Dutch Oven Whole Chicken

Name: Dutch Oven Whole Chicken
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 105 min
Total time: 120 min
Ingredients: 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened); 2 teaspoons salt; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano; 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 5 pounds whole chicken; 1 pound baby potatoes; 1 pound carrots (chopped); 1 cup chicken broth

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Learn how to make the best Dutch Oven Whole Chicken! It’s roasted in the oven until the skin is crispy and the meat is juicy and tender. Add some vegetables, like potatoes and carrots to make it an easy one pot meal recipe!

Whole roasted chicken in a Dutch oven with potatoes and carrots.

This is my foolproof recipe to cook a whole chicken in a Dutch oven! The meat comes out perfectly tender and juicy, while the skin is crispy and flavorful from the seasoning.

Why to roast chicken in a Dutch Oven

Even cooking. Dutch oven is made with cast iron, which helps to retain and evenly distribute the heat and cook the meat more evenly.
Moist and juicy meat. When roasting with the lid on, the steam is trapped inside the pot. That helps the meat to stay moist and juicy while cooking.
Make a one pot meal. Add some vegetables at the bottom of the pot to make it a one pot dish!

Ingredients and substitution

Whole Chicken. In this recipe, I used 5 pound whole chicken. For a different weight, you might need to adjust the cooking time.
Butter. Make sure that you use softened butter, so it will be easier to evenly spread it over the meat.
Seasoning. I use my classic blend of garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper, which provides the best combo of flavor and aroma.
Vegetables. I love adding potatoes and carrots to this dish, as I always have them on hand. You can also add other hearty veggies, like onion, parsnip, or celery.

Ingredients to make whole roasted chicken with vegetables.

How to make it

In a small mixing bowl, add 8 tbsp unsalted softened butter, 2 tsp salt, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, ½ tsp dried oregano, ½ tsp dried thyme, and ½ tsp black pepper. Using a fork, cream everything together until well combined. Set aside.

Process photos of mixing butter with herbs and seasoning.

Prepare the chicken, by removing the goblet from the cavity. Then, pat dry it thoroughly from all the sides.

Rub the butter/seasoning mixture all over the whole chicken, including under the breast skin and inside the cavity.

Whole chicken beofre and after rubbed with butter and herbs.

Preheat the oven to 425°F.

In a pot, add 1 pound baby potatoes, 1 pound chopped carrots, ½ tsp salt, and 1 cup chicken broth. Give it a stir.

Place the meat on top. Using a chicken twine, tie the legs tightly.

Baby potatoes, carrots, and whole chicken in a Dutch oven.

Cover the pot with the lid and bake at 425°F covered for 1 hour 15 minutes. Then remove the lid and continue baking for another 30 minutes or until the internal temperature of the meat reaches at least 165°F and the skin is crispy and golden color.

When done, take it out of the oven and let sit on the counter for at least 10 minutes before carving and serving.

Tips for best results

Crispy skin. Patting the chicken skin dry will ensure that the skin will come out perfectly crispy.
More flavor. Don’t forget to rub the butter/seasoning mixture under the breast skin and inside the cavity, so the meat will absorb more flavor.
Juicy meat. When the chicken is cooked and reached the safe temperature, take it out of the oven and let sit on the counter for at least 10 minutes. This way, will will have enough time to redistribute the juices and keep the meat moist.
Even cooking. To make sure the meat is cooked evenly, I take the chicken out of the fridge and let it sit on the counter for at least 20 minutes to get to the room temperature.

How to use roasted chicken leftovers

Add it to the pasta, like Vegetable Pasta Bake, Creamy Vegetable Pasta, Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta, or Chicken Broccoli Ziti.
Add it to the salad, like Chicken Macaroni Salad, Chicken Cobb Salad, or Olivie.
Add it to the soup, like Instant Pot Chicken Soup, Instant Pot Taco Soup, or White Bean Soup.
Use the carcass to make Homemade Chicken Stock.

Frequently Asked Questions

What to do if I don’t have dutch oven?

If you don’t have a Dutch oven, you can make this recipe in a deep baking dish or a cast iron skillet and just cover meat with foil, instead of the lid.

What size Dutch Oven to use?

I use a standard 6 Qt Dutch oven.

Do I need to baste the roasted chicken?

No, you don’t need to baste meat. Because we roast it with the lid on, it creates enough steam inside the pot to keep the meat moist.

How long to roast a whole chicken?

In this recipe, I used 5 lb whole chicken, which takes 1 hour 15 minutes to cook with the lid on and 30 minutes with the lid off. If your chicken is a different size, you will need to adjust the cooking time.

How to know if the chicken is cooked through?

To ensure the meat is safe to eat, you will need to use a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should reach at least 165°F. Although, I like to keep it up to 170-175°F.

How to store?

You can tightly wrap the leftovers in foil and refrigerate for 3-4 days.