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!
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.
Jamie@Milk 'n' Cookies says
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!
Gloria // Simply Gloria says
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!
Pamela says
Thanks Gloria! It’s a smell I wish I could bottle up. 🙂
Renee @ Tortillas and Honey says
That is one beautiful bird! I’m intrigued by the fall spices too! I’m pinning this one to make! 🙂
Pam says
Comforting and delicious! Great combination of spices on this beautiful bird.
Suzanne says
Mmmmm…. looks wonderful. Love the rub, interesting that you roast breast down, it makes sense. Very nicely done.
Pamela says
I always find that roasting breast down makes it extra moist which I love. I do the same thing with our turkey.
Cecile @ My Yellow Farmhouse says
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 !!!
Pamela says
I’ll be over for dinner! 🙂
Prudy @butter, basil, and breadcrumbs says
Just beautiful. <3 You nailed this.
Hani/Hanielas says
You are crazy awesome! I LOVE ROASTED CHICKEN. Save me the legs, I love legs. I want to eat this now!
Shundara@SavyNaturalista says
Loving the leaves and the chicken looks absolutely delicious!
Dan from Platter Talk says
Pamela,
Perfection, with this chicken!! I can’t imagine how it could get any better than this!
Meghan @ Spoonful of Flour says
What a comforting fall meal! I love the combination of spices you used, I can only imagine how great it smells and tastes!
Jennifer @ Not Your Momma's Cookie says
GORGEOUS chicken!
Ashley says
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!
Milana - the Jottings says
It definitely feels like fall – love that picture of leaves! The chicken look delicious 🙂 x
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
It’s summer here in Australia but this chicken will be mine tonight! It looks fantastic.
Tandy | Lavender and Lime says
I am going to try this spice combination next time I make a roast chicken 🙂
Kelly says
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 🙂
Monica says
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! : )
Pamela says
I totally hear you on the special occasion, a chicken dinner always feels extra special to me.
Davida @ The Healthy Maven says
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?!!
Pamela says
Hope you were able to find one! 🙂
Jamie | Jamie's Recipes says
What a gorgeous bird! Roasted chicken is such a lovely heart warming dinner this time of year.
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
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! 😀
pam (Sidewalk Shoes) says
that looks like a perfectly roasted chicken! I love the warm autumn spices.
Stacy | Wicked Good Kitchen says
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
Pamela says
I’m hungry for Brussels Sprouts all the time so that sounds like a perfect dinner Stacy. 🙂
The Café Sucre Farine says
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, 🙂
Pamela says
I will leave you 2 fight while I nibble on my drumstick. 🙂
Mary Frances @ The Sweet {Tooth} Life says
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.
Katie says
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.
Pamela says
That’s why I need those cozy socks! 🙂
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen says
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.
Pamela says
I know, I almost put a sweater on him. 😉
Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says
THIS. LOOKS. CRAZY AMAZING! Most gorgeous chicken I’ve ever seen, I love how rustic it is!
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says
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.
Pamela says
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.
Laura @ Lauras Baking Talent says
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.
Pamela says
16 inches of snow! Get building that snowman Laura!