Easy Whole Chicken

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Difficulty Level: Easy
Cook Method: Oven
Doneness: Well Done - 165˚F / 74˚C
Oven Temperature: 350°F & 425°F

This is a sweet spot right in between "All I want to do is chuck some drumsticks in the oven" and "My entire extended family is coming over and I need to prepare a turkey with all the fixings". It's a perfect balance, not easy enough to be called lazy, but not difficult enough to be panic-inducing. It's a family classic and an international staple, and it's highly customizable to your flavor preference. And the cherry on top of this cluckin' cake is that it's up there with the healthier proteins, so you can feel indulgent and responsible at the same time.

The perfect chicken is tender and moist on the inside with a nice crisp to the skin, and the best way to do this is to start the cook at a lower temperature, then crank it up later in the cook. One of the many beauties of MEATER is the app's custom alerts, which let you set a notification for when it's time to turn up the heat.

We just know you want your plate looking like a page straight out of a 1950's cookbook, so build yourself a platter with a roasted vegetable medley and some mashed potatoes. If you're taking it a step further and busting out the fancy glassware, fill it up with a dry white wine like chardonnay, or a milder beer like a lager.

Ingredients

Whole Chicken
1 Bunch Fresh Thyme
1 Bunch Fresh Rosemary
5 Tbsp (or 75g) Unsalted Butter
Salt to Taste
Black Pepper to Taste

Equipment

MEATER
MEATER Mitts
Paper Towels
Roasting Rack
Baking Tray
Cutting Board
Heat-Resistant Gloves

Instructions

1. Pre-heat your oven to 350°F. This can take up to 15m.
2. Pat your chicken dry with paper towels, inside and out, and take out the giblets if they haven't already been removed.
3. Massage butter over the whole bird.
4. Sprinkle salt and pepper all over and inside the cavity.
5. Toss your rosemary and thyme in the cavity.
6. Put your probe in the center of the thickest part of the breast.
7. Set the chicken on a rack over a tray, and tuck the wings under the body.
8. Set your target temperature in the MEATER app.
9. Stick the chicken in the oven with the legs pointed back.
10. Set your MEATER charger close to the oven.
11. Cook for 30 minutes at 180°C/360°F
12. Turn up your oven to 425°F.
13. Cook until you are notified to Remove From Heat
14. Let your chicken rest on a cutting board until the MEATER app notifies you it has finished resting.
15. Pull out the probe using oven mitts.
16. Serve your chicken whole and carve off pieces as needed, or remove the spine and cut the meat into sections. It’s ready for you to enjoy!