Roasting chicken

[hardy49]

I have some friends coming for a meal and I was going to buy a chicken for roasting.I already have some chicken breasts - do they roast well ? Or has anybody got a simple recipe I could use ?

[The Big Gill]

Even with the skin on, I would imagine they might dry out in the oven - just a guess.

[hardy49]

MM...I thought that.Think I'll get a whole chicken as planned.
Many thanks

[The Big Gill]

Well, you could try pan-frying them...

[Bohne]

Marinade them in a honey-mustard (1:1) marinade with some dill and a little grated orange peel.

My favourite BBQ chicken...
Works well with chicken breasts, too.

[hardy49]

Yes ..thant's a thought. I also thought of cooking them in a sauce but then that is not to everyones taste.
You really are being helpful - it's all my fault for forgetting to buy a chicken !!!!!!

[mccfluff]

I've roasted chicken breast before but i always wrap them in bacon, (nice if you stuff them as well)

[Champagne]

Hi Hardy. The breast of the chicken is usually the dryest meat anyway, so I wouldn't recommend roasting them alone.

For a perfect roast chicken I do the following:-

1. Preheat oven.

2. Buy a large whole chicken, place on foil in a roasting tin and drizzle with a bit of olive oil (you don't need much). Make deep scores in various parts of the chicken with a sharp knife and fill the holes with garlic cloves (don't feel you're using too much garlic!), garnish the chicken with fresh rosemary and then cover the entire chicken with the foil and place in the oven.

3. Turn oven down to 80 oC (around gas mark 4) and cook for an hour in the centre of the oven.

4. After an hour, remove the foil and baste the chicken in the roasting dish with the hot oil. Return to the top of the oven and cook for further 30 minutes (until the chicken is golden brown) at high temperature (220 oC or Gas Mark 8).

The trick is to cook it for a long time in the foil on a low heat. This cooks the chicken thoroughly and then all you need to do is brown the chicken at the end. You'll find that the meat falls off the bone. It's delicious!

Extra tip: Cook the chicken upside down - this lets the meat juices soak through to the chicken breasts so they're not so dry.

[hardy49]

Thank you all so much - you have been a great help

[brawburd]

I often use chicken breasts and cook them in casserole dish immersed in stock (just water and a chicken stock cube - nothing fancy!) with a little seasoning. They stay moist and get some added flavour. Drain and slice before serving with your usual roast dinner accompaniments.

[brawburd]

ps 20 - 30 minutes as opposed to however long a full chicken would take, ideal if you are in hurry.

[hardy49]

Now that does sound like a good idea - many thanks

[sissy2708]

Buy a Marks & Spencer Oakham Chicken and just pop in oven in foil tray for stated time. Absolutely delicious and tender. Also do a Free Range and Corn fed chicken. Yum...

[Champagne]

Hardy, did you also know that the big Tesco stores do ready roasted chickens? Bluddy cheap too! Buy one of those for an easy life. Just make sure you waft it around your kitchen a bit before your friends come over so it smells like it's been in your oven for hours!! :o)

[hardy49]

That sounds very tempting as well !!!