Simple Sustainable Sovereign

Have you ever cooked a whole chicken?

This may sound like a daunting task, especially if you haven’t done it before, but in reality cooking a whole chicken can be very simple. There are many recipes and variations you can try with a whole roasted chicken, and once you have a solid basic recipe to follow it is easy to begin experimenting with different flavors. In this post I will share with you a recipe for oven roasted chicken that is simple, flavorful, and has a multitude of uses.

The Advantage of Cooking the Whole Bird

I prefer to purchase and cook chickens whole rather than in parts for several reasons.

First, buying chickens whole rather than in specific cuts is a great way to save money and stretch your dollar. Whole chickens are generally less expensive per pound than other cuts, and I am typically able to use one chicken in three or four different ways.

Second, cooking a whole chicken saves time, as I don’t have to cook meat each time I am making a meal. If I have pre-cooked chicken meat in the fridge or freezer I can easily pull it out and add it to whatever I am making.

Additionally, roasted whole chickens retain more moisture and flavor than an individual part like chicken breast.

Lastly, when you cook a whole chicken you are left with the chicken carcass, which can be utilized to create delicious, nutritious bone broth.

Ways to Eat a Whole Chicken

There are so many ways to utilize a whole chicken. Obviously you can eat the chicken as a standalone meat paired with one or two sides, such as roasted potatoes and greens, or rice and grilled veggies. I personally prefer chicken to be in something rather than the main dish, so I use it in things like burrito bowls, casseroles, soups, enchiladas, or curries. I like to cook a whole chicken, pull the meat off the bones, shred it, and then use it in whatever recipe I am making. It is generally easy enough to substitute whole cooked chicken meat in recipes that call for specific cuts, like breast or thighs.

After whatever initial meal I make, I usually store the rest of the chicken in the fridge for use later in the week or in the freezer if I know I won’t need it until later on. From there it is easily pulled out and added to soups, mixed with some homemade mayonnaise and turned into chicken salad, smothered in barbecue sauce and served warm on rolls with melted cheddar on top, or used into pasta dishes.

Cooking the whole bird also gives you the opportunity to utilize parts that are not generally available to you when purchasing specific cuts. One way I like to do this is by storing the carcass in a bag in the freezer, along with any veggie scraps, and using it to make bone broth later on.

Things to Know

Sourcing Whole Chickens:

When cooking chicken (or anything really) the quality of the ingredients is a large contributing factor in the taste of the final product. I try to source the highest quality chicken I can within my budget for the best possible result. To me, the ideal is a local, pasture raised, organic chicken. However, this is not always possible. I frequently settle for the organic whole chickens from Costco, because they are affordable and convenient. Occasionally the local health food store will have pasture raised organic chicken on sale and I will take advantage of that, or I might find some at the farmer’s market in the summer. Another source that I occasionally use for chicken is Azure Standard.

Defrosting Frozen Chicken:

You will need your chicken to be fully defrosted before roasting. I recommend removing it from the freezer and placing it in the fridge 2-3 days before you plan to roast it. If you pull a chicken from the freezer the day that you plan to roast it, you can defrost it by placing it in a bowl of cold water and replacing this water every thirty minutes or so. You can also leave the bowl in the sink with the tap on slightly more than a drip, so that the water continues to cycle. This method of defrosting will take several hours, likely anywhere from four to six, depending on the size of your chicken. It is best to plan ahead and defrost the chicken early.

My Roasted Whole Chicken Recipe:

Ingredients & Tools:

• 2 Tbsp. Ghee or Avocado Oil- Either one works, I prefer ghee.
• 4-5 lb Whole Chicken – Preferably organic, pasture raised.
• 6 Cloves of Garlic, peeled and smashed
• 1 Onion peeled and cut in quarters
• Salt
• Pepper
• Optional: Bottom of a Celery Bunch
• Optional: Poultry Seasoning

• Towel or Paper Towel – To dry the chicken. I use my unpaper towels, then rinse them with super hot water and wash after.
• Tongs
• Dutch Over or Roasting Dish & Cast Iron Skillet – I use my Lodge Dutch oven.

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. On the stove, heat ghee or oil in a Dutch oven or large cast iron pan over medium heat.
2. Remove the chicken from its packaging. Check inside the chicken for the giblets¹ and remove if present. Pat the outside of the chicken dry with a towel or paper towel.
3. Stuff the garlic cloves, onion, and celery bottom (if using) in the cavity of the chicken. Rub a generous amount of salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning (if using) all over the outside of the chicken.
4. When the ghee or oil is hot enough that it shimmers, sear the chicken, backside down, for 5 minutes or so, until golden brown and crispy. Rotate, using the tongs, to breast side down and allow to sear for another 5 minutes.
5. Remove the pan from heat. Transfer the bird from the pan to the roasting dish if necessary, or simply leave it in the Dutch oven. Cover and roast, breast side down, in the oven for 1 hour, or until the temperature at the legs reaches 165 degrees.
6. Remove from oven and allow to rest uncovered for 5-10 minutes before slicing to serve. Alternatively, cool the chicken completely before removing all meat from the bones² for later use.
7. Enjoy your whole cooked chicken!

Recipe Notes:

1. I like to freeze the giblets and add them into my bone broth for extra flavor and nutrition. ↩︎
2. Be sure to save your chicken carcass in the freezer to make bone broth later on. ↩︎

Have you ever cooked a whole chicken? What is your favorite way to use it? Leave a comment down below and let me know!

Subscribe for more

Recipe Card

---