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Perfect Oven Roasted Chicken Recipe

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The easiest way to get the perfect girl to fall in love with you, serve her a perfectly roasted beautiful bird.  The mythical aphrodisiac effects of the golden crispy skin and luscious meat will unfold before your very eyes.  Or at least she will give a hearty compliment on your valiant attempt and big hug.  But hey, I’ve heard success stories…

Recipe Inspiration – The Perfectly Roasted Chicken, Mindy Fox

This method really benefits from starting with a high quality chicken.  I have had the best luck with air-chilled birds.  As much as I like to eat organic, I have found that the Whole Foods chicken that is one step below (around $8 per bird) are pretty comparable.  Learn to cook a chicken with this technique and you will never be tortured with dry white meat again.  Rarely a week goes by in which I don’t roast a bird for at least one meal. If I am feeling fancy, rich or just want to impress some special lady, I will splurge on the most expensive organic bird I can get my hands on.  I still remember this $22 bird I got from a small butcher shop (The Local Pig) in Kansas City, roasted it, and MIND BLOWN.  I learned the power of happy, healthy chicken on that fateful evening.  Wow.

 

 

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Roasted Chicken Recipe

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Ingredients

• 1 – Whole Chicken
• olive oil – to drizzle
• 2-4 tablespoons – Rustic Tuscan spice or favorite herbs

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(SUPER IMPORTANT) Prior to cooking, get chicken out refrigerator 1-2 hours before cooking and place on counter.  This allows the chicken to warm up a bit closer to room temperature and a juicer finished bird.

 

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Preheat oven to 400F.  Put the baking dish or baking sheet into the oven now (SUPER IMPORTANT).  My favorite pan is an enamel coated cast iron gratin pan.  But a foil covered baking sheet works 95% as good.  Don’t use a glass dish for this method or you may crack it!  Do this early so that the pan is in the preheated oven for at least 20 mins.

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Un-wrap chicken and dry with paper towels if necessary. Chop whole chicken in half, and cut out the spine.  If you are not confident enough with your chef’s knife to do this, just ask them at the meat counter.  Or just buy some already cut up.  This is a rather forgiving recipe!

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Place chicken in a large Tupperware or bowl.  Drizzle 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil all over chicken.  Sprinkle generously with your favorite herbs and spices on all surfaces.  I love the Rustic Tuscan Seasoning, available from Costco and it’s worth its weight in gold in my kitchen.  Use hands to spread over meat and to incorporate with oil.

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Remove pan from oven with hot pads.  Place chicken bone-side down (skin up) on pan.  Return to oven immediately.  By preheating your pan, the chicken will begin cooking more quickly, helping to make it juicier inside and the skin more awesome.

(A true secret of perfect chicken roasting!)

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Cook for 20 minutes, then move chicken around a bit and return to oven.  I typically don’t flip the pieces, maintaining the beautiful crispy skin.

Continue cooking for 20-25 minutes until skin is a golden brown. If you have an instant-read thermometer, the breasts should read 160 F and the thighs should read 180 F.

Let’s Eat!