The best Whole Chicken Dinner Recipe! Dinner ideas!

This whole chicken dinner recipe combines vegetables and seasoned chicken cooked in its own juices that can be served alongside veggies or rice to create a hearty meal packed with tons of flavor.

You’ve got a whole chicken, and you want to roast it. But wondering where to start and which spices or seasonings will make a succulent chicken. You’re in luck! If you’re looking for a delicious, healthy dinner that’s easy to make and only requires one pot, look no further than this whole chicken dinner.

Additionally, you can prepare this juicy chicken at home in minutes, and it doesn’t require fancy ingredients. You can also add veggies of your choice for a hearty, wholesome meal.

What makes this whole chicken dinner special is the combo of flavorful spices and olive oil that results in a juicy and moist chicken with tangy and tart notes from the sumac and tamarind paste. You don’t need water or broth to cook this meal. 

What is a Whole Chicken Dinner?

Chicken is a versatile meat that can be used to make various dishes, such as stews and casseroles. This whole chicken dinner recipe will help you get started, even if it’s your first attempt at roasting the perfect bird. It combines vegetables and seasoned chicken cooked in its own juices that can be served alongside veggies or rice to create a hearty meal packed with tons of flavor.

What You’ll need to prepare whole chicken dinner

Chicken: A whole chicken, preferably organic, with giblets removed

Potato and onion slices: I used two medium-sized potatoes and one large onion.

Spices and Seasonings: I have used a blend of sumac powder, chili, cumin, all spice powder, salt, and pepper. You can get creative with whatever spices and seasonings you have in your pantry:

Tamarind Paste: Adds tart notes to your bland whole chicken dinner recipe making it hard to resist.

Olive oil: For juicy and moist chicken, add olive oil over the vegetables and drizzle after seasoning the chicken.

How to make a whole chicken dinner?

The first step to cooking a whole chicken dinner is slicing onions and potatoes and then layering them in the bottom of the roasting pan. Then add garlic and drizzle olive oil over them.

The next step is transferring the chicken to the pan and seasoning it using spices and herbs for an extra layer of flavor.

Rub the seasoning with your fingers. After seasoning, drizzle some olive oil or vegetable oil on top of the skin to help keep it moist and tenderize it as it cooks.

Next comes roasting time! This can take anywhere from 60 minutes to 80 minutes, depending on how big your chicken is (though usually about 20-25 minutes per pound). I have cooked the chicken for one hour covered and 20 minutes uncovered for a crispy and golden-brown exterior. Garnish with parsley and serve with rice. Enjoy!

Why You’ll love this recipe?

Whole Chicken dinner is easy to make, with minimal prep time, which means you won’t have to spend long hours in the kitchen. You can make it in a slow cooker (or crock pot) which is great because it frees up your oven for other dishes like cinnamon buns! Or layer vegetables into a pan, transfer chicken, rub seasoning over it, and let it cook on the stovetop over the low-medium head instead of babysitting a chicken in the oven.

Whole Chicken Dinner FAQS

What goes well with a whole chicken?

A whole chicken dinner is the easiest way to feed a hungry family. Serve with a fresh green salad, mashed potatoes, glazed carrots, corn on the cob, fettuccine noodles, and steamed green beans.

How long does it take to bake a whole chicken at 400 degrees?

How long it takes to bake a whole chicken depends on the size of the bird. Obviously, a smaller chicken will cook faster, so take note of how long your bird has been baking if you don’t want it overcooked. As a final note, you should always check your chicken’s internal temperature before removing it from the oven. The FDA recommends cooking until its internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F (74 C).

Is it better to bake a whole chicken at 350 or 400?

Start at 400 degrees F, cook for one hour (60 minutes) covered, and then at 350 F for 20 minutes uncovered for a crispy golden brown exterior.

How do you keep chicken moist in the oven?

Olive oil helps keep the chicken moist and juicy and adds an extra layer of flavor.