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    Home » Recipes » Sunday dinner

    Published: Feb 16, 2021 · Modified: Feb 26, 2021 by Amanda · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads

    Cast Iron Roast Chicken

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    Jump to Recipe
    whole chicken roasted in a cast iron skillet
    whole chicken roasted in cast iron skillet

    This cast iron roast chicken recipe is the best way to cook a whole chicken in the oven. Tender and juicy and roasted to perfection, this easy one pan whole roasted chicken recipe is perfect for Sunday dinner!

    whole roasted chicken in a cast iron skillet this recipe!
    cast iron roast chicken

    I love cooking food in cast iron. It's great for searing or slow cooking and it is cookware that will last forever. It's probably the only type of pan that gets better the more you use it. Cast Iron absorbs all the flavor and seasoning from the dishes you cook in it, which then in turn makes your next dish that much better.

    Jump to:
    • 🍗 Ingredient notes
    • 📋 Substitutions and variations
    • 🔪 Step by step instructions
    • ⏲️ Cooking time
    • ⭐ Top tip
    • 💭 Frequently asked questions
    • 🍳 More Cast Iron Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe


    🍗 Ingredient notes

    • Whole Chicken - A broiler, roaster, or fryer chicken will work best for this recipe. They will vary in size but aim for a chicken between 4-6 pounds.
    • Sliced Onions - These will provide a bed for the chicken to rest on and will not only flavor the chicken but caramelize during cooking for some super tasty drippings.
    • Whole Lemon, Fresh Thyme, and Sage - These are the "aromatics" that will go inside the cavity of the bird that will also help flavor it.
    • Olive Oil, Salt & Pepper - These will be rubbed on the outside of the chicken to help brown the skin, provide flavor and also help retain moisture.

    📋 Substitutions and variations

    • Whole meal - add potatoes and vegetables to the pan around the chicken to make it a complete dinner!
    • Italian style - rub 1 Tablespoon of Italian season on the bird after you add the olive oil and salt and pepper for an Italian style roasted chicken

    🔪 Step by step instructions

    Slice your onion and place it in your cast iron skillet. Make sure you pick a skillet that is bigger than your chicken. Anywhere from a 12" - 15" skillet should work.

    sliced onions in a cast iron skillet
    sliced onions for roast chicken

    Remove the gizzards from the chicken and pat it dry. Place the chicken in your skillet on the sliced onions. Stuff the inside of the chicken with a lemon that has been cut in half and a few sprigs of fresh thyme and sage.

    whole chicken stuffed with fresh herbs in a skillet
    chicken stuffed with fresh herbs and lemon

    Using cooking twine, tie the two legs together and then tuck the wings inside or under the breast so they don't burn.

    chicken legs tied together with cooking twine
    chicken legs tied with cooking twine

    Rub the chicken with olive oil and sprinkle it with salt and pepper.

    whole chicken rubbed with olive oil, salt & pepper
    seasoned chicken ready for roasting

    Roast the chicken in a 375° oven for 1 ½ - 2 hours until the chicken registers 165° with a kitchen thermometer in the thickest part of the breast and thigh. Let chicken rest for 10 minutes before carving and serving with the pan drippings.

    whole roasted chicken that has been carved into pieces
    carved whole roasted chicken

    ⏲️ Cooking time

    As a rule of thumb, you should roast a chicken for about 20 minutes per pound.

    Example: 6-pound chicken = 2 hours cooking time

    This time can vary depending on your oven and the exact size of the bird. I recommend checking the temperature with a kitchen thermometer about 20 minutes before it should be "done" to see where it's at. This will give you an idea of how much longer it needs.

    ⭐ Top tip

    Always cook any chicken dish to 165° before removing it from the oven. Using a kitchen thermometer, check the temperature of the bird in the thickest part of the thigh and breast.

    roasted chicken breast with fresh thyme
    roasted chicken breast

    💭 Frequently asked questions

    How do you stop chicken skin from burning?

    If the skin is getting too brown, place a large piece of foil lightly over the chicken to prevent burning.

    How do you keep chicken moist?

    Let your roast chicken rest for 10 minutes before carving. This will help it to retain the juices so it doesn't become dry.

    For a quick overview of this recipe, check out my web story for roast chicken in cast iron.

    🍳 More Cast Iron Recipes

    If you enjoyed this recipe for my cast iron roast chicken, check out these other recipes that you can cook in cast iron too!

    • Cast Iron Pan Pizza
    • Lemon Blueberry Dutch Baby
    • Cast Iron Chicken Pot Pie

    Don't forget! If you make this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and give it a rating. I love to hear from each and every one of you! Tag me on Facebook and Instagram as well! It makes my day to see all of your photos of the food you have made.

    📖 Recipe

    roasted whole chicken in a cast iron skillet

    Cast Iron Roast Chicken

    Amanda
    Cast Iron Roast Chicken is the best way to cook a whole chicken in the oven. Tender and juicy and roasted to perfection!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 2 hrs
    Resting Time 10 mins
    Total Time 2 hrs 20 mins
    Course Main Dishes
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 403 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • ½ large white onion
    • 6 pound whole chicken
    • 1 medium lemon
    • 3-5 sprigs fresh thyme
    • 2-3 sprigs fresh sage
    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 375˚.
    • Slice onion and place evenly over the bottom of a cast iron skillet. Make sure the skillet is bigger than the chicken. (12" - 15" skillet will work)
    • Remove gizzards from the inside of the chicken and discard. Place chicken breast side up on top of the sliced onions in the skillet. Pat the chicken skin dry with a paper towel.
    • Cut the lemon in half and place into the cavity of the chicken along with the fresh thyme and sage.
    • Use cooking twine to tie the legs of the chicken together and then tuck the tips of the wings underneath the chicken breast to prevent burning.
    • Rub olive oil over the entire skin of the chicken and sprinkle with salt and pepper. 
    • Place the entire skillet in the pre-heated oven and roast for 1 ½ - 2 hours or until the temperature of the chicken reaches 165˚ in the thickest part of the breast and thigh with a kitchen thermometer. If the skin starts to brown too quickly, a piece of foil can be placed over the top of the chicken towards the end of the cooking time to prevent burning.
    • Once the chicken is done cooking, remove it from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes before carving. Serve in the skillet with drippings. 

    Notes

    Cooking times will vary depending on the oven and size of the chicken. The suggested cooking time is approximately 20 minutes per pound.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 8ouncesCalories: 403kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 27gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 109mgSodium: 490mgPotassium: 323mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 232IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 28mgIron: 2mg
    Did You Make This Recipe?Mention @SaporitoKitchen or tag #SaporitoKitchen!
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