Oven-Roasted Whole Chicken with Smoky Spices Recipe
This Oven Roasted Whole Chicken recipe delivers a juicy, tender bird with perfectly crispy skin. Seasoned with a flavorful blend of smoked paprika, thyme, garlic, and onion powders, and roasted to golden perfection, it’s a comforting classic perfect for any family dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes plus 30-60 minutes resting time (optional)
- Cook Time: 70-90 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes to 2 hours
- Yield: Serves 4-6 people 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Whole Chicken
- 1 whole chicken (3–5 lb / 1.3–2.3 kg), giblets removed
- 1 medium onion, peeled and halved
Seasoning Paste
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil (or olive oil, or melted butter)
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Bring Chicken to Room Temperature: Optional but recommended to allow your chicken to rest at room temperature for 30-60 minutes after removing from the refrigerator to reduce steam and achieve crispier skin.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 425ºF (218ºC). Line a 9×13 inch (23×33 cm) baking dish or roasting pan with parchment paper if desired for easier cleanup.
- Prepare the Chicken: Place the whole chicken breast side up on the roasting pan. Remove giblets and pat the skin dry thoroughly with paper towels to ensure crispy skin.
- Stuff the Cavity: Place the halved onion inside the chicken cavity. Optionally add garlic cloves and a cut lemon for extra aroma and flavor.
- Make the Seasoning Paste: Combine avocado oil, salt, smoked paprika, onion powder, thyme, garlic powder, and black pepper in a small bowl. Stir well to form a paste.
- Season the Chicken: Using a pastry brush, generously coat every exposed surface of the chicken with the seasoned oil paste to infuse flavor and assist browning.
- Roast the Chicken: Roast in the preheated oven for 70-90 minutes or until the internal temperature of the thickest parts reaches at least 165ºF (74ºC). Baste the chicken 1-2 times during cooking, avoiding basting in the last 20 minutes to keep skin crisp.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the chicken from the oven and transfer it to a serving platter. Allow it to rest for about 5 minutes to let the juices redistribute.
- Optional Gravy: Save the pan juices if desired to make a homemade gravy following your preferred method.
Notes
- Resting the chicken before roasting helps achieve crispy skin by reducing moisture on the skin surface.
- Basting helps keep the meat moist but avoid basting in the last 20 minutes to maintain crispiness.
- Cooking times vary depending on the size of the chicken—use a meat thermometer to ensure safe internal temperature.
- Adding aromatics like garlic or lemon inside the cavity infuses subtle flavors.
- Use parchment paper to make cleanup easier but it is optional.
Keywords: oven roasted chicken, whole roasted chicken, crispy skin chicken, roasted chicken recipe, easy roast chicken, smoked paprika chicken
