If turkey isn’t your thing, you have to try this whole roasted chicken this Thanksgiving. Simple and easy to prep, it’s perfectly seasoned, juicy and flavorful. Oven roast or air fry for a show stopping centerpiece during the holidays.
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Full Recipe Ingredients/Instructions are available in the
recipe card at the bottom of the post.
You can find important tips/tricks in the
blog post.
If turkey isn’t your thing, or maybe this year you a hosting a smaller Thanksgiving, then a whole roasted chicken is a great alternative. Easy to prep, this seasoned chicken is hands down delicious!
Whether you use the traditional oven roasting method, or opt to air fry it, this chicken comes out perfectly every single time. Serve it up with your favorite Thanksgiving sides for one delicious meal that everyone will love!
You’ll want to start getting ready to make this chicken the day before. I use a dry brine and let it chill in the fridge for at least 8 hours. If you can let it chill for 24 hours, even better. A dry brine will leave you with a nice and juicy bird with crispy skin.
Love chicken try these great tasting recipes, my Jamaican Jerk Chicken (Air Fryer, Oven, or Grill), Jamaican Curry Chicken. Air Fried Spatchcock Chicken or my Brown Stew Chicken.
Be sure to check out my Smothered Turkey Wings and Air Fryer Turkey Breast too!
Ingredients
Here is what you will need for this recipe:
- 4-5 lb whole chicken
- Kosher salt
- Poultry seasoning
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Lemon
How to make Thanksgiving whole roasted chicken
- Gather your ingredients.
- In a small bowl, combine kosher salt, poultry seasoning, garlic powder, and onion powder. Set aside.
- Remove the chicken from the packaging and any giblets. Dry the chicken with paper towels.
- Season the outside of the chicken and under the skin with the dry rub mixture. Season inside the cavity as well.
- Place in a baking dish or roasting pan and place in the fridge, uncovered, for 8-24 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and remove the chicken from the fridge. If using stuffing, stuff your chicken at this time. If not, place lemon slices and herbs in the cavity. Truss the chicken at this time.
- Once your oven is preheated, bake the chicken in the oven for about 1 hour and 20 minutes or 20 minutes per pound, until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh reads at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Add an additional 10-15 minutes if the chicken is stuffed.
- Remove the chicken from the oven and allow it to rest for 15-20 minutes before carving.
How to cook Thanksgiving Chicken in Air Fryer?
- Follow the first 4 steps of the recipe, placing the chicken in the seasoning blend for 8-24 hours.
- When ready to cook remove the chicken from the fridge and allow to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes.
- If using stuffing, stuff your chicken at this time. If not, place lemon slices and herbs in the cavity. Truss the chicken at this time.
- Preheat the air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit. Place seasoned chicken in the air fryer, breast side down. Cook on 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. Open the air fryer basket and flip the chicken. Then cook on 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 more minutes. Add an additional 5-10 minutes if the chicken is stuffed.
- Again, your chicken is done when a quick read thermometer in the thickest part of chicken registers at 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Allow chicken to rest for 15-20 minutes before carving
What do you serve with Roast Chicken?
This Thanksgiving chicken recipe is perfect to enjoy with all of your favorite sides. I always like to serve a potato side, like my Garlic Mashed Potatoes, one or two veggie sides like my Air Fryer Carrots or Buttery Instant Pot Green Beans and Potatoes, and always some of my homemade Gravy made without Drippings or a Gravy made with drippings.
Expert Tips
- For the best results, allow the chicken to sit with the rub for at least 8 hours or overnight. The longer the marinate the more intense the flavor.
- Allow the chicken to come up to room temperature before placing in the hot oven.
- Allow the chicken to rest under foil for 15 to 20 minutes before carving to allow the juices to redistribute.
- If stuffing the chicken, the stuffing on the inside should register a temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit when done.
Variations
- Play with the flavor of the seasoning blend, eg use Italian seasoning along with the poultry seasoning.
- Add some extra fresh herbs to the cavity of the chicken, like rosemary, thyme, sage or parsley.
- Crush some fresh garlic cloves and place them into the cavity too.
- Swap the lemon for orange instead.
How to store Thanksgiving Chicken
Make ahead: This whole roasted chicken is best prepped the day before you plan to cook and serve it. The rub on the chicken helps to season the meat and the longer you leave it, the more the salt will be drawn into the chicken for a more flavorful bite. It also helps to remove moisture from the skin so that it is extra crispy.
To refrigerate: The best part of Thanksgiving is of course the leftovers! Remove the meat from the bones and place it in an airtight container, it will keep well in the fridge for up to 4 days. The leftovers can be enjoyed cold in sandwiches and salads, or reheated in the oven. This creamy rotisserie chicken salad is one of my favorites to make with the leftovers.
To freeze: Once cooked and cooled, place the chicken into an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator when you are ready to serve.
FAQs:
This recipe is for a 4 to 5lb whole chicken and it will easily serve four people. Allow for a pound per person. The larger the chicken, the longer cooking time it will require. A good rule of thumb is to allow 20 minutes of cooking time per pound at 350F. Check that your chicken is fully cooked through by using an instant read thermometer which should register at 165F when inserted into the thigh.
The best way to check that meat is cooked is to use a meat thermometer. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken thigh, it should read at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit when properly cooked.
Yes, add an additional 10-15 minutes if the chicken is stuffed.
If you have tried this Thanksgiving chicken recipe, or any other recipe on my blog, then please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
Thanksgiving Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoons poultry seasoning
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 4-5 lb whole chicken
- 1 lemon sliced, fresh herbs, or stuffing (optional)
Instructions
Oven Instructions:
- In a small bowl, combine kosher salt, poultry seasoning, garlic powder, and onion powder. Set aside.
- Remove the chicken from the packaging and any giblets. Dry the chicken with paper towels.
- Season the outside of the chicken and under the skin with the dry rub mixture. Season inside the cavity as well.
- Place in a baking dish or roasting pan and place in the fridge, uncovered, for 8-24 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and remove the chicken from the fridge. If using stuffing, stuff your chicken at this time. If not, place lemon slices and herbs in the cavity. Truss the chicken at this time.
- Once your oven is preheated, bake the chicken in the oven for about 1 hour and 20 minutes or 20 minutes per pound, until a thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh reads at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Add an additional 10-15 minutes if the chicken is stuffed.
- Remove the chicken from the oven and allow it to rest for 15-20 minutes before carving.
Air Fryer Instructions:
- Follow steps 1-4
- Remove chicken from the fridge and allow it to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. If using stuffing, stuff your chicken at this time. If not, place lemon slices and herbs in the cavity. Truss the chicken at this time.
- Preheat the air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place seasoned chicken in the air fryer, breast side down. Cook on 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. Open the air fryer basket and flip the chicken. Then cook on 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 more minutes. Add an additional 5-10 minutes if the chicken is stuffed.
- Your chicken is done when a quick read thermometer in the thickest part of chicken registers at 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Allow chicken to rest for 15-20 minutes before carving.
Notes
- For the best results, allow the chicken to sit with the rub for at least 8 hours or overnight.
- Allow the chicken to come up to room temperature before placing in the hot oven.
- See below for the air fryer cooking instructions.
- Allow the chicken to rest under foil for 15 to 20 minutes before carving to allow the juices to redistribute.
- If stuffing the chicken, the stuffing on the inside should register a temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit when done.
Nutrition
This post was originally published on September 22, 2021. It has been updated with additional helpful information.