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Home » Holiday » Christmas

Published: Feb 26, 2023 by Genevieve · This post may contain affiliate links.

Christmas Roast Chicken with Orange Butter

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A Christmas Roast Chicken on a white platter with the words Christmas Roast Chicken and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
A Christmas Roast Chicken on a white platter with the words Christmas Roast Chicken and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
A Christmas Roast Chicken on a white platter with the words Christmas Roast Chicken and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
A Christmas Roast Chicken on a white platter with the words Christmas Roast Chicken and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
A Christmas Roast Chicken on a white platter with the words Christmas Roast Chicken and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
A Christmas Roast Chicken on a white platter with the words Christmas Roast Chicken and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
A Christmas Roast Chicken on a white platter with the words Christmas Roast Chicken and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.

This Christmas roast chicken recipe has crispy skin dusted with holiday spices, and juicy, tender meat. It's the perfect festive main dish for Christmas day!

Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe
Christmas Roast Chicken on a white platter with halved oranges and fresh herbs.
Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love This Dish
  • What You'll Need
  • Recommended Tools
  • How to Make Roast Christmas Chicken
  • Variations
  • How to Store
  • FAQ
  • Expert Tips
  • How to Serve
  • Other Recipes You'll Love
  • 📖 Recipe

Why You'll Love This Dish

This easy Christmas chicken recipe is impressive. When planning your Christmas feast, having a juicy roast chicken as your centerpiece is sure to impress your family and friends.

It's also super delicious! Warm spices, savory garlic, sweet brown sugar, a hint of heat from the chipotle and ginger powder, and a bright, citrusy orange zest butter combine to create the perfect roast chicken for Christmas.

Cooking a whole roast chicken is much simpler than you think, and the brown sugar coating and butter under the skin a wonderfully crisp exterior with juicy chicken on the interior.

As far as holiday dinners go, this chicken roast is relatively quick. The cooking time is only an hour, most of which is hands-off time in the oven.

Plus, it makes amazing leftovers. Just like Thanksgiving turkey, this holiday roast chicken makes delicious sandwiches. You can also add the leftover chicken to soups, chicken pot pies, or salads.

The labeled ingredients for Christmas Roast Chicken on a white marble counter.

What You'll Need

Two Cloves Kitchen, as an Amazon Affiliate, makes a small percentage from qualified sales made through affiliate links at no cost to you.

  • Whole Chicken This recipe calls for a 4-pound bird for 4 people. If you have a larger crowd, you can make a larger bird with a longer cook time or more than 1 bird.
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil California Olive Ranch is my favorite brand.
  • Butter I recommend unsalted butter.
  • Fresh Oranges You'll want the zest of one whole orange. Halved oranges in the roasting pan will add a beautiful aroma while cooking.
  • Ground Cinnamon
  • Ground Cloves
  • Chipotle Powder If you are sensitive to spice, you can swap this for chili powder, paprika, or omit it.
  • Garlic Powder
  • Ginger Powder
  • Salt I always recommend using kosher salt.
  • Fresh Thyme
  • Fresh Rosemary
  • Fresh Sage If you can't find one or more of these three fresh herbs, you can just use one.

Recommended Tools

Roasting Pan

Kitchen Knife

Meat Thermometer

Carving Knife

Cutting Boards

How to Make Roast Christmas Chicken

Raw chicken is pat dry with a paper towel.

Step One Let the chicken come to room temperature, about 30 minutes to an hour. Pat the chicken dry.

Spices are blended on a pink plate.

Step Two Mix the spice blend together.

Orange zest is mixed with softened butter on a white plate.

Step Three Mix the zest of one orange with softened butter.

 

A small spatula is used to smear orange zest and butter under the skin of a whole raw chicken.

Step Four Spread the orange zest butter under the skin of the chicken using a spatula or your fingers.

A whole chicken is dusted with spices on a white plate.

Step Five Sprinkle the top of the chicken with salt, spices, and sugar. Pat down on the chicken skin.

Raw whole chicken dusted with spices and stuffed with herbs.

Step Six Stuff the chicken cavity with fresh sage, rosemary, and thyme.

Raw whole chicken dusted with spices, stuffed with herbs, and trussed in a roasting pan.

Step Seven Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Truss (tie the legs together with kitchen twine), add some olive oil or butter to the roasting pan or a large sheet tray, and place the chicken in breast side up.

Raw Christmas Roast Chicken coated in spices and stuffed with herbs in a roasting pan with halved oranges.

Step Eight Cook for the chicken uncovered for 30 minutes, then remove from the oven and check for doneness. Baste with pan juices.

A half-cooked Christmas Roast Chicken in a roasting pan with halved oranges.

Step Nine Cook for another 15 to 30 minutes. The chicken is fully cooked when a meat thermometer inserted into the thicket part of the thigh has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit and the juices run clear.

 

Christmas Roast Chicken on a white platter with halved oranges and fresh herbs.

Step Ten Taste a small piece of the bird for seasoning, adding salt if needed. Allow the chicken to rest for about 15 minutes. Carve the chicken and serve!

Variations

  • For an easier Christmas dinner, you can make just one cut of chicken. Buy bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and cook at 400 degrees F for 30 to 40 minutes.
  • For a simple roast chicken, simply season the chicken with salt and pepper in place of the holiday spices in this recipe. It will be delicious and easy.
  • Add garlic cloves to the roasting pan in their skin. You can then spread the roasted garlic on the finished chicken or onto bread or rolls.

How to Store

Fridge Store leftover roast chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

Freezer In order to freeze, remove the chicken skin and remove the cooked chicken from the bone. Shred the chicken or leave in small whole pieces. Place in a freezer-safe bag and store for up to 4 months.

Reheating From the fridge, you can reheat whole chicken parts (thighs, drumsticks) in a 400 degree-Fahrenheit oven for about 15 minutes. You can also reheat shredded chicken or smaller pieces in the microwave.

From the freezer, you can reheat shredded frozen chicken on a covered plate with a bit of water in the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes, or until heated through.

FAQ

What are the best meats for Christmas dinner?

 

The most popular Christmas dinner meats are chicken, turkey, ham, beef, and lamb.

Is it best to cover chicken when roasting?

 

In order to achieve crisp skin, it is best to leave your chicken uncovered when roasting.

Is it better to bake chicken at 350 or 400 degrees Fahrenheit?

 

For smaller birds, 400 is best. This will help you achieve a lovely crispy exterior.

Do you put water in the roasting pan for chicken?

 

No. This can effectively steam the exterior of the bird, leaving you with rubbery skin. If you would prefer to add liquid to the bottom of your pan, use a roasting rack to prevent the chicken from sitting in the liquid.

Expert Tips

  • Be sure to test for temperature in the thickest part of the chicken thigh, not the chicken breast, without touching the bone or you will receive an inaccurate reading.
  • Purchase a chicken with the giblets and neck removed. This will make your life easier! If you purchase a chicken with these parts, remove them before cooking.
  • Save your chicken bones in a freezer-safe bag and use to make homemade chicken broth or stock at a later date.

How to Serve

This is a wonderful main dish for Christmas dinner. Serve it alongside some other traditional holiday favorites.

This Sage and Bacon Stuffing is a favorite in our house, as are these Calabrian Potatoes!

Roasted Tenderstem Broccoli is a popular vegetable side, and who doesn't love mac and cheese? This Mac and Cheese without Milk is rich, creamy, and delicious.

Cranberry Sauce is a must, and you have to try these Mashed Potatoes with Sour Cream!

Other Recipes You'll Love

Looking for some more chicken dishes? Try these recipes!

Italian Chicken Cutlets

Cast Iron Chicken

Lemon Chicken Tray Bake

 

📖 Recipe

Christmas Roast Chicken on a white platter with halved oranges and fresh herbs.

Christmas Roast Chicken with Orange Butter

This Christmas roast chicken recipe has crispy skin dusted with holiday spices, and juicy, tender meat. It's the perfect festive main dish for Christmas day!
5 from 17 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Christmas Recipe, Easy Christmas Recipes, Roast Chicken, Whole Chicken
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 578kcal
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Equipment

  • Roasting Pan or Large Sheet Tray
  • Kitchen Knife
  • Meat Thermometer
  • Carving Knife

Ingredients

Orange Butter

  • 1 orange zest of
  • 2 tablespoons butter softened, unsalted

Roast Chicken

  • olive oil or butter for greasing the pan
  • 1 (4-pound) whole chicken
  • 2 to 3 sprigs fresh sage
  • 2 to 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 2 to 3 springs fresh thyme
  • 2 oranges halved

Spice Mixture

  • ½ teaspoon chipotle powder
  • ½ tablespoon garlic powder
  • ½ tablespoon kosher salt
  • ½ tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ tablespoon ground cloves
  • ½ tablespoon ginger powder
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar

Instructions

Orange Butter

  • Mix the zest of one orange with 2 tablespoons of softened butter.

Spice Blend

  • Mix the chipotle powder, garlic powder, kosher salt, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and brown sugar together.

Roast Chicken

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Let the chicken come to room temperature, about 30 minutes to an hour. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
  • Spread the orange zest butter under the skin of the chicken using a spatula or your fingers.
  • Sprinkle the top of the chicken with the spice blend.
  • Stuff the chicken cavity with fresh sage, rosemary, and thyme.
  • Truss the bird, add some olive oil or butter to the roasting pan or a large sheet tray, and place the chicken in breast side up.
  • Cook for the chicken uncovered for 30 minutes, then remove from the oven and check for doneness. Baste with pan juices.
  • Cook for another 15 to 30 minutes. The chicken is fully cooked when a meat thermometer inserted into the thicket part of the thigh has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit and the juices run clear.
  • Taste a small piece of the bird for seasoning, adding salt if needed. Allow the chicken to rest for about 15 minutes. Carve the chicken and serve.

Notes

General
  1. If you are sensitive to spice, you can replace the chipotle powder with chili powder or paprika, or omit entirely.
Storage
  1. Fridge Store leftover roast chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
  2. Freezer In order to freeze, remove the chicken skin and remove the cooked chicken from the bone. Shred the chicken or leave in small whole pieces. Place in a freezer-safe bag and store for up to 4 months.
  3. Reheating from fridge: You can reheat whole chicken parts (thighs, drumsticks) in a 400 degree-Fahrenheit oven for about 15 minutes. You can also reheat shredded chicken or smaller pieces in the microwave.
  4. From the freezer: You can reheat shredded frozen chicken on a covered plate with a bit of water in the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes, or until heated through.

Nutrition

Calories: 578kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 925mg | Potassium: 107mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 353IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 1mg

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Hi, I'm Gen! Welcome to Two Cloves Kitchen. I am a certified professional cook, lifelong recipe creator, writer, editor, and food lover. I use my culinary knowledge to teach you how to utilize your ingredients and equipment to their fullest potential, turning ordinary meals into something exciting with bold, fresh, innovative ideas and flavors.

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