Keto Oven-Roasted Chicken
Juicy, tender chicken with crispy golden skin and a savory herb-and-garlic seasoning. Simple enough for a weeknight dinner and delicious enough for a family meal.
🛒 Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1 whole chicken, about 4–5 lb (1.8–2.3 kg), giblets removed
- 2 tbsp olive oil or melted butter
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 1 tsp paprika, optional
- 1 tsp salt, or to taste
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 lemon, quartered
- 4–5 garlic cloves, smashed
👩🍳 Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Remove any excess moisture from the chicken by patting it thoroughly dry with paper towels. This helps the skin become crispy.
- Place the chicken breast-side up in a roasting pan or oven-safe baking dish.
- In a small bowl, mix the olive oil or melted butter with garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, rosemary, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- Rub the seasoning mixture generously over the entire chicken, including the breast, thighs, legs, and underneath the skin where accessible.
- Place the lemon quarters and smashed garlic cloves inside the chicken cavity.
- Tie the legs loosely with kitchen twine if desired, and tuck the wing tips underneath the chicken.
- Roast uncovered at 425°F (220°C) for 20 minutes.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C) and continue roasting until the thickest part of the thigh reaches 165°F (74°C). A 4–5 lb chicken will usually take around 1¼–1½ hours total, but use temperature rather than time as the final guide.
- If the skin becomes too dark before the chicken is cooked, loosely cover the top with foil.
- Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 10–15 minutes before carving. This helps keep the meat juicy.
- Carve and serve with your favorite low-carb vegetables or salad.
💡 Tips for Extra-Crispy Skin
- Make sure the chicken is very dry before seasoning.
- Don’t cover the chicken while roasting unless the skin is browning too quickly.
- Letting the chicken rest uncovered after roasting helps preserve the crispy skin.
🥦 Keto Serving Ideas
Serve with roasted broccoli, cauliflower mash, sautéed spinach, asparagus, or a simple green salad.
Style: Keto • Low Carb • High Protein
Servings: Approximately 6–8
