This is the best crispy roast chicken recipe. The skin is perfectly crackly and crisp, and there’s no basting. At the end, there’s a lovely pan gravy. Easy enough for a weeknight dinner!.
This site has a lot of other easy chicken recipes that you can bake, like my air fryer chicken thighs and oven baked chicken breasts. But this super simple roast chicken recipe is the one that I make the most often. It doesn’t take much work and everyone loves it. If you have any leftovers, you can use them to make White Chicken Chili, Chicken Soup, or Sesame Noodles.
Roasting a whole chicken has always been a bit of a feat for me. It’s one of those classic dishes that everyone has to make at least once I think. I finally found a recipe that I will repeat over and over again!
It’s so easy just to go to your grocery store and pick up a rotisserie chicken that’s cooked and hot and ready for you. However, it’s much more fulfilling to make one on your own. To get just the right crispy skin, brown color and drippings to create a yummy pan gravy!
I’ve tried several recipes for roasted chicken in the past. One called for using baking bags from Reynolds. That was a bit of a failure. The skin never got crispy and the color was just not there. Others called for stuffing lemons inside of the chicken and roasting with vegetables. Again, not quite what I was looking for. The chicken was somehow dry and the skin not crispy.
This easy roasted chicken recipe starts your chicken off at a high temperature (450 degrees). Pop the chicken into the scorching hot oven and then immediately turn the heat down to 375 degrees for the duration of the roasting time. That high heat at the outset is what makes this the best roast chicken recipe and gives it that great, crackly skin.
And, by not stuffing the bird, or roasting with veggies, you cut down on any added moisture in the oven, providing that perfect environment to keep the skin dry and crispy. Because you’re roasting the chicken with no added accompaniments, you’ve got the base for great, quick chicken gravy at the end.
Roasting a juicy, flavorful chicken in the oven is a satisfying culinary skill. When done right, it results in golden, crispy skin enveloping tender, moist meat infused with herbs and spices. But to achieve chicken perfection, proper timing is key. So how long does it take to roast a chicken at 375 degrees Fahrenheit? Let’s dive into the details.
Factors That Affect Roasting Time
Several variables impact the roasting duration needed for chicken at 375°F
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Chicken weight – Heavier chickens take longer. A good rule of thumb is approximately 15-20 minutes per pound. A 3-4 lb bird may need 60-80 minutes while a 5-6 lb one could require 90-120 minutes.
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Oven accuracy – Inconsistent oven temperatures increase/decrease cooking time. Use an oven thermometer to verify the actual temp.
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Frozen vs thawed – Fully thawing the chicken prevents uneven cooking from a partially frozen bird. Defrost in the fridge 1-2 days before roasting.
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Bone-in vs boneless – Boneless pieces cook faster than bone-in. Watch the temp of dark meat which takes longer than white.
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Stuffing – A stuffed chicken needs more time to cook the interior ingredients to a safe temperature.
Step-by-Step Roasting Method
Follow these steps for foolproof 375°F roasted chicken:
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Prep – Rinse chicken, remove giblets, pat dry. Truss legs and tuck wings. Rub skin with oil or butter.
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Season: Season the inside and outside of the chicken generously with salt, pepper, and herbs like sage, rosemary, thyme, or rosemary. Stuff lemon wedges inside for moisture and flavor.
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Roast: Put the chicken in a roasting pan with the breast side facing up on a rack. Roast at 375°F, basting periodically with pan juices.
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Check temp – Insert a meat thermometer in thickest part of thigh, avoiding bone. Chicken is done at 165°F. If browning too fast, tent with foil.
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Rest – Let chicken rest 10-15 minutes before carving for juicier meat.
Estimated Roasting Times
Here are estimated roasting durations based on chicken weight:
- 3-4 lb chicken: 60-80 minutes
- 4-5 lb chicken: 75-90 minutes
- 5-6 lb chicken: 90-120 minutes
Always verify doneness by thermometer, not just time.
How to Keep Chicken Juicy
For moist, flavorful meat, consider these tips:
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Brine – Soak chicken in a saltwater brine before roasting.
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Baste – Frequently baste chicken with pan juices, broth or melted butter.
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Don’t overcook – Use a meat thermometer and stop roasting at 165°F.
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Rest – Let chicken rest at least 10 minutes before carving so juices redistribute.
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Spatchcock – Roast flattened butterflied chicken which promotes even cooking.
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Use a rack – Elevate chicken off the pan so air circulates for crispy skin.
Common Roasting Problems and Solutions
Here are some troubleshooting tips for common issues:
Undercooked Chicken – Return to oven and continue roasting until 165°F internal temperature is reached. Use a thermometer to verify doneness.
Overcooked, Dry Chicken – Avoid by not overcooking and monitoring temp. Brining helps. Tent with foil if browning too quickly.
Soggy Skin – Pat chicken dry before seasoning. Roast at higher temp like 400°F for the last 15 minutes.
Uneven Cooking – Use meat thermometer in a couple spots to check. Rotate pan halfway through. Spatchcock chicken.
Burnt Spots – If some areas brown too quickly, loosely tent with foil to prevent burning.
Serving Suggestions
Roast chicken pairs nicely with:
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Roasted vegetables – potatoes, carrots, Brussels sprouts
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Rice pilaf or roasted new potatoes
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Garden, Caesar or kale salad
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Dinner rolls or biscuits
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Pasta tossed with pesto or olive oil
Leftovers are great for chicken salad sandwiches, wraps, soup, casseroles and more!
The Takeaway
When roasted at 375°F, a whole chicken generally needs between 60-120 minutes to cook through, depending on size. For safety and ideal texture, use a meat thermometer to verify an internal temperature of 165°F. Allowing the chicken to rest before carving and employing additional moisture-boosting techniques will result in a tender, juicy roast chicken that makes a spectacular centerpiece for your next meal.
How to Make Crispy Roasted Chicken
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
- Rinse and pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
- Put spice mix on the outside and under the skin of your chicken.
- Tie up the chicken legs and wings using kitchen twine. Here’s a great resource for learning how truss a chicken. You can skip this step, though, if you don’t have kitchen twine on hand.
- Put in an oven that has already been heated up, and then lower the heat right away to 375 degrees.
How to Carve a Roasted Chicken
- Rest the chicken for at least 15 minutes before cutting it up. So the juices don’t run all over your cutting board when you cut into the meat, this lets them redistribute.
- Move the legs away from the body a little and carefully cut through the meat and skin of the legs to separate the leg and thigh from the body. (Here is a handy step-by-step with photos. ).
- Cut the breast meat from one side of the middle breastbone in the front of the breast cavity. Cut the chicken from the front to the back with your knife while pulling the breast meat away from the bone. Repeat with the remaining breast.
- Don’t throw away the bones from your roasted chicken. You can use them to make a simple, healthy bone broth in your slow cooker or instant pot.
How long does it take chicken to bake at 375?
FAQ
Is 375 a good temperature for roasting chicken?
Of course, it’s ok, roasting your whole chicken at 375°F is recommended since this oven temperature makes the chicken cook a little bit slowly, resulting in juicy and tender meat without drying it. Should you roast a chicken at 350 degrees or 375 degrees? Both 350 degrees and 375 degrees are good and should be used.
How long to cook a whole chicken at 375 degrees?
Baking a whole chicken in the oven at 375 degrees takes about 25-30 minutes per pound. For example, a 3-pound chicken would take approximately 75-120 minutes (2 * 25-30 minutes) to cook at 375°F. Is It Ok To Bake Whole Chicken At 375 Degrees?.
What temperature do you cook chicken in the oven?
Warm the oven up to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and make sure it stays that way before you put the chicken in it. This will help the chicken cook evenly and keep its juices, making the finished product moist and tasty. Once the oven is at the optimal temperature, it’s time to determine the cooking time.
How long does it take to cook a chicken in the oven?
The cooking time largely depends on both the weight of the bird and the temperature at which you are roasting it. For roasting a chicken at 375°F, the general rule of thumb is about 20 minutes per pound. So, for a 6.5 lb chicken, you’d be looking at approximately 2 to 2.5 hours in the oven.
How long do you cook chicken in a roasting pan?
Spread around the bottom of the roasting pan and place the chicken on top. Roast the chicken for about 2 hours 5 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes, or until the juices run clear when you cut between a leg and thigh. Remember, these are estimates and actual cooking times can vary.
How long does it take to cook a whole chicken?
Once the oven is at the optimal temperature, it’s time to determine the cooking time. As a general rule of thumb, a whole chicken weighing around 4-5 pounds should be roasted at 375 degrees for approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. However, it’s essential to use a meat thermometer to accurately gauge doneness.
How long do you roast chicken at 375 degrees?
To Roast the Chicken: Pre-heat the oven to 375°F and cook the chicken for 40-45 minutes.Jan 31, 2025
How long should I bake chicken on 375?
Here’s the shortest answer we can give you: Large boneless, skinless chicken breasts: 20 to 30 minutes in a 375 degrees F oven. Large bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts: 35 to 40 minutes in a 375 degrees F oven.Jan 21, 2025
How long does it take to cook a 5 lb roast at 375 degrees?
Regardless of the size of your roast, aim to cook at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 20 minutes per pound.
Is it better to cook a whole chicken at 350 or 375?
When a whole chicken goes into a 425 degree oven it gets the heat it needs for a crispy skin. Lowering the temp to 375 ensures it doesn’t over-cook and dry out.Oct 1, 2021