The Best Ever Juicy & Flavorful Roasted Chicken

by Molly | Sep 13, 2023 | Flourish in the Kitchen, Healthy Recipes, Meal Planning & Prep, Nourishing Your Body

Looking for a surefire way to impress your friends and family at dinner time? Look no further than this Best Ever Juicy & Flavorful Roasted Chicken recipe. This mouth-watering dish is sure to have everyone begging for seconds, and who knows, maybe even thirds!

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First Things First

To get started, preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. If your oven has a roasting setting, use that setting. If it does not have a roasting setting, don’t worry! I will tell you what to do when it is time.

While the oven is heating up, take your whole chicken and remove the innards. Rinse the chicken well under cold water and pat dry with paper towel.

Prepare Your Chicken for Roasting

To prep your bird, give it a nice little massage with some olive oil or melted butter. We want to make sure this bird feels loved and appreciated before it goes into the oven.

Using your hands, separate (but do not remove) the skin from the meat. Be sure to massage your oil/butter under the skin, on the meat, and outside of the skin.

Next, generously sprinkle some salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder all over your chicken- don’t forget to season under the skin! This will help bring out all those delicious flavors we’re looking for.

Now, this is where things get really exciting. Take a lemon and give it a good squeeze all over the chicken. This will not only add some zest to the dish, but it will also make your chicken look like it’s posing for a fancy food magazine.

Oven Roasting Your Chicken

Place your chicken in a roasting pan atop a bed of chopped onions and tent with foil. Pop it in the oven for about 1 hour and 30 minutes, removing every 30 minutes to baste with the pan juices.

If your oven has a roasting setting, simply return your bird for 30 more minutes, uncovered. You’ll know it’s done when the juices run clear and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

If your oven does not have a roasting setting, have no fear! Just turn your oven’s temperature up to 400 degrees and allow the chicken to roast uncovered for 30 more minutes or until the juices run clear and the internal temp has reached 165 degrees.

Pro-tip: If you’re feeling sad that your oven doesn’t have a roasting setting, you can elevate your mood by playing the classic throwback “Hot in Here” by Nelly and dancing around your kitchen.

I can say from experience that it does in fact make your chicken taste even better.

Helpful Gadgets & Tools:

When roasting anything, I have a few kitchen “must haves”:

• A roasting pan, like this roasting pan here.
• These long handle wooden measuring spoons
• This digital meat thermometer that has a lifetime warranty
• This 10-in-1, 8 blade vegetable chopper
• These non slip, silicone, high heat resistant oven mits

Now, sit back, relax, and let the compliments roll in. Trust me, with this Best Ever Juicy & Flavorful Roasted Whole Chicken recipe, you’ll be the talk of the town.

Juicy & Flavorful Oven Roasted Whole Chicken

Yield: 1 Bird

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours

Additional Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes

This Juicy & Flavorful Roasted Whole Chicken recipe is the perfect dish for any occasion. With a crispy golden skin and tender, succulent meat, this chicken is sure to impress your guests. The secret to its delicious flavor lies in the aromatic blend of herbs and spices used to season the chicken, which infuses the meat with a rich, savory taste. Whether you're hosting a dinner party or simply looking for a cozy family meal, this roasted chicken is a surefire hit that will leave everyone satisfied and wanting more.

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Ingredients

• 1 Whole Chicken (2-3 lbs), innards removed
• 1 stick butter
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 lemon, halved
• 4 tbsp salt or seasoning salt
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp onion powder

Instructions

Preparing Your Chicken:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. If you have a roasting setting on your oven, use that setting. If not, that's okay, we will adjust the temperature again before the bird finishes roasting.
2. In a small bowl, combine seasonings and mix well. Set aside.
3. Line base of roasting pan with aluminum foil.
4. Chop onion into large chunks and spread over aluminum foil.
5. Rinse chicken well under cool water and pat dry with paper towel. Using your hands, carefully pull the skin away from the meat but do not remove the skin. You want to create a pocket for the seasonings and butter to lay in. Do not skip this step. This is the key to delicious, flavorful meat and crispy outer skin.
6. Season the bird, inside the skin and on top of the skin, on all sides.
7. Chop butter into 1/2 tbsp pads. Place pads directly under the skin on all sides of the bird, paying attention to the breast, wings, thighs, and legs. Season inside of the cavity as well.
8. Once your chicken is seasoned generously (feel free to whip up additional batches of seasonings or just measure with your heart!), stuff the cavity with some chopped onion and the lemon.
9. Place seasoned and stuffed chicken on top of onion bed in pan. Cover with aluminum foil making a dome or tent shape.

Roasting Your Chicken:

1. Place covered chicken in preheated oven and roast for 30 minutes. Remove chicken and baste with the juices from the pan.
2. Roast again, covered, for 60 minutes, removing the chicken to baste every 30 minutes.
3. Turn the oven temperature up to 400 degrees and leave chicken uncovered. Roast for final 30 minutes. (*Note: Skip this temperature change if your oven does have a roast setting.)
4. Using a meat thermometer, confirm that the chicken has reached 165 degrees internally.
5. Allow to rest for 15 minutes before carving to allow the juices to redistribute properly.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 310

The Best Ever, Perfectly Tender, Slow-Roasted Pork Shoulder

by Molly | Sep 11, 2023 | Flourish in the Kitchen, Healthy Recipes, Meal Planning & Prep, Nourishing Your Body

Transform Your Pork Shoulder from Dry to Delicious with This Recipe!

Are you tired of bland and tasteless pork shoulder? Look no further, because I have a recipe that will change your life (or at least your dinner plans). This slow-roasted pork shoulder is so tender and juicy, it will make your taste buds dance with joy.

Prep Your Pork Shoulder

To start, let’s talk prep. You’ll need a few ingredients: pork shoulder, salt, pepper, garlic, paprika, brown sugar, and a whole lot of patience. Trust me, the final result is worth the effort.

Trimming the Fat

Now, don’t panic here thinking you’ll need to cut all of that beautiful marbling out of your meat- we are simply removing the excess fat that may be on your roast. For me, there was a large layer on the underside of my roast. Just carefully carve away that layer to reveal even more beautiful marbling! Your roast should look something like this:

Before trimming that excess fat (shown on the right in the picture above), there was a large area of white covering the underside of my roast. In addition to this large spot, I also trimmed a few smaller areas that had thicker deposits of fat around the edges. By removing this fat, you are able to achieve that nice, flavorful crust. Trust me, you don’t want to skip this step.

Seasoning Your Pork Shoulder

In a small bowl, combine the following seasonings and mix well:

• Brown Sugar
• Paprika
• Garlic Powder
• Salt
• Pepper

Once you’ve combined your seasonings, massage your pork shoulder generously with the mixture. Be sure not to miss the sides! Place in a glass 9×13 baking dish.

Pro-tip: For added flavor, you can add minced garlic to the top of your roast. I do not always do this and the result is still plenty delicious!

Slow Roasting Your Pork Shoulder

The key here is patience! Or multi-tasking if you’re one (like me) who loves to get multiple things done at once.

Cover your well-seasoned roast with aluminum foil and place into preheated oven (325 degrees). Set a timer for 3.5 hours and walk away! Be patient and try not to open the oven door too often, as you don’t want to lose any of the deliciousness.

After your timer goes off, remove aluminum foil and allow to roast for another hour.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, the pork shoulder will be done. It should be fragrant and falling apart at this point.

Carving/Shredding

Once you have removed your beautifully tender roast from the oven, you will want to begin shredding it fairly quickly. Let the roast sit, uncovered, for about 5 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute through the meat. Then, using two forks, shred it up and serve it with your favorite sides. Roasted veggies or mashed potatoes are great choices.

Pro-tip: For larger roasts, use a carving knife and cut your roast into smaller chunks for more manageable shredding.

And there you have it, the best ever, perfectly tender, slow roasted pork shoulder recipe. Your taste buds will be delighted, and your guests will be asking for seconds. Don’t be surprised if they ask for the recipe too – it’s up to you if you want to share your secret weapon!

Perfectly Tender Slow-Roasted Pork Butt/Pork Shoulder

Yield: (2) 9x13 Pans of meat

Looking for a delicious and easy way to cook pork shoulder? Look no further than this perfectly tender slow roasted pork shoulder recipe! With a simple combination of herbs, spices, and a bit of patience, you can create a mouthwatering dish that is sure to impress.

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Ingredients

• 1 Pork Roast (Butt/Shoulder) approx. 4- 5 lbs.
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1.5 tsp paprika
• 1.5 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• BBQ Sauce, for serving

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Trim excess fat from outer sides of the pork roast.
3. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
4. Rub seasoning mixture over all sides of roast, massaging it in gently.
5. Place seasoned roast into 9x13 baking dish and cover with aluminum foil.
6. Bake for 3.5 hours covered, then remove foil and roast for another hour, or until roast reaches an internal temperature of 195 degrees.
7. Remove from oven and let rest, uncovered, for five minutes so juices can redistribute.
8. Carve and shred pork and add bbq sauce if desired.
9. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

To Store:

Seal in airtight container and store for up to four days in the refrigerator.

To Freeze:

Allow meat to cool completely, then place in an air tight container. Freeze for up to 3 months.

To Reheat:

Allow frozen meat to thaw in refrigerator overnight. Reheat in microwave or slowly reheat in oven.