Name: Recipe for Roasted Chicken with Root Vegetables | Almanac.com
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 chicken; approximately 3 pounds; 2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil; divided; kosher or sea salt; to taste; 2 sprigs fresh rosemary; 1 small orange; quartered; 1 turnip; peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces; 4 to 6 red or yellow beets; peeled and halved if small; quartered if large; 2 medium onions; quartered; 3 carrots; peeled and sliced; freshly ground black pepper; to taste; one lemon; halved (optional); 3 tablespoons salted butter (optional); 1 tablespoon sugar (optional)

chicken leg on a plate with roasted root vegetables

Photo Credit

Sam Jones/Quinn Brein

Written By: The Old Farmer’s Almanac Editors The Almanac Editors and Staff

Yield

4 servings

Instructions

Preheat oven to 450ºF.

Optional expert tip: Rub the bird all over with lemon. The acid breaks down the fiber, which helps make the chicken more tender.

Rub outside of chicken with 1 tablespoon oil.

Optional expert tip: Instead of oil, brush the skin all over with butter if you want that browned, golden look.

Sprinkle chicken with a few pinches of salt.

Optional expert tip: Instead of just salt, try a seasoning made with sugar. The little bit of sugar creates a crisp crust, similar to honey hams.

Stuff cavity with rosemary. Lightly squeeze orange pieces to release juices and place in cavity.

Scatter vegetables in a roasting pan. Toss with remaining oil and season with salt and pepper. Place chicken on top of vegetables breast side up.

Roast for 30 minutes; then lower oven temperature to 350ºF and cook for 30 to 45 minutes longer, or until a thermometer inserted into the thigh reads 165ºF.

Remove from oven and let rest for 20 minutes to let the juices settle into the chicken for a juicy, moist taste.

Slice and serve with roasted vegetables and pan juices.

About The Author

The Old Farmer’s Almanac Editors

The Almanac Editors and Staff

Under the guiding hand of its first editor, Robert B. Thomas, the premiere issue of The Old Farmer’s Almanac was published in 1792 during George Washington’s first term as president.Today, the Almanac...

Read More from The Old Farmer’s Almanac Editors