Salt and Pepper Roast Chicken
This roast chicken recipe thrives on simplicity, requiring just four ingredients: chicken, salt, pepper, and your choice of herbs. The method is straightforward: season the chicken generously, then roast it at a high temperature until the skin turns golden and crispy, and the meat inside remains juicy.For enhanced flavor, marinating the chicken beforehand is recommended. Adjust the cooking temperature to 400 degrees if your oven is prone to smoking at higher temperatures; this may extend the cooking time by an additional 5 to 20 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 3½-pound whole chicken, patted dry
- 2 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- Small bunch mixed herbs such as rosemary, thyme and sage
Instructions
- Season the chicken generously inside and out with salt and pepper. For enhanced flavor, consider refrigerating the chicken uncovered for at least an hour, or even overnight.
- Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Place the chicken breast-side up in a roasting pan or large ovenproof skillet. Fill the cavity with your choice of herbs and tie the legs together using kitchen twine. If twine isn't available, you can leave the legs untied.
- Roast the chicken for about 50 minutes. Afterward, baste the chicken with the pan juices. Continue roasting until the chicken's juices run clear when pierced with a knife, typically an additional 5 to 10 minutes. Allow the chicken to rest for 10 minutes before carving.
Notes
Tips for Serving:
Once you've mastered the basics of roasting chicken, consider these serving suggestions:
Sauces: Elevate your roast chicken with sauces like aioli, béarnaise, salsa verde, romesco, chimichurri, or make-ahead gravy. Even a simple dollop of Dijon mustard can complement the dish.
Sauces: Elevate your roast chicken with sauces like aioli, béarnaise, salsa verde, romesco, chimichurri, or make-ahead gravy. Even a simple dollop of Dijon mustard can complement the dish.
- Greens: Serve the chicken atop a bed of watercress, baby kale, tatsoi, arugula, or other tender greens sprinkled with lemon juice and salt. The heat from the chicken will wilt some of the greens while keeping others crisp. The chicken fat and lemon juice create an instant dressing.
- Croutons: Substitute the greens with hot toasted bread. The chicken fat makes these croutons exceptionally flavorful.