Name: Roasted Half Chicken
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: serves 6 people
Cuisine: Slovenian
Ingredients: 1.5kg (3 pounds) whole chicken; 1 tbsp canola oil; 2 tbsp roast chicken spices (rosemary, garlic powder, paprika powder, thyme, salt, and pepper)

Roasted Half Chicken

We love homemade roasted chicken, and in our opinion, there’s nothing more glorious and show-stopping than juicy, golden-brown whole roast chicken. However, during the week, when we’re all super busy, roasting half a chicken is so much convenient and time-efficient. It takes less time, and it’s more affordable than buying different cuts. If you don’t plan on eating the whole chicken during the week, don’t worry, you can always store it in the fridge for later or even freeze it.

Fantastic Roasted Chicken for a quick weeknight meal

This recipe is great for any day of the year and all seasons. These are the top reasons why we think you're going to like it too:

chicken is quickly roasted (in about 35 - 40 minutes)
it's juicy, golden-brown, and crispy outside
the prep is effortless
it feeds the whole family, and you can easily store or freeze any leftovers

How to make this Roasted Half Chicken at home

Making this roasted half chicken at home is quick and straightforward. You can make it if you're a beginner cook or advanced. We need three ingredients: whole chicken, canola oil, and spice mix. You can make your roasted chicken spice mix at home, or you can buy your favorite in your local store. We used this Kotanyi Roast chicken spice mix in this recipe. You can find the whole recipe with instructions below; here's a quick overview for easier prep.

Using a sharp knife, cut the whole chicken in half.
Season with spices and oil.
Roast in the oven.
Cut into slices and serve with your favorite side.

What to serve with Roasted Half Chicken

We can serve this sliced baked half chicken in salads, wraps, add to pasta, wrap in a tortilla or you can slice it and serve with your favorite side dish. We recommend:

Storing and freezing

There are two ways to store this delicious roast chicken.

Keep the chilled homemade Roasted Half Chicken, in the fridge, for up to 4 days. Before serving, reheat in the microwave oven or using a skillet.

Feel free to freeze the Roasted Half Chicken too. Place it in a freezer-friendly container and place it in the freezer for up to a month. Before serving, defrost at room temperature (or in the fridge overnight), then reheat in the microwave oven or using a skillet.

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METHOD

preparation

Arrange the rack in the middle of the oven, then preheat the fan-assisted oven to 230 °C / 445 °F or the conventional oven to 240 °C / 465 °F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
season the chicken

Place the chicken breast-side down with the wings facing toward you on the work surface. Use a sharp knife to cut the chicken in half. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and place in a bowl. Season with canola oil and roast chicken spice mix. If this spice mix isn’t available in your country, use two tablespoons of your homemade spice mix. Combine rosemary, garlic powder, paprika powder, thyme, salt, and pepper. Optionally add a bit of harissa for some spiciness.
roast and serve

Place the chicken on the prepared baking sheet with the skin side up. Place in the preheated oven and roast on the middle rack for 35 - 40 minutes or until golden brown or a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat registers 71 °C / 160 °F.

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