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+ servings

Christmas Roast Chicken

Perfectly moist, fall apart Christmas Roast Chicken that has a crispy seasoned skin. Stuffed with orange wedges, celery and cranberries.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time2 hours
Resting Time1 hour
Total Time3 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 4
Cuisine: American
Author: Melanie Cagle

Ingredients

  • 1 5lb Whole Young Chicken
  • 12 oz Fresh Cranberries
  • 2 Oranges cut into wedges
  • 1 Stick Celery
  • ½ Cup Unsalted Butter softened
  • 6 Stems Rosemary
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
  • 1 Onion sliced ½" thick slices - keep together.

Instructions

  • Take out your chicken, discard the 'innards' and allow to rest at room temperature for 1 hour.
  • Pat dry with a paper towel. Season the inside of the chicken cavity liberally with salt and pepper.
  • Stuff with orange wedges, celery, cranberries and rosemary stalks.
  • Take the butter and mix with the olive oil and some salt and pepper.
  • Using your hands, lift the skin from the breast and carefully push your fingers up underneath, separating the skin from the meat.
  • Take half of the butter mixture and insert under the skin. Press down to contain the butter while pushing the butter up inside the skin.
  • Take the remaining butter and rub all over the bird.
  • Truss the legs together and push the wings back behind the body.
  • Lay onion slices on the bottom of a roasting pan and lay the chicken on top of the onion.
  • Sprinkle again with more seasoning.
  • Bake in a preheated oven at 325° for about 2 hours. Using an instant read thermometer helps. Once the thermometer reaches 155°F turn up the oven to 450°. This will sear the skin at the end.
  • Remove the chicken once it reaches 165°F. Lay a foil tent over the top and allow to rest for 30 minutes before carving (for optimal moistness).

Notes

Cooking the chicken at 325°F will ensure a nice and moist, fall apart roast. If you want a firmer meat with crispier skin then cook at a higher temperature (375-425) but for less time of course.
After you've allowed the cooked chicken to rest, using the drippings from the pan to make a gravy.
Use the rest of the cranberries, oranges and rosemary to decorate the chicken.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 372kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 104mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 11g
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