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–+ servings
A roast chicken on a board with carrots and onions.
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Ina Garten's Roast Chicken

Ina Garten's Roast Chicken is a perfect recipe for whole, oven roasted chicken and vegetables with plenty of gravy to go around! Your family will love this dinner!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 30 minutes
Resting Time15 minutes
Total Time2 hours 5 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8
Calories: 641kcal
Author: Stephanie

Ingredients

  • 6 lb. whole chicken
  • Salt/Pepper
  • 1 large bunch thyme plus 20 sprigs
  • 1 head garlic cut in half crosswise
  • 1 lemon halved
  • 2 Tablespoons butter melted
  • 1 large yellow onion sliced into large chunks
  • 4 whole carrots sliced into 4-inch chunks
  • 1 bulb of fennel tops removed, cut into wedges
  • 2-3 Tablespoons Olive oil

For the Gravy:

  • 2/3 cup chicken broth
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons flour
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Note: An easy rule of thumb is that chicken takes about 15 minutes/pound to roast at 425° F.

Roasting the Chicken

  • Unwrap the chicken and remove the giblets and/or the neck (if included). Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
  • If possible, let the chicken sit at room temperature for 30-60 minutes to allow for more even cooking.
  • Preheat the oven to 425° F.
  • Seasoning the entire chicken generously with salt and pepper.
  • Stuff the chicken with the thyme, garlic, and lemon.
  • Brush the outside of the chicken with the 2 TBS melted butter and season again with salt/pepper.
  • Use kitchen twine to tie the legs together. Tuck the wings underneath the body of the chicken.
  • Place the sliced onions, carrots, and fennel bulb on the bottom of a roasting pan.
  • Sprinkle the vegetables with salt, pepper, 20 sprigs of thyme, and drizzle generously with olive oil. Use your hands to toss to evenly coat the vegetables.
  • Place the chicken on top of the vegetables. This prevents the chicken from sitting in its own juice while it cooks and elevates the chicken for even cooking.
  • Roast (uncovered), for 1 ½ hours. Halfway through, use a spoon to drizzle the chicken with some drippings from the bottom of the pan. Rotate the pan 180 degrees and place it back in the oven.
  • The chicken is done when the juices run clear and the internal temperature reads 165° F. (Place a meat thermometer into the thigh to check the temperature.)
  • Let the chicken rest, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes to allow the juices to reabsorb before you cut into it!
  • Slice and serve with the roasted vegetables.

Making the Gravy

  • Pour the chicken drippings into a large measuring cup.
  • Top it off with chicken broth to make 2 cups.
  • Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
  • Add 3 tablespoons flour. Whisk for 1 minute.
  • Add half of the gravy juice/broth. Whisk until there are no lumps.
  • Add remaining liquid. Whisk for 2 minutes. The gravy will continue to thicken more and more.
  • Season with salt/pepper if desired. Done!
  • Note: If your chicken needs a touch more color, increase the heat to 500° and use foil to cover up any parts that are already sufficiently browned. Roast for an additional 5 minutes or so. Keep a close eye on it.

Notes

Pro Tips:
  • Use a roasting pan that fits the size of your chicken for best results. Using a roasting pan that's too large runs you the risk of burning the vegetables and losing your liquid for the gravy.
  • Use plenty of thick cut vegetables (Large carrots, quartered onions, etc.). If there are too few or if they're cut too thin, they'll cook too quickly.
  • Gauge how your vegetables look at the halfway mark when you rotate the roasting pan. If they're cooking too quickly, cover them with a layer of foil (but leave the chicken exposed).
An easy rule of thumb is that chicken takes about 15 minutes/pound to roast at 425 degrees.
Need more Browning?
  • If your chicken needs a touch more color, increase the heat to 500° and use foil to cover up any parts that are already sufficiently browned.
  • Roast for an additional 5 minutes or so. Keep a close eye on it.
Save Your Leftovers!
  • Save your leftovers to make easy homemade chicken stock! 
  • You can even freeze your leftovers to make stock another day.

Nutrition

Calories: 641kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 54g | Fat: 43g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 213mg | Sodium: 236mg | Potassium: 793mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 5530IU | Vitamin C: 18.2mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 3mg