This is how to make a dutch oven whole chicken! It’s super easy and flavorful using this method. Tender oven baked whole chicken inside a cast iron pot is the only way to go for me now! You’ll never go back after you’ve tried this and other dutch oven recipes.
I am new to using a dutch oven but LOVE it already! The first thing I tried was this dutch oven whole chicken. It turned out tender and moist with literally no effort from me (other than prepping it). Just one of the easy dutch oven recipes my family loves. (originally published 11/17, affiliate links present)
Chicken Roast Dutch Oven
Using fresh vegetables I had at home I stuffed the cavity full to absorb the juices while it was cooking, and those came out really flavorful as well.
You may never cook it another way ever again after this…….
If you’re new to using this enclosed cast iron pot, let me share a little information:
- This is the dutch oven I have and love.
- I recommend having a good set of oven mitts to lift it in and out of your oven.
- You need a good trivet if you’re going to put this directly on the table to serve.
- For more ideas, grab this dutch oven cookbook here.
Dutch oven chicken
- Cast iron dutch oven <—-I have this 7 quart model
- Whole chicken
- Vegetables (I used celery, onion, and carrots)
- Seasoned salt – this is our favorite
- Herbs
- Salt and pepper
- Olive oil
- 4-5 potatoes to use as a stand, and eat when it’s done
The drippings underneath will answer the question of what is chicken broth truly when made homemade. Don’t throw that out! Create a bit of a cornstarch slurry to thicken it into a wonderful chicken gravy.
Dutch Oven Whole Roast Chicken
I don’t really measure when it comes to adding herbs on a chicken, but approximated 1 tbsp of each in the recipe below. If you use garlic powder with everything for flavor then by all means include that.
In the past Lawry’s seasoned salt was my go to. If I am lazy I will still use that but now I tend to mix my own up. I am sure you have your favorites so go with it….
- This is what my dutch oven roasted chicken looked like once I prepped it with all the herbs and spices.
Dutch Oven Chicken and Potatoes
I generally just sprinkle each one on until the whole thing is covered to enhance the flavor of the chicken skin.
This will permeate the chicken itself a bit while it is cooking too. It’s great with vegetables as well.
How do I keep a whole chicken from drying out in the oven?
Keep it covered. That is what is great about this cast iron pot. It creates great steam inside until it is tender as ever. Then just at the end you will remove the lid to brown the top. That isn’t necessary either but I recommend that extra step.
What vegetables can I add into the pot?
- Halved russet potatoes – like we did and used them as trivets underneath
- Stuffed with carrots, celery and onions are great to add flavor naturally
- White wine is fabulous but I guess you could use broth instead
- I wouldn’t add rice, just cook that separately
Chicken in a Dutch Oven Recipe
Once prepped place the chicken breast side up into your pot.
Instead of using a trivet I like to use medium sized potatoes as a stand to keep the chicken off the bottom so it doesn’t get soggy skin. This makes the potatoes flavorful as they are in the drippings. They might be your favorite part actually! This will be the best cooked chicken dinner you’ll ever have.
Chicken in a dutch oven is not only a cheap meal but healthy too. It’s gluten free, keto friendly, and packed with protein.
What is the best thing to cook in a dutch oven?
Beyond this one you see here we have a few other favorites to suggest to you such as;
- The best dutch oven stew is here. If you want to make veggies separately, try these air fryer carrots.
- Sweet dutch oven peach cobbler is delish.
- You could easily make our 5 ingredient chili in this pot over a campfire or in your oven.
If you have a Ninja Foodi or air fryer try our crispy air fryer whole chicken or roast chicken recipe too!
You can even bake bread in a Dutch Oven! A great side dish for any dinner really. My girls like to help with this one.
Note – Cook time will depend on how large your bird is. Always use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature inside middle of breast before eating. It should be at least 165 degrees to be safe.
Time needed: 3 hours.
Dutch Oven Whole Chicken
- Prepare
Rinse your chicken. Take items, if any, out of cavity and discard.
Poke your potatoes and put them in the bottom of your dutch oven in the middle so your chicken can sit upon them and not fall over. - Add vegetables
Rinse vegetables: Take top layer of onion off and cut in fourths.
Put 1/2 of onion inside chicken cavity as well as a few pcs of carrots and celery cut into large chunks so they don’t overcook. - Add the chicken
Put chicken in middle of pot with breast side facing up. Put remaining veggies on the outside of your chicken inside the pot itself.
Rub olive oil on chicken skin, and season skin with seasonings of your choice (I use Lawry’s, oregano, garlic powder, etc). - Bake
Put your lid on and put in a preheated oven at 300 degrees for approximately 3 hours. Check after 2.5 hrs to see if chicken is at a safe 170 degrees using a meat thermometer and putting it inside the breast area.
You don’t want to overcook it, and 3 hrs is perfect for our oven but each one differs slightly so just check. - Brown chicken skin
Then remove your lid and cook with lid off for 15 – 20 minutes to brown the skin.
As always you will want to let the meat rest when you take it out. From 15 minutes to 30 minutes is good. Then when you slice it the meat will remain super tender. Slicing early will dry it out.
Dutch oven cooking at it’s finest I tell you.
- If you’ve only tried chicken in a slow cooker before this is a nice change!
Want to see a few of my favorite things that I am totally obsessed with?? Take a peek and see how many you might already have…twinsies!
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Dutch Oven Whole Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken approx 4.5 lbs.
- 4-5 medium potatoes we used red, left whole
- 2-3 carrots leave in large chunks or they will get too soft
- 2-3 stalks celery cut into large chunks
- 1 onion sliced large pcs.
- 1 tbsp Lawrys seasoned salt or other brand
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp oregano
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- chicken dripping gravy make with drippings
Instructions
- Rinse your chicken. Take items, if any, out of cavity and discard.
- Poke your potatoes and put them in the bottom of your dutch oven in the middle so your chicken can sit upon them and not fall over.
- Rinse vegetables, take top layer of onion off and cut in fourths.
- Put 2 pcs of onion inside chicken cavity as well as carrots and celery in large chunks so they don't overcook.
- Put remaining veggies on the outside of your chicken inside the dutch oven. Rub olive oil on top of meat, set inside on top of potatoes with the breast side facing up. Season outside of chicken skin with seasonings of your choice (I use Lawry's, oregano, garlic powder, etc).
- Put your lid on and put in a preheated oven at 300 degrees for approximately 3 hours
- Check after 2.5 hrs to see if chicken is at a safe 170 degrees using a meat thermometer and putting it inside the breast area.
- You don’t want to overcook it, and 3 hrs is perfect for our oven but each one differs slightly so just check.
- Then remove your lid and cook with lid off for 15 minutes to brown the skin.
Janice Alger
Friday 18th of March 2022
When I let the chicken rest, does it rest in the dutch oven (lid on or off) or do I take the chicken out of the dutch oven? If I take it out of dutch oven, how do I keep the chicken warm?
The Typical Mom
Sunday 20th of March 2022
I usually just keep it in the pot with the lid off out of the oven to rest for a bit
Linda West
Wednesday 26th of January 2022
OMG, it was so easy to make and it was super moist and delicious. I had a 6lb whole chicken but it cooked just as the recipe had said. Definitely going to be making this again and plan on trying some of your other recipes. Thanks so much
Jasper
Friday 28th of January 2022
@The Typical Mom, I'm still w aiting on liquid amount. Apparently you answer only positive comments not serious questions!
Jasper
Friday 28th of January 2022
@The Typical Mom,
The Typical Mom
Thursday 27th of January 2022
So glad
JASPER
Tuesday 4th of January 2022
HOW MUCH WINE OR BROTH? NO WHERE IN THIS RECIPE DOES IT TELL THE AMOUNT. WHY HAS THIS QUESTION GONE UNANSWERED FOR SO LONG??
Shaunda Hall
Monday 14th of November 2022
@JASPER, I don’t need any liquid for this that’s way you use potatoes to keep the bird off the bottom to get true dripping at the end for gravy the key is to not water down !!!! You can if you most add 1/2 cup of the liquid of your choosing wine broth water but like I said there is no need and it better without any
Sue Vandegenachte
Wednesday 3rd of February 2021
What temperature is the oven ?
The Typical Mom
Thursday 4th of February 2021
Full instructions at the very bottom of this post
Julie
Thursday 28th of January 2021
This was super easy and delicious. It was my first attempt cooking a whole chicken. Have to say I’ll be making this over and over. Yum!