Indian Spiced Roast Chicken

This incredibly flavorsome chicken is maybe the best roast chicken recipe I have tried. Definitely in the top 3. It’s so aromatic and juicy and the skin is something to fight over. I love making this roast chicken when I have guests coming over because it takes very little effort and delivers big on flavor. Served with my easy flatbread, a quick yogurt raita and a refreshing cucumber and red onion salad, it becomes a casual feast.

How to roast a whole chicken

Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F. Combine vegetable oil, garam masala (or any curry spice blend), paprika, cardamom, crushed garlic and ginger, sugar, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a small bowl or jug and mix well. Place a whole, cleaned chicken on a chopping board. It is not necessary to rinse chicken, in fact, it has been proven that rinsing a chicken spreads bacteria more. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels then loosen the skin over the breast (this can be done with a tablespoon). Brush the marinade over the chicken, lifting the skin over the breast and pushing some of the marinade over the breast meat. Make sure to cover the chicken entirely and spoon the remaining marinade into the cavity. Place the chicken into a roasting dish and add quartered onions and garlic cloves. Place in the oven then turn the heat down to 180°C/350°F. Allow to roast for 45-60 minutes. Test if the chicken is done by cutting between the drumstick and the breast. If the juices run clear, the chicken is cooked. If the chicken is not done yet, roast for another 15-30 minutes until fully cooked. Remove the cooked chicken from the oven and allow to rest for at least 10 minutes before carving and serving.

How long to roast a chicken

A 1.5kg/3.3lb chicken will take approximately 45-60 minutes to roast at 180°C/350°F. To test if a chicken is cooked, cut between the drumstick and breast. If the juices run clear the chicken is cooked. You can also use a meat thermometer which should read 75°C/165°F when inserted into the thickest part of the chicken.

How to reheat roast chicken

Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F. Place the chicken on a rimmed baking sheet and heat for 10-15 minutes until heated through. Alternatively, reheat the roasted chicken in a pan set over medium heat until heated through.