Whole chicken in dutch oven on stove top

2 Chicken Breasts and wing (attatched), Bone in and skin on. Cut a few 1/2" deep slits in chicken breasts

A Dutch oven is just the right size and shape to cook a whole chicken. Simply cover the pot with its lid during the first part of the cooking process to make the meat fall-apart tender and juicy. Then, remove the lid during the end of the cook time to make the skin golden and crisp. It's practically foolproof.

But there is one way to make this cooking method even better—add a layer of hearty vegetables to the bottom of the pot before you add the chicken. Potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, parsnips, celery root, beets, sweet potatoes, and winter squashes are all good options.

WATCH: Garlicky Roasted Spatchcock Chicken

The vegetables serve two purposes: they elevate the chicken, which helps it cook more evenly. (No more soggy bottomed birds!) And it also creates a built-in side dish so you'll have a complete meal in one pot. And those aren't just ordinary roasted vegetables, they are vegetables roasted in chicken fat, AKA the tastiest vegetables around.

Cut the vegetables into uniform pieces so that they cook evenly, coat them with olive or vegetable oil, and season generously with salt and pepper, then arrange them on the bottom of the pot. Nestle the chicken on top, and make sure the lid of the pot still fits when placed on top. As the dutch oven chicken and vegetables cook, stir the vegetables around every so often so that they caramelize on all sides and soak in those delicious drippings.

Best of all, this trick also works whether the chicken is whole or has been cut into pieces. And while we love the oven-to-table ease of a Dutch oven, you can try this trick even if you're cooking the chicken on a sheet pan, cast-iron skillet, or a slow cooker.

Whole Roasted Chicken – There is something so cozy and comforting about roasting a whole chicken (especially on a Sunday!) and this is my favorite way to cook it! So easy to make, full of flavor – once you cook one you are going to be hooked! Family-friendly and perfect for meal prep!

Best Ever Whole Roasted Chicken Recipe

This whole roasted chicken recipe has been in permanent rotation for as long as I can remember! And I cannot wait for all of you try it 🙂 It is a tried and true recipe that I love to so much – it is pure comfort food and perfect for any time of the year. Serve with homemade chicken gravy (made from the pan drippings), Whole30 mashed potatoes or ultimate yukon gold potatoes and some roasted broccolini.

Got leftovers – check out this Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad. If you like this recipe definitely check out my Roasted Chicken Soup!

Why You Will Love this Recipe

• Cozy: Is there anything more cozy than having a whole roasted chicken cooking away in the oven?!
• Sunday Supper: Roasting a whole chicken on Sunday evening for dinner is a favorite of mine! Just always seems to special (and the house smells amazing).
• Family-Friendly: My kids LOVE this recipe! It truly is a family favorite.
• Gravy + Broth: Use the drippings to make gravy and the leftover bones to make homemade broth!

Whole Roasted Chicken Ingredients

• whole roasting chicken: I recommend a 2-4 pound roasting chicken – ensure it is fully thawed and the cavity is empty.
• kosher salt and ground black pepper: the basics of seasoning – always gotta have a little of both.
• ghee or butter + garlic: we combine these to make a garlic butter rub.
• celery: the celery is used as a little roasting rack.
• fresh orange + fresh rosemary + fresh thyme + sweet yellow onion: this is what we will stuff the chicken with.
• head garlic: this is used as an aromatic.
• Dutch Oven: I used a 5.5qt dutch oven but a regular roasting pan or even a deep cast iron skillet will work too.

What to Serve with Whole Roasted Chicken

• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
• Stove Top Mashed Potatoes
• Grilled Broccolini
• Roasted Broccolini
• Whole Roasted Carrots
• Grilled Vegetables
• Garlic Green Beans

Meal Prep Friendly

There are two ways you could integrate meal-prep into this recipe:

1. Meal Prep Chicken – simply use the recipe to make chicken for the week to use in salads, etc.
2. Prep Recipe – you could also prep the chicken (rub with butter/ghee, sprinkle with salt and pepper and stuff) then simply leave in the dutch oven (cover it) and place in the fridge overnight.  Then, when it is time to get dinner ready just pop it in the oven and dinner is on its way to being done (without any of the prep!).  Your cooking time might increase just a little since the dutch oven and chicken are starting out cold, but it should only be by a little bit (5-10 minutes).

How to Roast a Whole Chicken 

Place celery in the bottom of the pan to act like a “roasting rack.”

Place chicken on top of celery and pat dry with a clean paper towel.

Baste approximately every 30 minutes while roasting with both more melted butter (or ghee) and the drippings from the bottom of the pan.

Let the chicken rest. Carve and serve!

How to Carve a Chicken

If you are looking for a tutorial on how to carve a roasted chicken, here is a great tutorial!

Whole Roasted Chicken Gravy

Feel free to make some yummy homemade chicken gravy (I also have a Whole30/Paleo Gravy recipe here)!

Other recipes you might like:

• Dutch Oven Pot Roast
• Baked Italian Meatballs
• Slow Cooker Short Rib Ragu
• Ultimate Pork Roast

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Made this recipe and loved it?! We would love it if you would take a minute and leave a star rating and review – it is also helpful if you made any substitutions or changes to the recipe to share that as well. THANK YOU! 

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The BEST Whole Roasted Chicken – a classic, tried-and-true recipe for a delicious whole-roasted chicken.  Perfect for meal-prep, Sunday Supper or a weeknight dinner! Is it better to cook chicken in the oven or on the stove?

Is it better to cook chicken covered or uncovered on stove?

How long should you cook whole chicken for?

How long should a whole chicken roast in oven?