Roasted Chicken and Vegetables

Simple, fresh ingredients yield a moist, flavorful Roasted Chicken and Vegetables meal that your whole family is sure to love.

Whole chicken is a very economical and healthy meal to prepare for your family or for company. While it does take a little work to infuse flavor on the front end, the beauty of this recipe is that it’s a one pan wonder that’s full of amazing flavor. Plus, the leftovers can be stretched even farther by using them to make chicken stock later.

The chicken turns out extremely moist with crispy skin on the top. You can taste the citrusy, garlicky, herbaceous flavor in every bite. The vegetables end up the consistency of crockpot vegetables, since most of them they sit under the chicken and absorb the juices. So, don’t expect the traditional roasted vegetable crispiness, but I think they are delicious with a bite of chicken dredged in the juices on the same fork.

What’s in Roasted Chicken and Veggies?

One of the best ways to be efficient in the kitchen is to lay out all your equipment and ingredients before you begin preparing a recipe. The French call this “mise en place”, which literally means “everything in place” before starting.

In this recipe, you’ll use a variety of simple, fresh ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 – 1.5 lbs red potatoes 
• 1 large sweet potato, peeled
• 2 large carrots
• 1 red onion
• 1 lemon
• 1 head of garlic
• olive oil
• salt and pepper
• 1 (4-5 lb) whole roasting chicken (we get our chicken from here)
• 1 large bunch of fresh herbs (recommend a mixture of any of the following: sage, rosemary, parsley, and/or thyme)

What Equipment Do I Need?

Then, grab this equipment to have on hand…

• Large cutting board
• A sharp chef’s knife
• 9×13 inch casserole dish or large roasting pan
• Paper towels
• Kitchen twine
• Meat thermometer (optional, but recommended)
• Foil

How to Make Roasted Chicken with Vegetables

The basic method for this Roasted Chicken and Veggies recipe is this:

Step 1: Dice root vegetables, like sweet potatoes, red potatoes, carrots, and red onion, and place in the bottom of a roasting dish. Toss them some oil and season well with salt and pepper.

Step 2: Then, oil, season (generously!), and stuff your chicken with lots of aromatics, including fresh herbs, garlic, red onion, and lemon, that will create a delicious sauce that drips over your chicken and roasted vegetables. Be sure to tie the legs together using some kitchen twine and tuck the wings under the bird to make sure it roasts evenly.

Step 3: Roast the chicken, breast side up, in a 425°F oven for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until done.

Step 4: Let it rest at least 20 minutes, so the juices can redistribute throughout, before slicing.

How Do I Know When the Roasted Chicken is Done?

The general rule is that it takes about 15 minutes per pound of chicken, so a 4 pound chicken is going to take at least 1 hour. But, you’ll still need to check to make sure your chicken is done. Here are a two ways to check for doneness:

1. Use a meat thermometer. This is the most accurate way to determine when to take out your chicken and make sure it doesn’t get overcooked. You’ll find our favorite meat thermometer here. The chicken is done when it register 165°F internally. Take the temperature of the chicken in the deepest part of the thigh, where the leg and thigh meet.
2. Check the juices and drumsticks. Insert a knife into the area between the breast and thigh. If the juices run completely clear, it’s done. If the juice is still pink, then it needs to roast longer. If using this method, you should also shake the drumsticks. If they wiggle easily, that’s another indicator that your chicken is done.

I would suggest reserving a total of 2 hours to prepare this meal–about 1 hour of hands-on time for prep and clean up and 1 1/2 hours of hands-free time while the chicken roasts and rests.

What Should I Do with the Leftovers?

Don’t waste a single part of your whole chicken! Whole chicken can really stretch a buck when you use all the leftovers.

Use the carcass (and the neck you removed earlier!) to make Homemade Chicken Stock. Not only is homemade stock delicious, economical, and freezer-friendly, but it’s is super healthy, too.

You can also use leftover chicken in our Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup or to top a salad like My Favorite Cobb Salad or Asian Slaw. Yum!

If you want to make a special chicken dinner that’s good enough for company, this one-pan wonder will do the trick!