A simple recipe for roasted chicken?

Favorite Answer

I like to take pesto (either homemade or store bought), then lift the skin up from the breast and leg sections (it sounds harder than it is, the skin lifts pretty easy, just gently push your fingers between the skin and the meat), and rub a good amount between the skin and meat. Roast at 350 degrees for about an hour.
If you like, you can fill the cavity of the chicken with a lemon (sliced in half), half an onion and half a head of garlic (just slice a head of garlic width wise, don't worry about peeling it, you will remove all these once roasted).
Most important is to let the roasted chicken "rest" for about 10-15 minutes when you take it out of the oven. Tent it loosely with foil to keep it warm.

The pesto keeps it really moist and adds lots of flavor....Show more

Rinse the chicken really good with water and pat it dry. I always put a small onion and a stalk of celery inside. Of course, you break the celery in halves or quarters so that they will fit inside without sticking out. Then sprinkle or rub some garlic powder, salt, pepper, and crushed rosemary on the outside. Spray the chicken with vegetable spray such as pam, wesson, or crisco spray. Roast the chicken inside of a covered roasting pan at about 350 degrees until it is done. It should be done in about an hour or a little longer depending on the size of the chicken. Sometimes the roasting time in on the package....Show more

Rub the chicken with olive oil, salt, garlic and rosemary. Make sure to the spice rub under the skin, so that the meat absorbs the flavor of the spices.

Cut up some onions in quarters and place them on the bottom of the roasting pan.

place a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh.

place the chicken- breast side down on top of the onions.

cover the roasting pan, and bake @ 400 until the thermometer reads 150.

uncover the pan and turn the bird breast side up, raise the temperature to 450 and bake until the thermometer reads 165 and the skin on top of the breast is golden brown.

remove from the oven and cover until the thermometer reads 170.

plate and serve....Show more

It sounds like you are learning to cook. Good for you!

How about asking your family to get you an electric roaster for Christmas. They come in all sizes and prices. Go to places such as Sears, Target, WalMart, etc. You can roast chicken, turkey, roast beef, ribs, and so much more. The meat comes out moist and delicious. Here is a picture of just one roaster:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00897362000P?keyword=chicken+roasters

My favorite has a spit that turns the meat around and around so that it is cooked evenly on all sides.

Another good Christmas gift would be a Beginners Cook Book. You can buy these at book stores or supermarkets.

As long as we are talking about cooking, buy a croak pot too. The meat goes into the pot in the morning and cooks all day long. You meal is ready for you at supper time. Follow the direction of the booklet that comes with the pot. Here are some recipes for you:

Beef Recipes in Crock Pot (see other types of meats at the very bottom of this link):
http://www.razzledazzlerecipes.com/beef-crock-pot-recipes/index.htm
.
Chicken Recipes in Crock Pot:
http://www.razzledazzlerecipes.com/chicken-crock-pot-recipes/index.htm
.
Scroll way down this link for more chicken recipes:
http://www.worldfamousrecipes.com/crock-pot-recipes.html
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http://southernfood.about.com/library/crock/blcpidx.htm
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http://www.anniesrecipes.com/Kitchen/crockpot.htm...Show more

soak chicken in salted water for about two hours in the fridge. Take it out rinse and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cut up some onion, put some in baking dish with chicken the rest inside the chicken do the same with some garlic. Add about 1/4 to 1/2 cup orange juice or pineapple juice or just water. Cover with foil and bake at 350 for about 2 1/2 hours, take foil off about the last 45 mins and baste every 15 mins until browned. Let rest a few minutes and crave and eat....you can add carrots and potatoes if you like. Good luck....Show more