Looking for an impressive, but simple-to-make centerpiece for a timeless home cooked meal? Look no farther than this moist whole baked chicken infused with the flavors of fresh basil, garlic and onion. This roasted chicken recipe is an elegant and contemporary take on a classic American staple that takes only minutes to prepare.
The approach I use ensures juicy, flavorful meat complimented by beautifully browned crispy skin. Adding a bit of water to the baking dish and partially covering the chicken with foil delivers wonderfully moist meat without turning the skin soggy. With the aromatics added to the chicken and water, a rich aroma permeates the meat. You and your family or guests will savor this melt-in-your-mouth delicacy.
Roasted Garlic Basil Chicken Recipe
If you make this recipe, let me know! Pin it to your food board so you can come back and make it again and again. I hope you enjoy this amazing roasted chicken recipe as much as I enjoyed sharing it!
- 1 whole fresh chicken (neck and giblets removed)
- 1 to 2 cups water
- 1 small sweet or yellow onion, slivered thinly
- 4 to 6 cloves of fresh chopped garlic, or 1 to 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 5 to 10 fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
- Set oven to preheat at 375°F and place rack in the lower middle part of the oven.
- Place the chicken on a cutting board and pat it dry with paper towels. Discard the neck and giblets if present and cut off any extra skin or fat hanging around the body cavity.
- Gently work half of the garlic, several slivered onion slices and half of the fresh basil leaves under the skin of the chicken breast.
- Drizzle the oil on top of the skin and rub it to cover the whole chicken evenly.
- Season the skin generously with salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder and dried basil. Finish by sprinkling on the remaining fresh chopped basil leaves.
- Place the chicken breast-side up in a cast-iron skillet, roasting pan or baking dish.
- Pour 1 to 2 cups of water in the bottom of the baking dish and arrange the rest of the garlic and onion around the chicken in the water.
- Create a loose canopy of foil to cover the chicken and bake with foil covering for 1.5 hours at 375°F. Be sure to roast the chicken until the juices run clear and a thermometer inserted into the inner thigh (but not touching the bone) registers 165°F.
- After the initial roasting, uncover the chicken and place back in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes, now set to 425°F. Keep a close eye on your chicken and remove it when it is golden brown. If your oven runs hot, you may want to consider using a lower temperature, such as 400°F for this step.
- Remove the chicken and transfer to a serving platter or cutting board for carving.
Ok, now I’m hungry for lunch. Wish I had the energy to go to the store….pinning to make later next week.
This looks and sounds amazing!!
Ok, I love these flavors. I do, I do, I do. It’s been a long time since I’ve cooked a whole chicken. Sounds wonderful!
Thanks for the post, I found your recipe and I just made it, It was a hit with the hubby, thanks a lot. the sweet onion added such a savory flavor. 🙂 All the ingredients was reletively inexpensive. too
Sounds delicious!
This sounds so good and it is gluten free too.
I like making whole roasted chickens in the oven. It tastes so good and is so easy to make. This recipe looks like a really good recipe to make. My Dad would love this!
Thanks for the recipe. Sounds yummy
xo
Looks yummy! We eat a lot of chicken at our house, and I am always looking for new ways to cook it. I am definitely going to try this!
Mmmm roast chicken is one of my favourite foods. So comforting and delicious.
Thanks for sharing this great take on it!
x
omg imma make this 2mrow
This is the second Garlic recipe on you site and I am loving it.. I buy fresh garlic and jar garlic and can never get enough.. I am trying this recipe this weekend.
I love chicken! Thank you for the recipe
I like easy recipes that do not require a lot of mixing and I like this recipe for Roasted chicken. I have been wanting to make a roasted chicken and this one looks so delicious.
Oh yum! this looks good, I have never tried to cook a whole chicken..is it easy to do? i’m new at cooking!
Chicken is my favorite protein and we eat it often. Your chicken looks really juicy and tender. Just the way I love my chicken.
Yes it is!! I hope you try the recipe… if you do, let me know how it goes!!
Do you think this could be made in a crockpot instead? Or has anyone tried it? Wondering what adjustments to make or how long/setting to use. Thanks.
This is in my oven right now. Smells SO GOOD!! Since my chicken is 6.75 lbs it is taking longer. Been in for 1.5 hrs and temp is 140. So checking it at 15 min intervals. So excited to taste this beautiful roasted chicken!
I made this tonight with Thighs with leg attached so I had to adjust the cooking time but otherwise followed the recipe exactly. I must say, this was the best damn roasted chicken I’ve ever made. Thank you!
Very good – perfect to use with our onions, garlic, and basil straight out of the garden (no way we’re using dried basil – the fresh stuff is where the flavor is!). 🙂