Juicy whole roasted chicken with crispy skin cooked in one pan with tender, flavorful vegetables. This classic Roast Chicken and Vegetables is an exceptionally comforting meal.
I’m not sure if there is anything more comforting than a whole roasted chicken with tender root vegetables tossed with flavorful pan juices. When you’re feeling the need for a little nurturing, this cozy, wholesome meal will do the trick.
This is the recipe you need on a lazy weekend when it’s cold outside. I can’t get through the winter months without including an oven roasted whole chicken on the menu at least a couple of times.
Table of contents
Juicy Roast Chicken with Crispy Skin
To create a whole roasted chicken with beautifully browned, crispy skin, this recipe uses a high heat method for the entire cooking time. The seasoned rub contains a mixture of both butter and oil that works with the high heat to crisp and brown the skin as it roasts, while the interior reaches fork tender perfection.
Ingredient Notes
- Whole chicken – Look for a 4- to 5-pound whole chicken. This size should fit comfortably in a baking dish or roasting pan that is at least 13- x 9-inches.
- Aromatics – For flavorful pan juices, the chicken is stuffed with yellow onion, carrots, and lemon.
- Butter rub – The seasoned butter rub consists of softened butter, olive oil, paprika, kosher salt, onion powder, garlic powder, dried thyme, freshly ground black pepper.
The Best Vegetables for Roast Chicken
- Baby potatoes – Halved. If using larger potatoes, cut them into 2-inch chunks.
- Carrots – Peeled and sliced into 1 ½- to 2-inch chunks
- Yellow onion – Quartered. The chunks of onion will naturally come apart into smaller pieces after roasting.
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Granulated garlic or garlic powder
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
A variety of other vegetables can be roasted with a whole chicken. Parsnips, sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts, bell peppers, and whole garlic cloves are just some of the delicious choices. Instead of baby potatoes, give fingerling potatoes a try. Shallots or pearl onions can be used in place of the yellow onion.
How to Make Whole Roasted Chicken and Vegetables
Season and Marinate the Chicken
- Make the butter rub – Combine the butter, olive oil, and seasonings for the rub in a small bowl.
- Season the chicken – Place the chicken on a sheet of heavy duty foil that is large enough to enclose the chicken. Gently lift the skin on either side of breast and smear a small amount of the rub over each breast.
- Add aromatics – Tuck chunks of onion and lemon inside the cavity.
- Marinate the chicken – Lift up the edges of the foil to completely enclose the chicken. Transfer the foil-wrapped chicken to a baking sheet and refrigerate overnight, or for at least 4 to 6 hours.
Marinating the chicken overnight is optional but will ensure a juicy, flavorful result. The salt in the butter rub helps to break down the proteins in the chicken, similar to brining. If you are short on time, you can roast the chicken immediately after seasoning.
Roast the Chicken and Vegetables
- Prepare the veggies – Drizzle olive oil over the veggies and season with granulated garlic, salt and pepper. Place the marinated chicken in a baking dish and tuck the wings and tie the legs with kitchen twine, if desired.
- Roast – Scatter the veggies around the chicken and transfer the baking dish to the center oven rack. Roast for 1 ½ hours or until the internal temperature reaches a minimum of 165 degrees F or higher and the juices run clear. If the chicken seems to be browning too much, you can tent it lightly with a sheet of foil after the first hour, if needed.
To tuck the wings, slightly lift the chicken and take hold of one of the wings. Pull the wing back towards the neck and then tuck it underneath the body.
- Let it rest – Remove the baking dish from the oven and transfer the chicken to a cutting board. Tent lightly with a sheet of foil and allow it to rest for 10 minutes before carving.
- Finish the veggies – Toss the vegetables with the pan drippings and use a slotted spoon to transfer them to a serving dish. Squeeze the juice from the remaining half of a lemon over the roasted veggies. Season with additional salt and pepper, if desired.
Carving Roasted Chicken
Carving a whole chicken is easier than carving a turkey, but the steps are basically the same. Check out my Herb Roasted Turkey recipe for detailed carving instructions. For more great visual tips on how to carve a chicken, check out Taste of Home.
FAQ and Valerie’s Tips
Rinsing your chicken in your kitchen sink increases the risk of contamination. Instead, just place the chicken on a cutting board or large sheet of foil and blot it dry with paper towels before seasoning.
Absolutely. Use an instant read meat thermometer and roast the chicken until it reaches a safe internal temperature of at least 165 degrees F. before removing the chicken and vegetables from the oven.
To achieve the best browned, crispy skin, I recommend roasting chicken uncovered. If you find it’s browning more than you’d like, lightly tent the chicken with a sheet of foil towards the end of the baking time.
The total roasting time for a whole chicken depends on the weight of the chicken and the oven temperature. For this recipe, it will take 15 to 18 minutes per pound or about 1 ½ hours for a 5 pound chicken at 425 degrees F.
Storing Leftover Cooked Chicken
Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate within 2 hours. If stored properly, cooked chicken will last for 3 to 4 days. For longer storage, cooked chicken should be frozen and used within 2 to 3 months for the best quality.
More Comforting Chicken Recipes
- Oven Baked BBQ Chicken
- Apple Cider Chicken
- Chicken and Sausage Stew with White Beans and Spinach
- Chicken Broccoli Rice Bake
Roast Chicken and Vegetables
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Rub
- 1 tablespoon butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
For the Whole Roasted Chicken
- 4 to 5 pound whole chicken
- 1 small yellow onion, quartered
- 1 lemon, quartered, divided
- fresh herbs for garnish, (like parsley or thyme), optional
For the Vegetables
- 1 pound baby potatoes, halved, (if using larger potatoes, cut into 2-inch chunks)
- 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced into 1 ½- to 2-inch chunks
- 1 yellow onion, quartered
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon granulated garlic or garlic powder
- salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
Prep the Chicken
- Combine the butter, olive oil, and seasonings for the rub in a small bowl and set aside.
- Remove the chicken from the packaging and remove and discard giblets, if needed. Drain any liquid from the cavity and pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Place on a large sheet of heavy duty foil (sheet should be large enough to enclose the chicken).
- Gently lift the skin on either side of breast and smear a small amount of the rub over each breast. Spread the remainder of the rub over all sides of the chicken. Tuck the chunks of onion and 2 quarters of the lemon (refrigerate remaining lemon for later) inside the cavity. Lift up the edges of the foil and enclose the chicken. Use a second sheet of foil if necessary to be sure it is completely enclosed. Transfer to a baking sheet and refrigerate overnight, or for at least 4 to 6 hours (see Notes below).
- When ready to cook, remove the chicken from the refrigerator and let it rest on the kitchen counter for 30 minutes to take the chill off.
- Remove and discard the foil and place the chicken in a roasting pan or large baking dish (13- x 9-inch or slightly larger). Tuck the wings back and under the chicken and tie the legs with kitchen twine, if desired.
For the Vegetables
- Place the potatoes, carrots, and onion in a medium mixing bowl. Drizzle the olive oil over the top and season with granulated garlic, salt and pepper. Toss with a spoon and then scatter the veggies around the chicken in the roasting pan.
- Meanwhile preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Roast the Chicken and Vegetables
- Transfer the roasting pan to the center oven rack and roast for 1 ½ hours or until the internal temperature reaches a minimum of 165 degrees F or higher and the juices run clear. If the chicken seems to be browning too much, you can tent it lightly with a sheet of foil after the first hour, if needed.
- Remove from the oven and transfer the chicken to a cutting board. Tent lightly with a sheet of foil and allow it to rest for 10 minutes before carving.
Finish the Vegetables, Carve, and Serve
- Toss the vegetables with the pan drippings and use a slotted spoon to transfer them to a serving dish. Squeeze the juice from the remaining half of a lemon over the roasted veggies. Season with additional salt and pepper, if desired.
- Remove and discard the aromatics from the cavity of the chicken and carve. Garnish the chicken and veggies with fresh herbs, if desired. Serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home.
Comfort Food Classics
I made this on Sunday, naturally, and it came out fantastic. Crispy skin, flavorful, juicy meat, perfectly cooked taters n’ carrots, and those pan drippings, sublime! The lemon really adds a bright and savory note, it’s going to be part of my chicken program from now on. I wasn’t able to do the overnight thang, but you said it would be OK, and by golly, it was! Thanks, Valerie, for the go-to chicken recipe for the ages!
Well, that’s so great! I love a roast chicken with veggies at this time of year. So glad it worked out well for you, RL!
I love this recipe, easy to make and it’s delicious!!! It’s a crowd pleaser!!!
So happy it’s working out so well for you! Thanks so much for your comment. 🙂