Crisp Roast Chicken Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• In a spice grinder or mortar, combine kosher salt, caraway seeds, sage, fennel, coriander, and rosemary. Grind to a coarse powder. Transfer spice mixture to a bowl and stir in paprika, garlic powder, flour, and onion powder; mix in vegetable oil to make a smooth paste.
• Pat chicken halves dry with paper towels and tuck wing tips up behind the back. Brush spice paste onto chicken halves, coating both sides, taking care to season under wings and legs. Place chicken halves in baking dish or roasting pan with skin sides up, leaving space around chicken so halves aren't touching.
• Roast in preheated oven until a thermometer inserted in a thigh reads 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 1 hour. Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Remove the chicken giblets. Rinse the chicken inside and out. Remove any excess fat and leftover pin feathers and pat the outside dry. Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the chicken. Stuff the cavity with the bunch of thyme, both halves of lemon, and all the garlic. Brush the outside of the chicken with the butter and sprinkle again with salt and pepper. Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the chicken. Place the onions, carrots, and fennel in a roasting pan. Toss with salt, pepper, 20 sprigs of thyme, and olive oil. Spread around the bottom of the roasting pan and place the chicken on top.
• Roast the chicken for 1 1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear when you cut between a leg and thigh. Remove the chicken and vegetables to a platter and cover with aluminum foil for about 20 minutes. Slice the chicken onto a platter and serve it with the vegetables.

Steps:

• Remove giblets from chicken and discard. Place chicken breast-side down on work surface. Use tip of sharp knife to make four 1" incisions along back of chicken. Using fingers or handle of wooden spoon, carefully separate skin from thighs and breast. Using metal skewer, poke 15-20 holes in fat deposits on top of breast halves and thighs. Tuck wing tips underneath chicken.
• Combine salt, baking powder, and pepper in small bowl.
• Pat chicken dry with paper towels and sprinkle all over with salt mixture. Rub in mixture with hands, coating entire surface evenly. Set chicken, breast side up, in V-rack set on rimmed baking sheet and refrigerate, uncovered for 12-24 hours.
• Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Using paring knife, poke 20 holes about 1 1/2" apart in 16x12" piece of foil. Place foil loosely in large roasting pan. Flip chicken so breast side faces down, and set V-rack in roasting pan on top of foil. Roast chicken for 25 minutes.
• Remove roasting pan from oven. Using 2 large wads of paper towels, rotate chicken to breast side up. Continue to roast until instant-read thermometer registers 135 degrees, 15-25 minutes.
• Increase oven temperature to 500 degrees. Continue to roast untilskin is golden brown, crisp, and instant read thermometer registers 160 degrees in thickest part of breast and 175 degrees in thickest part of thigh, 10-20 minutes.
• Transfer chicken to cutting board and let rest,, uncovered, for 20 minutes. carve and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Line roasting pan with foil.
• Adjust oven rack to middle position.
• Place roasting pan on rack and heat oven to 475 degrees.
• Coat V rack with cooking spray.
• Combine cornstarch and 2 teaspoons salt in small mixing bowl.
• Poke holes all over chicken skin, using skewer.
• Rub cornstarch mixture evenly over chicken.
• Remove roasting pan from oven.
• Place chicken in V-rack, wing side down.
• Roast for 15 minutes.
• Remove roasting pan from oven and, using wad of paper towels, flip chicken so that other wing is facing up.
• Roast another 15 minutes.
• Again remove roasting pan from oven and, using wad of paper towels, flip chicken so that breast side is up.
• Roast chicken another 20 minutes.
• Remove chicken from oven and insert chicken on angelfood cake pan or empty soda can.
• Rest for 10 minutes.
• Carve chicken and serve.

Steps:

• Place a rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 450°F. Place a 12" cast-iron or stainless-steel skillet in oven.
• Pull off excess fat around cavities of chicken; discard. Using paper towels, thoroughly pat dry chicken inside and out. Arrange chicken breast side up on a cutting board. Gently loosen skin covering breasts and thighs. Tuck 4 thyme sprigs under loosened skin, 1 sprig for each breast and thigh.
• Combine 1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. pepper in a small bowl. Pat dry cutting board and chicken again, then tie legs together with kitchen twine.
• Using a metal skewer or paring knife, poke 20-30 holes all over chicken, paying special attention to fatty (thickest) parts of skin. Season chicken with salt mixture, placing a pinch inside cavity, but primarily covering outside of bird.
• Cut remaining thyme sprig crosswise into 3-4 pieces and place in a large bowl. Add potatoes, onions, oil, 1/2 tsp. salt, and a generous pinch of pepper. Toss to combine.
• Carefully remove skillet from oven. Transfer potato mixture to skillet (mixture will sizzle), then place chicken, breast side up, on potato mixture. Return skillet to oven (remember, handle is hot!). Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of breast registers 160°F and thickest part of thigh registers 175°F, 45-55 minutes.
• Remove skillet from oven. Using tongs or a large wooden spoon inserted into cavity, transfer chicken to a large plate. Give potato mixture a stir, then return to oven. Let chicken rest about 5 minutes.
• Using a sharp knife, slash stretched skin between thighs and breasts to let steam escape. Carefully tilt bird and plate over a large bowl to drain juices; reserve juices. Let chicken rest until potatoes are fork-tender, 15-25 minutes more.
• Tilt chicken and plate again over bowl with juices to drain any last bits, then transfer chicken to a cutting board and carve. (If juices have cooled and congealed, gently rewarm over low heat or for 10 seconds in the microwave.)
• Arrange chicken on a platter. Serve with roasted potatoes and onions alongside, spooning juices over.
• Cooks' Note: If time allows, after patting dry and salting chicken, place on a wire rack set in a rimmed baking sheet, or on a V-rack set in a roasting pan, and chill, uncovered, at least 12 hours or up to 2 days. This 'dry brine' will result in a flavorful juicy chicken with even crispier skin.