken is quick and easy too.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Key Ingredients
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Chicken: This recipe is meant for a 3-4 pound whole chicken. You can use it to make a larger bird, but keep in mind that you will need a bit of extra time to get it cooked fully. Fresh Herbs: Chop up fresh parsley and thyme finely to add to the butter. You’ll also need a whole sprig of thyme to add into the cavity for tons of flavor in the meat. Garlic: I use three whole cloves of fresh garlic, finely minced, for this recipe. I don’t often use pre-made, jarred minced garlic, but if that’s what you have you can certainly use it here. Onion: One whole onion, peeled and cut in half goes into the cavity of the chicken along with a sprig of thyme. Salt, Pepper, and Olive Oil: Basic kitchen ingredients add the final touches needed to make the perfect roast chicken.
How to Make A Roast Chicken with Garlic Herb Butter
Before you start: If you have the time, I highly recommend brining the chicken first. This will make the meat juicier and give it additional flavor. Use my easy chicken brine recipe! If you don’t have the time, you can still make this roast chicken without brining. Check out my tutorial on how to carve a chicken!
How Long to Roast a Chicken?
A 3-4 pound chicken should be done after an hour to an hour and a half in the oven using this method, but a larger one may take longer. The general rule is that it takes 15 minutes per pound of chicken, but you should always go by the temperature of the meat to be sure that it’s done. The safe cooking temperature for chicken is 165°F/74°C.
Success Tips
Two Oven Temperatures. You’ll notice that we start cooking the chicken at a higher temperature and then lower the temp for the remainder of the cooking time. This trick helps to create crispy chicken skin and allows you to slowly roast the chicken too. It’s a win-win. Cooking the whole time at a high temp would give you dried out meat, and cooking only at the lower temp would leave you with soggy chicken skin. Brine if you can. The difference between a roast chicken that has been brined first and one that hasn’t is subtle, but also very noticeable. Nobody will know if you don’t brine the chicken, but they will definitely comment on how delicious it is if you do. Use a Thermometer. A simple instant-read meat thermometer is the best way to be certain that you’ve cooked your roast chicken to a safe temperature. If you’re not sure how to use it, I wrote a guide on how to use a kitchen thermometer that you might find useful.Don’t Baste Too Much. Start basting the chicken after it’s been in the oven for 40 minutes or so, but you only need to baste 2-4 times. If you baste more than that you risk making the process take longer, since opening the oven can cause the temperature to drop. Let it Rest. You will want to slice into this chicken right away because it smells so good, but please be patient. Allowing your roast chicken to rest for 15-20 minutes gives the juices time to redistribute, resulting in perfectly tender and juicy chicken.
What to Serve with Garlic Herb Butter Roast Chicken
This delicious and simply seasoned chicken recipe pairs well with just about any of your favorite side dishes. Make it simple by serving with a Homemade Caesar Salad and Air Fryer Tater Tots. For a full comfort food experience, add sides of Crockpot Mashed Potatoes or Boursin Mashed Potatoes and Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots. Eating Healthy? Enjoy roast chicken with a Kale Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette, Strawberry Spinach Salad, or some Healthy Red Cabbage Slaw. For sauce, try this delicious Horseradish Sauce, or serve it with Homemade Ranch.
Need More delicious chicken recipes? Try making stuffed cornish hens for your next dinner party, or serve marry me chicken, it’s everyone’s favorite! Enjoy this new and improved, perfectly roasted chicken recipe! Be sure to pin it, you’ll definitely need to find it again next time. © Little Sunny Kitchen
