Autumn Spiced Whole Roasted Chicken
Does it feel like Fall to you? The weather is changing here to the point of my mittens have made a few appearances already. The pavements are covered with leaves ranging in shades of yellows, oranges and reds. The heat has been turned on and usually at least 2 cats can be found in front of the heater warming up their bellies. The days feel shorter as it becomes dark out around 5PM. At home I wear the fluffiest socks to stay warm with cement floors in our loft.
As Fall approaches into Winter our meals begin to change. There’s more slow cooking, many more soups from creamy to vegetable and more weekend roasts and chickens. Last weekend we were craving a chicken dinner to help us feel warmer and fill the house full of delicious cooking smells.
If Autumn had a taste this would be it. This is a dinner that screams out that the seasons are changing.
The chicken is seasoned with rosemary, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt and sugar. Can you already smell Autumn?
Inside it’s incredibly moist and juicy.
My favorite part of a chicken is always the drumstick. I will fight for this piece, but usually that doesn’t happen as Matthew is more of a breast man (too easy – stop it). Occasionally I do have to fight off Essy who tries to nibble but she ends up getting her own bowl full of shredded chicken. All our cats look forward to chicken and turkey dinners, they smell it before it even goes into the oven.
If you’re looking for a comforting chicken dinner, look no further. You will love this spiced and moist chicken. Enjoy!
Autumn Spiced Whole Chicken
Ingredients
- 6 pound chicken
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 2 teaspoons white sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 8 cloves garlic - minced
- 1 onion - sliced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 500 degrees.
- In a bowl mix salt, rosemary, sugar, cloves, allspice, nutmeg and cinnamon. Rub the chicken all over on both sides with this mixture.
- Stuff the chicken with minced garlic and onion slices.
- Place chicken, breast side down on a pan.
- Put chicken in oven for 15 minutes.
- Reduce heat to 450 degrees and cook for 15 minutes.
- Reduce heat to 425 degrees and cook for 30 minutes.
- Make sure chicken has internal temperature of 180 degrees.
- Let cool for 15 minutes, serve.
This looks amazing! I bet it tasted great. We are pretty much in winter mode here as well! We got 16 inches of snow. Eekkk! Thanks for sharing.
16 inches of snow! Get building that snowman Laura!
Now I am hungry and its not quite dinner time yet! Can you believe that I’ve actually had to use my mittens once already this year? It was in the 30’s here last week.
I totally hear you on that Ashley! The weather here is being finicky with cold and suddenly in the 60s (like today). I love a cozy pair of mittens.
THIS. LOOKS. CRAZY AMAZING! Most gorgeous chicken I’ve ever seen, I love how rustic it is!
This chicken looks so good! Love the spice combination. It’s been forever since I’ve roasted a whole chicken. Love the before and after chicken pictures. The poor guy looks so naked in the before picture.
I know, I almost put a sweater on him. 😉
Concrete floors?!? I would die. It’s not even fall here, it’s full on winter. The leaves on my maple are all gone. 🙁
I love roasted chicken so SO much, but I hate dark meat, so I never roast one and never buy one. Chicken breasts on their own are just not the same either. So whenever I go home I make my mom and dad buy one or make one and then I devour all the white meat that they will allow.
That’s why I need those cozy socks! 🙂
You are making my chicken jealous … I have never done anything except plain jane roasted chicken. That has got to change. All those spices? Yeah, I’m thinking the kitchen would smell INCREDIBLE.
You and I would be good partners, I like the white meat but I might get in a bit of a feud with Matthew! This looks fabulous and I know the mouse on your rooftop only had to get one whiff of this to move downstairs for the winter, 🙂
I will leave you 2 fight while I nibble on my drumstick. 🙂
Scrumptious whole roasted chicken recipe, Pamela! We are having roasted chicken tonight, but we did not spice ours with traditional autumnal spices. Cannot wait to try this! Will be so delicious with baked sweet potatoes and roasted Brussels sprouts on the side (what I am hungry for tonight). Thanks for sharing, girl! xo
I’m hungry for Brussels Sprouts all the time so that sounds like a perfect dinner Stacy. 🙂
that looks like a perfectly roasted chicken! I love the warm autumn spices.
How wonderful does that chicken look! We’re technically in spring at the moment but it doesn’t feel like it as it is cold and rainy. Perfect weather for this chicken in fact! 😀
What a gorgeous bird! Roasted chicken is such a lovely heart warming dinner this time of year.
This looks amazing and now I’m craving chicken. Where to buy at chicken at 9:00 at night? Why do you always have me craving foods at the most inconvenient times?!!
Hope you were able to find one! 🙂
That is one good looking chicken! There is nothing like a roast chicken from the oven for dinner. Every time I make it (not often enough), it feels like a special occasion. PS – I’m with you on the dark meat. Drumsticks and thighs are the best! : )
I totally hear you on the special occasion, a chicken dinner always feels extra special to me.
What a wonderful looking roasted chicken Pamela – I love all the wonderful autumn spices you seasoned it with! I haven’t roasted a whole chicken in a long time and can’t wait to try this one – thanks for sharing – pinning 🙂
I am going to try this spice combination next time I make a roast chicken 🙂
It’s summer here in Australia but this chicken will be mine tonight! It looks fantastic.
It definitely feels like fall – love that picture of leaves! The chicken look delicious 🙂 x
What a gorgeous chicken! It looks perfect! I have definitely taken to wearing warm socks and slippers around our house now – the chilly weather seems to finally have set in for the most part. And we have been eating soup quite often these days!
GORGEOUS chicken!
What a comforting fall meal! I love the combination of spices you used, I can only imagine how great it smells and tastes!
Pamela,
Perfection, with this chicken!! I can’t imagine how it could get any better than this!
Loving the leaves and the chicken looks absolutely delicious!
You are crazy awesome! I LOVE ROASTED CHICKEN. Save me the legs, I love legs. I want to eat this now!
Just beautiful. <3 You nailed this.
I’m pretty amazed at the assorted spices – I’ve never seen anything it for roasting a chicken & I can’t wait to try it. And – if you ever eat at my house – you can have BOTH of the drumsticks !!!
I’ll be over for dinner! 🙂
Mmmmm…. looks wonderful. Love the rub, interesting that you roast breast down, it makes sense. Very nicely done.
I always find that roasting breast down makes it extra moist which I love. I do the same thing with our turkey.
Comforting and delicious! Great combination of spices on this beautiful bird.
That is one beautiful bird! I’m intrigued by the fall spices too! I’m pinning this one to make! 🙂
Such gorgeous pics, Pamela! I love the top one with the leaves. Our weather changes so fast to winter over here in Utah that we don’t really get to enjoy Fall. (Fuzzy socks are a must for me…even if I’m sporting shorts around the house. As long as my feet are warm!) I find it so interesting the spices you used to make this amazing chicken for the season. I bet the aroma is mouth watering!
Thanks Gloria! It’s a smell I wish I could bottle up. 🙂
We love roast chicken, but I usually just use a tried-and-true mixture of thyme, sage, basil, and pepper. I was feeling the need for a new flavor combo, so I saw your recipe at the perfect time. Can’t wait to try this!
The weather sure is changing (although the past couple of days have been quite mild and enjoyable, haven’t they?!), and roast chicken is the perfect meal for the changing seasons. I love to throw some root vegetables into the mix as well. Adding these autumn spices sounds like a perfect idea. Thanks for the inspiration!
I have yet to make a roast chicken this fall! And even when I do, I hardly ever stray away from the way I usually prepare it, I really love the warm fall flavors in this version. So pretty too!
Oh my word this looks amazing!
Thought of something… I ‘invented’ a really easy (and delish, if I do say so…) recipe for a chicken and potato dinner – cooked entirely in a skillet. I used chicken thighs – and since you really, really like dark meat – I bet you’ll like it. (I don’t really like dark meat but I DO like chicken thighs.)
Sounds delicious Cecile! I love chicken and potatoes!
According to the 2014 survey of food trends, chicken is coming back in a BIG way…and with this recipe, I believe it! I loooove your treatment to the bird here, this is definitely going in my repertoire!
I agree, the drumstick is without a doubt the bestest part! 😉 Though the whole chicken looks amazing! It bet it smelled delicious, didn’t it?
Oh Consuelo, it smelled wonderful!
I am pinning, bookmarking, tweeting and liking this recipe! It’s so simple, and the flavors are so comforting and perfect for fall. This is going to be my new go-to fall dinner.
What a gorgeous roast chicken! Browned to perfection.
Roast chicken is my absolute favorite Sunday dinner. I’ve never thought to try it with fall spices before, but this looks absolutely amazing! Adding this to my must-try list.
I love the spice mixture that you have going on there! Delicious!
Roast chicken is one of my favourite things to cook and yours looks delicious. Stay warm.
I sure do smell Autumn, and I can almost taste it too thanks to those gorgeous photos. Oh, what a chicken Pamela! And I just love curling up with my kitties when it starts getting cold…
I bet this smelled delicious as it roasted in the oven. YUM! Love those spices!
Love the spices! They’re all the ones I use in a mor complicated korma recipe, but this would be an easy sub! Love it! The bird looks gorgeous Pamela!
Nazneen
Now i want a second dinner of roasted chicken. I have to make this recipe sooner rather than later.
I am always trying to get my chicken brown enough. Well, not enough, but really, really brown. This looks so delicious, I am going to give it a try.
What a gorgeous bird Pamela! I love the spices you used here. Delicious! Drumstick is my favorite part and you captured it beautifully.
That chicken looks good enough to eat! Great picks! Cold here too. Cold, wet and gray.
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It feels like winter here in Georgia 🙁 …but I am a cold wimp and proud of it!
Pamela – this chicken looks gorgeous! Beautifully done and the spice rub! Good golly – – your house must have been smelling so good!
the chicken browned so nicely. I would like a piece too 🙂
Hi Pamela, I’m loving your autumnal dishes at the moment. I constantly look for new roast chicken recipes, my favourite being sesame and maple syrup, I believe this one will give it a good run for its money.
Oh heavens, this looks AMAZING. What an awesome fall meal – that combination of spices and seasonings sounds just fantastic!
Wow! I love all the spices and herbs in this roasted chicken…I am devouring it with the eyes!
Such a nice chicken recipe! Thanks for sharing!
Somehow I feel really calm looking at the chicken in your first couple photos….
Great photos! Looks so delicious!
Hehe, heaters are total cat magnets! My kitty is also partial to laying in front of the AC when it’s on in the summer. One day I will get the courage to attempt to roast a chicken again (i had a slightly traumatic experience involving smoke). Drumsticks are totally the best part…luckily you dont’ have to share your chicken with me 🙂
Mmmm… loving all the spices here, Pamela 🙂
This chicken looks AMAZING! When I saw that bowl of spices, I could just imagine what this chicken tasted like. FABULOUS!
I is -5 degrees here today in Eastern Iowa, so we have moved straight into winter! Either way, you chicken looks absolutely amazing!! That would definitely warm me up…as long as I get the thigh. 😉
Wow, what an interesting and delightful combination of spices, Pamela. I love roast chicken and am looking forward to trying this. Looks fantastic – very nice photography.
Hi Pamela! I found this post through the Saturday Night Fever link-up. I’ve never thought of using fall spices on roast chicken- what a great idea! Roast chicken is a perfect cozy recipe, and I’m looking forward to trying this out the next cold day I’m craving some comfort food!
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Making this tonight! Just found recipe on Pinterest!!
Enjoy Sallie!
This recipe is 5 out of 5 stars. So juicy and delicious. Great for a beginner or folks that have been cooking a lifetime. Definitely a keeper.