This recipe for Pesto Roasted Chicken uses a homemade pesto rubbed under the skin to give the chicken unbelievable flavor as it cooks. This is a perfect way to enjoy the end of summer’s fresh basil, and get you out of that grocery store rotisserie chicken rut.
We’re all guilty of grabbing a roasted bird at the store—who can resist, really? They’re a tasty, easy, quick fix, especially on crazy weeknights.
Roasting your own chicken, however, is something else altogether; it makes dinner feel special again.
This recipe includes a recipe for making your own pesto, but don’t skip over it if basil isn’t in season! Store-bought pesto is just fine, too. I rub it under the skin so the chicken stays crispy.
You’ll still have roasted chicken for salad, grain bowls, and lunch the next day, but every bite will taste world’s better than your usual go-to chicken. Try it!
Roasting a chicken is actually quite simple; even though there’s a million recipes for it, with a dizzying array of techniques, dry rubs, and spices to try, all you really need is salt, pepper, a little fat, and heat.
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Find a casserole, a large cast-iron skillet, or a small roasting pan.
Place the thawed chicken inside the pan, breast up, and sprinkle salt and pepper inside and out of the carcass.
Pour a healthy glug of olive oil, or spread a couple tablespoons of butter on top of the chicken. Put the chicken in the oven and roast 1-1/2 hours uncovered, basting occasionally if desired.
When the chicken is done, a thermometer inserted near the thigh reaches 180 degrees (the juice of the chicken should no longer be pink when a thigh is pierced). The drumstick should wiggle freely, too.
That’s the basic recipe! This one is a lot more exciting with aromatics stuffed inside the bird and pesto under the skin, but you get the general idea.
What is roasted chicken cooking time?
2-1/2 to 3 pounds: Roast at 375 degrees for 1 to 1-1/4 hours.
3 to 3-1/2 pounds: Roast at 375 degrees for 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours.
3-1/2 to 4 pounds: Roast at 375 degrees for 1-1/4 to 1-3/4 hours.
4-1/2 to 5 pounds: Roast at 375 degrees F for 1-1/2 to 2 hours.
When the chicken is done, a thermometer inserted near the thigh reaches 180 degrees (the juice of the chicken should no longer be pink when a thigh is pierced).
What goes with Roasted Chicken?
Roasted Chicken with potatoes: Tuck some baby new potatoes in with the bird, or go all out with my recipe for Duchess Potatoes.
Roasted Chicken with vegetables: Throw some carrots, wedges of fennel, or whole heads of garlic in the roasting pan, for tender veggies that cook with the drippings.
Roasted Chicken with root vegetables: Cubed parsnips, turnips, rutabagas are all fabulous winter root vegetables to include in the pan, to cook as the chicken roasts.
As far as side dishes, Lemon Rice Pilaf is a winner with roasted chicken, as is a hunk of steamed broccoli and some cute little new potatoes. But I wouldn’t fault you for making a Baked Mac and Cheese, either.
Can you make Pesto without pine nuts?
Can you make Pesto with dried basil?
You can, but you need to use half as much dried basil in place of fresh. One cup of fresh basil= 1/2 cup dried basil.
Can you make Pesto without cheese?
For this recipe, you can omit the Parmesan cheese in the pesto. If you’re interested in making dairy-free pesto for other recipes, try substituting nutritional yeast in place of cheese.
You’d need 8 tablespoons nutritional yeast for this recipe in place of the cheese.
What can you do with extra Pesto?
If you’re left with extra basil pesto? Don’t worry, that’s a good thing; there are lots of delicious ways to enjoy it.
Pesto for salmon: Mix extra pesto with some soft butter to make a compound butter. Spoon it over grilled salmon and watch it blissfully melt into a delicious sauce.
Pesto for potatoes: Roll some warm baby potatoes around in pesto and olive oil. Your spuds just got fancier!
Pesto for pizza: Instead of tomato sauce, slather pesto on the crust.
Pesto on pasta: In this copycat recipe, make a pesto cream sauce and toss with cavatappi.
You can absolutely freeze leftover pesto. Spoon into an ice cube tray and freeze for individual portions for future cooking.
Save this Pesto Roasted Chicken to your “Dinner” Pinterest board!
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat a roasting rack with nonstick spray and set in roasting pan.
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil until shimmering. Add onion, celery, and olives and cook until celery is tender, about 5 minutes.
Starting at the back opening of the chicken, use your fingers to carefully separate the skin from the meat on the chicken breast and thighs. Be careful not to tear skin. Spread about 1/4 cup pesto sauce between the skin and meat of the chicken.
Fold wings of chicken across back with tips touching. Spoon onion mixture into cavity of chicken, then tie or skewer drumsticks to tail.
Place chicken, breast side up, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Brush chicken with half of remaining pesto. Roast uncovered 1 to 1 1/2 hours, brushing occasionally with remaining sauce, until a thermometer inserted near the thigh reaches 180 degrees.
Remove from oven. Let stand 15 minutes before carving.
To toast the garlic, toast in their skin in a small dry skillet over medium heat, shaking often, until brown spots form, about 5 minutes. Remove to a small bowl to cool before peeling.
To toast the pine nuts, toast in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat until fragrant, 5 to 10 minutes, shaking frequently to prevent scorching. Remove from heat.