Roasted Chicken

Yeild: 1 Roast Chicken

This is one of the most basic things I cook, and I do it often for several reasons:

  • Whole chickens often go on sale for less than a dollar a pound. Offers are so attractive, many stores place limits on the number you can purchase at one visit.
  • Left over roasted chicken can be used in all those great rotisserie chicken recipes for fast weeknight meals. Roast a chicken on Sunday night, and use leftovers for another meal during the week when you are in a rush.
  • Bones can be used to make a lovely bone broth or chicken stock. Homemade stocks and broths freeze easily and are great to have on hand for soup bases.

Roast chicken can be served with potato, rice and/or vegetable sides. Soups and salads are also great accompaniments to round out a fabulous meal. This recipe is very simple, easy to prepare and no fuss.

Roasted Chicken

Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4 Servings

Equipment

  • Roasting Pan with Rack

Ingredients
  

Chicken and Seasonings

  • 5-6 pound Roasting Chicken, giblets removed
  • 1 tsp Salt, divided
  • 1/2 tso Pepper, divided
  • 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 tbsp Avocado Oil

Aromatics

  • 1 small Apple, cored and cut into 8 pieces
  • 1 sprig Fresh Rosemary
  • 1 small Onion, quartered
  • 1 leaf Bay Laurel
  • 1 stalk Celery, cut into 1 inch pieces

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  • Prepare a roasting pan with a roasting rack to elevate the chicken while it cooks.
  • Rinse the chicken, making sure the cavity is free of giblets, necks, etc. and pat dry. Make sure the chicken is very dry, this will help the skin crisp as it cooks.
  • Combine aromatics in a microwave safe bowl and add 1/4 cup water. Microwave on high for 2 minutes. Remove from microwave and allow to cool while proceeding with next steps.
  • Season the cavity of the chicken generously with 1/2 tsp salt.
  • Drain any excess water from the aromatics and place inside the cavity.
  • Using cooking twine, bind the legs of the chicken together. Fold the wings back and tuck under the bird to prevent the tips from burning while cooking.
  • Place the chicken on the rack in the roasting pan. Brush with the avocado oil, and season with the remaining salt, pepper and garlic powder – or a seasoning blend of your choosing.
  • Roast chicken at 325 for 2.5 hours or until a meat thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh reaches 165 degrees. Thigh will wiggle easily and juices will run clear.
  • Remove the chicken from the oven and allow to rest for 15 minutes before carving.
Keyword Chicken, Roast Chicken

Asian Pork Tenderloin

This easy marinated pork can be either grilled or roasted in the oven making it a versatile year round dish. Grilling on is my preference. It imparts a subtle smokey complexity.

I like to serve as hot with stir fried vegetables and noodles or rice. It is also excellent cold and sliced thin for sandwiches and wraps, or incorporated in dishes such as pork fried rice.

Ingredients

2 - 2 1/2 pounds pork tenderloin
1/3 Cup Soy Sauce
1/4 Cup Sesame Oil
1/3 Cup Brown Sugar, packed
2 Tablespoons Worchestershire Sauce
1 Large Lemon, juiced
4 Cloves Garlic, crushed
2 Tablespoons Ginger Root, grated
1 Tablespoon Dry Mustard

Instructions

  1. Place pork tenderloin in a shallow dish.
  2. In a small bowl, combine all other ingredients. Pour over pork, turning to coat.
  3. Cover and refrigerate. Marinate for at least 8 hours or overnight.
  4. Remove pork from marinade. Discard marinade.
  5. Preheat oven or grill to 450 degrees.
  6. If using the oven, place pork in a foil lined oven safe dish. This will help with clean up when the marinade carmelizes during cooking. If grilling, pork will be placed directly on the grill grates.
  7. Cook for 25 minutes, or until meat thermometer reaches 160 degrees. If grilling, turn roast 1/2 way through cooking time to insure consistent cooking and browning.
  8. Let pork rest for 10 minutes before carving to seal in juices.