This post may contain affiliate links, please see the privacy policy for details.
This holiday roasted chicken delivers cozy, aromatic flavors in a simple one‑pot dish that’s perfect for festive dinners or special weeknight meals. Garlic, lemon, rosemary and onion infuse the bird with classic holiday flair while roasting. With crispy skin and juicy meat, this recipe feels elevated without being complicated. Whether you’re hosting a gathering or just treating yourself, this roasted chicken makes a flavorful centerpiece that you’ll reach for again and again.
This holiday roasted chicken features garlic, rosemary, lemon and butter. It’s a juicy, flavorful roast bird that’s holiday-worthy but simple enough for everyday meals.
Also try slow cooker chicken and stuffing, cranberry cream cheese steak, frosted cranberry cookies and mulled wine Fireball shots.
Why You’ll Love It
Truly delicious: There’s nothing plain or boring about this delicious roasted chicken recipe. Roast chicken with tender vegetables and succulent fresh herbs cooks perfectly in a roasting pan in the oven and is an ideal dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
So easy: It’s simple to make a great Thanksgiving or Christmas roast chicken recipe. Chicken is such a versatile protein and can be jazzed up for a special occasion or used in so many other ways. Here the chicken is roasted whole with delicate, aromatic flavors.
Wonderfully versatile: This recipe can be tweaked however you wish if you want to change up the flavors or use different seasonings. Leftover chicken can also be turned into a wide array of chicken recipes.
Holiday Roasted Chicken Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Whole chicken: Provides juicy meat and serves as a festive centerpiece.
Garlic bulb: Roasted to mellow and sweeten the flavor, used in butter.
Olive oil: Drizzled over garlic before roasting and helps season the chicken.
Butter: Combined with garlic to coat the skin for richness and moisture.
White onion: Placed inside the cavity to aromatize during roasting.
Lemon wedges: Add brightness and a subtle citrus note while roasting inside.
Rosemary sprigs: Infuse fragrant herb flavor into the cavity and exterior.
Bay leaves: Impart subtle herbal depth when placed in the cavity.
How to Make Garlic Roasted Chicken
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Roast the garlic: Wrap the peeled cloves of a garlic bulb (or however much garlic you want to use) in foil and add some oil and salt. Roast it in a hot oven for half an hour to make the garlic butter. Meanwhile bring the chicken and butter to room temperature.
Make garlic butter and prep the chicken: Take the roasted garlic out of the oven (it’s going to smell really good!) and mix half of it with the softened butter. Brush this mixture over the outside of the chicken (for a crisp skin) and put the remainder inside the chicken cavity. Also put the lemon slices or wedges, rosemary and onion in the cavity. This flavorful chicken is perfect for family dinners or Christmas dinner.
Truss the bird and cook it: Tie the chicken legs together with twine or kitchen string to keep the stuffing inside. Grind over some salt and pepper and add some more chopped fresh rosemary on top as well if you like. Now you can roast the prepared chicken in the oven for an hour. This delicious roasted chicken which is perfect for Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner is worth the wait! While the chicken roasts, you can start preparation of side dishes or just relax (which is the whole point of an easy roast chicken recipe – right?)
Cook until done: Cover the baked chicken with foil and give it another hour or cook until the chicken is 165°F inside. It’s best to check with a meat thermometer and check the thickest part of the thigh or the chicken breast.
Let it rest: Let the chicken rest in the roasting pan while you finish preparing whichever side dishes you’re going to serve. This is the juiciest chicken and you are going to love all the pan drippings to make a gravy if desired.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten free: The recipe is naturally gluten free.
Non‑dairy option: Replace the butter with vegan spread or olive oil.
Herb swap: Use thyme, sage or parsley in place of rosemary.
Citrus variation: Substitute orange slices for lemon for a sweeter aroma.
Serving Suggestions
Side dishes: Possible sides for this holiday roast chicken include candied maple pecan sweet potatoes, smoked asparagus, Brussels sprouts, roasted beets or even something completely different like mushroom risotto. And don’t forget the cranberry sauce!
Dessert: Finish your meal with pumpkin cheesecake.
How to Store Leftover Roasted Chicken
Store: Let the meat cool completely and then it should be fine for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Freeze: Freezing is another option. Again, make sure it’s in an airtight container or Ziploc freezer bags. The chicken should be good for several months.
Thaw: Thaw it overnight in the fridge.
Reheat: Reheat in the oven or microwave or add chicken pieces directly into a recipe, depending what you’re making with it.
Top Tips
Let it sit at room temperature: Bringing the chicken to room temperature before roasting helps it cook evenly.
Use a meat thermometer: Check the thickest part of the thigh to make sure it reaches 165°F.
Don’t skip resting: Resting keeps juices locked in and makes slicing easier.
Roast garlic first: Roasting garlic separately lets you control browning and ensures it’s soft enough to mash.
Whole Roasted Chicken FAQs
You can make anything from a chicken salad sandwich, chicken pastina soup and chicken omelets to a stir-fry with leftover chicken. There are many leftover chicken dishes so don’t throw it out!
My 5-pound chicken took about 2 hours. The general rule for estimating the cooking time for a perfect roast chicken recipe is to give it about half an hour per pound at 400°F, but ovens do vary as do roasted chicken holiday dinner recipes. For this reason, double-check with your instant-read thermometer. When the internal temperature in the thickest part of the thigh registers over 165°F, further roasting can dry the bird out.
Holiday Roasted Chicken Recipe
Holiday Roasted Chicken
Equipment
- Carving Knife
Ingredients
- 5 Pounds chicken, whole
- 1 Bulb garlic
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 Teaspoon sea salt, or kosher salt
- ½ Cup butter
- 1 white onion
- 1 lemon, sliced or wedged
- 4 Sprigs rosemary
- 1 Teaspoon black pepper, freshly cracked
- 3 bay leaves
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Cut one end off the garlic bulb. Place garlic in foil and drizzle with olive oil and sea salt. Seal and roast for 30 minutes. Take the chicken and butter out for room temperature as the garlic roasts.
- Remove garlic (roasted cloves) and separate into 2 halves. Combine ½ with the butter.
- Brush chicken with the butter. Add any remaining inside the cavity with rosemary lemon and onion. Tie the legs.
- Season with rosemary salt and pepper. Place onto a roast pan in the oven on the center rack and roast for 1 hour.
- Top with foil and cook for another hour or until it reaches a 165°F internal temperature.
- Let roast chicken rest 10 minutes.
- Slice and serve.
Notes
Use a meat thermometer: Check the thickest part of the thigh to make sure it reaches 165°F.
Don’t skip resting: Resting keeps juices locked in and makes slicing easier.
Roast garlic first: Roasting garlic separately lets you control browning and ensures it’s soft enough to mash.
Nutrition
Holiday roasted chicken gives you a rich and savory classic without needing complicated techniques or equipment. Garlic butter, citrus and herbs come together to deliver a deeply flavored roasted bird with crisp skin and tender meat. It’s a recipe you can trust for festive or simple meals. With minimal prep and big results, this roast chicken definitely belongs on your weekly or holiday menu.
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
The lemon and rosemary made this chicken so juicy—it’s now a family favorite!
This roasted chicken turned out so juicy! Perfect for a cozy weeknight meal or a special occasion.
I love roasted chicken so much and your recipe is the best! My mom just asked me to make it again this weekend! 🤭😋
The most perfectly cooked roasted chicken I’ve had. Thank you!
Tried this recipe and my family loved it! Planning to make it again next week.
This was so juicy and tender. It’s my new favorite chicken recipe.
This roasted chicken was so tender and juicy. It was perfect for our small family gathering.
Ok, I have made roasted chicken tons of times, but I never thought of using roasted garlic, what a game changer. Great recipe.
This roasted chicken came out so juicy! I absolutely loved the flavors. So good!
I don’t even know where to start! This recipe was incredible and the chicken tasted amazing! We all enjoyed the recipe and will make it again!
What an amazing recipe! The lemon and garlic really came through and it was so juicy! A show-stopping entree!
This looks so juicy! Love all the garlic, too.