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The Kitchn: How to roast the perfect chicken

By Emma Christensen on

TheKitchn.com

Never underestimate the power of a roast chicken. It's an infallible Sunday dinner, and the leftovers (if you're so lucky) can be used for sandwiches, salads and quick meals all week long.

Roasting a chicken doesn't have to be a special weekend affair, either. A small bird really only takes about an hour to cook, so you can easily make it on a weeknight. Put it in the oven when you get home from work and let it cook while you wind down from the day. It's that simple -- and here's how.

You can use a roasting pan for chicken if you have one, but don't feel like you need to go out and buy one. Most of the time, I just use my trusty cast iron skillet. You can also use a stainless steel skillet, a large casserole dish or even a pie plate. Anything oven-safe that will comfortably hold the chicken will work!

You can also cook the chicken by itself right in the pan without a rack or anything else. Lifting the bird will improve the air circulation around it and help it cook more evenly, but I find that this matters more for a giant Thanksgiving turkey than it does for a little weeknight roast chicken. This said, I do like to occasionally go for a 2-in-1 meal and roast the chicken on top of a bed of chopped potatoes, onions and carrots; the vegetables roast in the juices from the chicken and I get an easy side dish to serve with the chicken!

As far as actually roasting the chicken goes, it's all pretty hands off. Rub it with a little oil and sprinkle it with salt and pepper, and then pop it in the oven for an hour. Go about your business -- finish the rest of your dinner, fold some laundry, pour a drink. The chicken is done when it smells so good you can't wait a moment longer.

 

Pretty easy, right? This is why roast chicken is one of my standby meals for small dinner parties and casual weeknight meals alike -- foolproof and irresistible.

Roasted Chicken

Makes 4 to 6 servings, depending on the size of the chicken.

1 (3- to 4-pound) chicken

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