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Home » Blog » Recipes » Weeknight Roast Chicken

Weeknight Roast Chicken

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This weeknight roast chicken recipe will surely brighten up your weekdays!

A closeup of Weeknight Roast Chicken on a wooden cutting board next to a ramekin of pan drippings.

Who says chicken-roasting is strictly a weekend affair? Survey says…NOBODY—especially with this simple and satisfying Weeknight Roast Chicken recipe. It comes straight out of the newest cookbook from the food nerds at America’s Test Kitchen, The Cook’s Illustrated Meat Book: The Game-Changing Guide that Teaches You How to Cook Meat and Poultry with 425 Bulletproof Recipes.

A shot of the cover of Cook's Illustrated Meat Book

This carnivore-pleasing tome isn’t the first ATK book in my collection. Over the years, I’ve amassed over 30 of their books. (I’ve lost count, actually.) I don’t like to think of myself as a hoarder; I just can’t resist the lure of guaranteed-awesome recipes that have been tested dozens of times. The crew at ATK’s done all the tweaking and testing so that you and I can follow their recipes knowing that even dummies like us can’t screw things up too badly.

A big stack of Cook's Illustrated and America's Test Kitchen cookbooks with a Mini Michelle action figure in the middle.

ATK’s dishes are always solid, but its recipe for Weeknight Roast Chicken is a real game-changer. No fancy ingredients or techniques are needed; just grab a whole chicken, salt, pepper, some fat, a piece of string, and a meat thermometer, and PRESTO-CHANGE-O!—in less than 5 minutes, the chicken’ll be ready for the oven. Best of all, The Meat Book reveals the secret to moist chicken: Turn off the oven midway through the cooking time.

An overhead picture of paleo and Whole30 Weeknight Roast Chicken with browned skin on a wooden cutting board

I’ve tried it. It works. It’s genius.

Time to make Weeknight Roast Chicken!

Serves 4

Ingredients for the chicken:

  • 1 tablespoon Diamond Crystal brand kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 (3½- to 4-pound) whole chicken, giblets discarded
  • 1 tablespoon melted ghee (or fat of choice)

For the optional Tarragon-Lemon Pan Sauce:

  • 1 shallot, minced
  • 1 cup chicken broth or bone broth
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (or cold ghee for folks doing a Whole30)
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh tarragon
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Equipment:

  • 12-inch oven-safe skillet
  • Small bowl
  • Silicone brush
  • Cutting board
  • Chef’s knife
  • Butcher’s twine
  • Instant-read meat thermometer
  • Measuring spoons
  • Silicone spatula
  • Whisk

Method:

Position your oven rack in the middle position, place a 12-inch oven-safe skillet on it, shut the oven door, and crank the heat up to 450°F.

Placing a cold skillet into an oven to make weeknight roast chicken, a paleo and Whole30 chicken dinner

Mix together the salt and pepper in a small bowl, and grab the melted ghee.

Closeup of a small ramekin filled with salt and pepper to season weeknight roast chicken

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.

Someone patting dry a raw whole chicken with paper towels to make a simple roast chicken recipe

Really. Don’t skip this part. No one likes handling a slick chicken.

Pull off any extra fat around the open cavity, and trim away any extraneous skin.

Pulling off excess fat at the cavity of the raw whole chicken in preparation for Whole30 roast chicken

(If you happen to spot any remaining feathers, just pluck ’em out. Don’t get squeamish on me.)

Brush the entire surface of the bird with melted ghee. If your chicken is still cold from sitting in the refrigerator, the ghee may clump up a bit upon contact with the bird, but that’s no biggie.

Brushing melted ghee on a raw whole chicken on a gray cutting board to make healthy weeknight roast chicken

See my face? That’s not a worried expression.

Michelle Tam brushing melted ghee on a raw whole chicken to make paleo roast chicken

Sprinkle the salt and pepper mixture all over the surface and interior of the bird. Then, massage in the seasoning with your hands.

Sprinkling salt and pepper all over a raw whole chicken to make weeknight roast chicken

Tuck the chicken wings behind the back to keep ’em from burning in the oven…

Tucking the wings behind the back of a raw whole chicken to make Whole30 weeknight roast chicken

…and tie the legs together with a piece of kitchen twine.

Using kitchen twine to truss the legs of a Weeknight Roast Chicken

Dainty, right?

Now the bird’s ready for the oven. Place your bird breast-side up in the hot skillet in the oven. Remember that your skillet’s hot—don’t burn your hand.

A raw whole chicken is placed breast-side up in a hot skillet in the oven

Roast the chicken until the breast registers 120°F and thighs are 135°F, about 25 to 35 minutes. (If you haven’t already invested in a meat thermometer, I recommend that you do it. It’s a great insurance policy against ruined dinners.)

Checking the temperature on a Weeknight Roast Chicken. The meat thermometer shows 120 F on the display.

Immediately turn off the oven, leaving the chicken inside until the breast reaches 160°F and thighs are 175°F, about 25 to 35 more minutes. Again, use your meat thermometer to check your bird for readiness.

Removing a healthy and easy Weeknight Roast Chicken in a skillet from the oven.

Remove the chicken from the pan and rest it for 20 minutes.

Using a spatula to drip juices from Weeknight Roast Chicken into a skillet.

I used to use a pair of tongs to transfer roast chicken from pan to plate, but found that the teeth of my tongs would tear the beautifully crisp, golden skin. The solution? I now insert the handle-end of a sturdy wooden spoon or spatula into the bird’s cavity to lift it up and out—and to drain out any excess juices from the inside of the chicken.

The handle of a wooden spatula is used to help the juices from Weeknight Roast Chicken flow into a frying pan.

While the chicken’s resting…

Resting Weeknight Roast Chicken on a cutting board.

…we have time to whip up a quick pan sauce!

Remove all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the skillet. Leave the extra jus and brown bits in the pan. Then, heat the contents of the skillet over a medium-high burner. Once the liquid starts bubbling, throw in the shallots. Cook the shallots until softened.

The steps to make a pan sauce for Weeknight Roast ChickenThen, pour in the broth and the mustard, scraping up any tasty browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Simmer until reduced to ¾ cup.

Adding broth and mustard to the pan sauce for Weeknight Roast Chicken When the sauce is ready, remove it from the heat. Grab the chilled butter or ghee (use the latter if you’re on a Whole30!), and slowly whisk it into the sauce along with the lemon juice and minced tarragon. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Whisking cold ghee, lemon juice, and herbs for the pan gravy.Serve the chicken with the gravy!

A side view of Weeknight Roast Chicken and pan gravy on a cutting board.Voilà: the perfect roast chicken! Pair it with a simple salad or roasted vegetables, and treat your family to a midweek feast!

And then make them do the dishes.


Looking for more recipe ideas? Head on over to my Recipe Index. You’ll also find exclusive recipes on my iPhone and iPad app, and in my cookbooks, Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2013), Ready or Not! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2017), and Nom Nom Paleo: Let’s Go! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2021).


 PRINTER-FRIENDLY RECIPE CARD

Weeknight Roast Chicken by Michelle Tam https://nomnompaleo.com
Print Recipe
4.82 from 11 votes

Weeknight Roast Chicken

This fool-proof recipe for Weeknight Roast Chicken from the folks at America's Test Kitchen is the best way to cook chicken!
Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time1 hr
Total Time1 hr 15 mins
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken, gluten-free, keto, low carb, paleo, Primal, Whole30
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 506kcal
Author: Michelle Tam

Ingredients

Ingredients for the chicken:

  • 1 tablespoon Diamond Crystal brand kosher salt
  • ½  teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 3½- to 4-pound whole chicken, giblets discarded
  • 1 tablespoon melted ghee or fat of choice

For the optional Tarragon-Lemon Pan Sauce:

  • 1 shallot minced
  • 1 cup chicken broth or bone broth
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter or cold ghee for folks doing a Whole30
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh tarragon
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions 

  • Position your oven rack in the middle position, place a 12-inch oven-safe skillet on it, shut the oven door, and crank the heat up to 450°F.
  • Mix together the salt and pepper in a small bowl, and grab the melted ghee.
  • Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Pull off any extra fat around the open cavity, and trim away any extraneous skin.
  • Brush the entire surface of the bird with melted ghee. If your chicken is still cold from sitting in the refrigerator, the ghee may clump up a bit upon contact with the bird, but that’s no biggie.
  • Sprinkle the salt and pepper mixture all over the surface and interior of the bird. Then, massage in the seasoning with your hands.
  • Tuck the chicken wings behind the back to keep ’em from burning in the oven, and tie the legs together with a piece of kitchen twine.
  • Place your bird breast-side up in the hot skillet in the oven. Remember that your skillet’s hot—don’t burn your hand. 
  • Roast the chicken until the breast registers 120°F and thighs are 135°F, about 25 to 35 minutes. (If you haven’t already invested in a meat thermometer, I recommend that you do it. It’s a great insurance policy against ruined dinners.)
  • Immediately turn off the oven, leaving the chicken inside until the breast reaches 160°F and thighs are 175°F, about 25 to 35 more minutes. Again, use your meat thermometer to check your bird for readiness.
  • Remove the chicken from the pan and rest it for 20 minutes.
  • While the chicken’s resting, whip up a quick pan sauce! Remove all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the skillet. Leave the extra jus and brown bits in the pan. Then, heat the contents of the skillet over a medium-high burner. Once the liquid starts bubbling, throw in the shallots. Cook the shallots until softened.
  • Then, pour in the broth and the mustard, scraping up any tasty browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Simmer until reduced to ¾ cup.
  • When the sauce is ready, remove it from the heat. Grab the chilled butter or ghee (use the latter if you’re on a Whole30!), and slowly whisk it into the sauce along with the lemon juice and minced tarragon. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve the chicken with the sauce!

Notes

  • I used to use a pair of tongs to transfer roast chicken from pan to plate, but found that the teeth of my tongs would tear the beautifully crisp, golden skin. The solution? I now insert the handle-end of a sturdy wooden spoon or spatula into the bird’s cavity to lift it up and out—and to drain out any excess juices from the inside of the chicken.
  • Pair it with a simple salad or roasted vegetables, and treat your family to a midweek feast!
Tried this recipe?Mention @nomnompaleo or tag #nomnompaleo!

Nutrition

Calories: 506kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 38g | Fiber: 1g
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lauren says

    October 17, 2020 at 9:26 pm

    5 stars
    This was my first time cooking a whole chicken and it came out amazing. Im very picky about recipes for great tatste and strict about paleo eating. Thank you for this perfect cooked chicken confidence builder!

    Reply
  2. TWCone says

    November 21, 2020 at 3:39 pm

    Thank you for the wonderful recipe and the ATK cookbook recommendation. Would it work to use a cast iron skillet? I am not sure if my other skillets are oven safe.

    Reply
    • Michelle Tam says

      November 21, 2020 at 10:28 pm

      Cast iron works!

      Reply
    • John says

      December 5, 2020 at 10:42 pm

      5 stars
      Love this recipe, but every time I make it the chicken juices start smoking in the pan and my fire alarm goes off! Any tips to keep the smoke down? (I’m using ghee and placing the chicken in a cast iron skillet.) Thanks!

      Reply
      • Michelle Tam says

        December 10, 2020 at 1:42 am

        Not sure! Sometimes cast iron skillets can smoke because folks rarely scrub them well because they’re afraid of stripping the seasoning.

        Reply
  3. GMJ says

    December 31, 2020 at 11:39 am

    Shouldn’t the chicken be left to sit out of fridge first? #4 in your instructions says ” If your chicken is cold from the fridge” I would think that would affect/ determine the cooking time and MAYBE ?? cause outside of bird getting done much before the deeper internal meat ? Any clarifications ?

    Reply
    • Michelle Tam says

      January 2, 2021 at 7:24 pm

      You will be using a meat thermometer to determine when to remove the chicken from the oven. Per this article, letting meat sit at room temperature before cooking doesn’t really change the cooking time: https://www.seriouseats.com/2013/06/the-food-lab-7-old-wives-tales-about-cooking-steak.html

      Reply
  4. Franklin G says

    April 23, 2021 at 1:09 am

    5 stars
    Great to see this recipe from ATK on your site! We’ve been using this method for years and it’s almost foolproof. Brining (7%, 12 hours) does make the chicken more juicy, but who has time for that during the week — totally optional, but worth it if you have the time and have planned ahead. I do recommend putting a half a lemon, half a head of garlic, and some thyme sprigs in the cavity of the chicken before trussing. It only adds about 2 minutes to the process and does provide a nice additional perfume to the finished chicken. I always use a cast iron skillet, and have begun adding some halved fingerling potatoes, carrots, pearl onions, etc. to the pan at the stage where the oven is turned off. It’s usually enough time to roast the vegetables perfectly, but if they still need a bit more, you can finish while the chicken rests. Roasting the root vegetables in the rendered chicken fat and jus makes them insanely good. Thanks for posting!

    Reply
  5. Jihan Nicole Mitchell says

    August 18, 2021 at 5:48 pm

    Any ideas for what to do with the left overs.
    Can I used the cooked chicken in any of your recipes for the following day?

    Reply
    • Michelle Tam says

      August 19, 2021 at 3:03 pm

      Yes! You can add it to this soup: https://nomnompaleo.com/instant-pot-vegetable-soup or add use it in one of these salads: https://nomnompaleo.com/9-whole30-salad-recipes

      Reply
  6. Jerry says

    January 1, 2022 at 6:39 am

    I followed the recipe, 35min cooking at 450, 35 mn with heat off oven door shut. Chicken still raw even without a thermometer. Placed back in on a flat pan, 15min at 450, chicken done, tasted great. Lesson, leave in for 45 min at 450.

    Reply
  7. Dana B says

    March 10, 2022 at 9:57 pm

    5 stars
    This was excellent! Thank you so much for the recipe. I’ve seen it a dozen times on ATK but never wrote it down. I found your site and tried it tonight. Absolute perfection!

    Reply
  8. Judy Hoctor says

    July 31, 2022 at 2:45 pm

    How do you remove the fat in the saucepan (except for the one tablespoon)? Do you have any tricks? At one point I had a slanted measuring cup, but I never could figure out how to use it!

    Reply

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