What is the best way to bake a whole chicken, to obtain a tasty, juicy meat?

Question

i want my chicken, tender, juicy, tasty for dinner tonight, and i wanna bake it! I wanna know what spices i should add, how long to marinate, and how long to bake it.

Answer 1

Perfect Roast Chicken

1 (5 to 6 pound) roasting chicken

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 large bunch fresh thyme, plus 20 sprigs

1 lemon, halved

1 head garlic, cut in half crosswise

2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter, melted

1 large yellow onion, thickly sliced

4 carrots cut into 2-inch chunks

1 bulb of fennel, tops removed, and cut into wedges (optional)

Olive oil

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Remove the chicken giblets. Rinse the chicken inside and out. Remove any excess fat and leftover pin feathers and pat the outside dry. Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the chicken. Stuff the cavity with the bunch of thyme, both halves of lemon, and all the garlic. Brush the outside of the chicken with the butter and sprinkle again with salt and pepper. Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the chicken. Place the onions, carrots, and fennel in a roasting pan. Toss with salt, pepper, 20 sprigs of thyme, and olive oil. Spread around the bottom of the roasting pan and place the chicken on top.

Roast the chicken for 1 1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear when you cut between a leg and thigh. Remove the chicken and vegetables to a platter and cover with aluminum foil for about 20 minutes. Slice the chicken onto a platter and serve it with the vegetables.

--Ina Garten

Answer 2

Honey Baked chicken

1 chicken

3 tablespoons lemon juice

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 tablespoon instant minced onion

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

DIRECTIONS

place chicken on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Cover and roast at 350 degrees F for 1 hour. Drain. Combine all the remaining ingredients in a bowl; brush some of glaze on chicken. Roast, uncovered, 30-45 minutes longer or until meat is tender, brushing occasionally with remaining glaze.

Answer 3

When baking it in the oven be sure to put a lid on your roaster or cover it tightly with..  Bake it on no higher than 325 for the first hour.  Then turn up the oven to 350-375, remove the lid and baste frequently.  It will brown nicely and be moist.

OR make a drunken chicken.  You can do this in your oven or bbq grill, which is what I prefer.  Drink 1/2 can of beer, to the beer in the can add seasonings (garlic powder, salt n pepper, whatever seasonings you like) Sit your chicken down on the beer can, yes your chicken will be sitting up,. Put it in a low sided pan or directly on the grates if it will sit that way.  Do not cover.  It will turn a golden brown all over.  Walmart sells a thing that holds the beer can if you want to spend the $$.  This is absolutely the best chicken you will ever eat.

Answer 4

Just add a cup of chicken broth to the bottom and baste it every half hour. That will make it perfect!! Add whatever ya got as for seasonings - I usually use just garlic slat and pepper. Maybe a little Season Salt too. It will blend with the broth.  

Answer 5

I take it and rub it down generously with salt and pepper -- then put it in a very hot oven (450 degrees) for 45 minutes (for about a 3 1/2 pound chicken).  It is call "blasted chicken" and I first saw the recipe on the Sara Mouton show on Food TV.  I have done it a lot of times -- it is sooo easy and the chicken is slightly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.  After it is done cooking let it sit for about 15 minutes before cutting it.  If the chicken is smaller -- then cook it for less time.  Try it!

Answer 6

We have done this twice now and both times the chicken came out perfect.  Nice and juicy, even the white meat!

You brine the chicken.  Don't know if you have the time today, but it is 1/4 C salt to 1 qt. water.  I don't know what it does, but it sure makes a good chicken.  If you type in "brine for chicken" on a search there will be a few other ideas.