Best Grandmas Simple Roast Chicken Recipes

GRANDMA'S SMOTHERED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Brown the chicken: Heat 2 large skillets over high heat. Add half of the oil to each. Arrange the chicken on a tray in a single layer and season with salt. Turn the pieces over and season the other side. When the oil begins to smoke lightly, carefully add the chicken, skin side down, to the skillets, leaving space between each piece of chicken. Reduce the heat to medium and allow the chicken to brown on their first side, 5 to 8 minutes. Resist the temptation to move or turn the pieces. Use metal tongs to carefully turn the chicken pieces to their second side and brown 3 to 5 additional minutes. Transfer the chicken pieces to a tray and set aside.
• Prepare the garlic: Grate 6 of the cloves of garlic and set aside for the sauce. Cut the remaining 12 cloves in half lengthwise.
• Make the sauce: In one of the skillets you cooked the chicken in, add the cumin and coriander and stir rapidly over medium-low heat to give them a quick toast, 10 to 15 seconds. Immediately add the onions and grated garlic. Season with salt and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the onions turn light brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the cinnamon stick, pepper flakes, bay leaves and tomatoes. Allow the tomatoes to cook, breaking them apart with a spoon as they cook, 8 to 10 minutes, and then add 1 cup water.
• Toast the garlic cloves: In the other skillet the you cooked the chicken in, arrange the garlic halves in a single layer in the cooking grease. Toast the garlic over low heat until golden brown and crisped, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove the garlic from the skillet, sprinkle with salt and drain on a kitchen towel.
• Finish cooking the chicken: Arrange the chicken pieces, skin side up, in the sauce. Cover the skillet, keep the heat low and continue cooking until the pieces are cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the cover and stir in the ginger, cream and vinegar. Cover and simmer 2 to 3 additional minutes.
• Test the center of a thigh to make sure the chicken is cooked through. It should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F and the juices should run "clear," not pink. Remove and discard the cinnamon stick and bay leaves. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Top with the toasted garlic and serve immediately.

GRANDMA'S CHICKEN CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Place chicken evenly in bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish. Spoon and spread soup evenly over chicken; sprinkle with cheese.
• In medium bowl, stir bread crumbs and melted butter; sprinkle over cheese. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until cheese is melted and bread crumbs are golden brown and thoroughly heated.

GRANDMA'S FAVORITE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place the chicken legs in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Arrange potatoes, carrots, garlic, and squash around the chicken. Top with onion slices. Season with parsley, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Place 1/2 tablespoon butter on each chicken leg. Pour water into pan to a level of about 1/2 inch.
• Cover pan with foil and cook 1 hour in the preheated oven. Remove foil and continue cooking 20 minutes, until vegetables are tender and chicken juices run clear.

GRANDMA'S SIMPLE ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Remove and discard insides of chicken. Rinse chicken with cold water and pat dry. Trim any excess fat.
• Combine salt, pepper, and paprika in a small bowl and sprinkle over chicken and into the cavity.
• Place vegetables and bay leaf in body cavity. Tie ends of legs together with a cord (I have never done this and it still turns out fine). Lift wing tips up and over back; tuck under chicken.
• Place chicken, breast side up, on a broiler pan (or on a rack inside another pan) coated with cooking spray.
• Bake at 400 degrees for one hour or until meat thermometer inserted into thigh registers 180 degrees.
• Cover loosely with foil for about 10 minutes.
• Remove vegetables from inside chicken and throw them away.

JUICY ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place chicken in a roasting pan, and season generously inside and out with salt and pepper. Sprinkle inside and out with onion powder. Place 3 tablespoons margarine in the chicken cavity. Arrange dollops of the remaining margarine around the chicken's exterior. Cut the celery into 3 or 4 pieces, and place in the chicken cavity.
• Bake uncovered 1 hour and 15 minutes in the preheated oven, to a minimum internal temperature of 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). Remove from heat, and baste with melted margarine and drippings. Cover with aluminum foil, and allow to rest about 30 minutes before serving.

ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Place the chicken in a 12- or 14-inch cast-iron pan, breast-side up. Top with 2 tablespoons butter and generously sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast the chicken, 5 minutes. Remove the chicken and carefully shake it to ensure that it does not stick to the bottom of the pan. Return to the oven to roast, 20 more minutes. Baste the chicken and continue to roast, basting every 5 minutes, for 30 minutes. Add the carrots, garlic and onions and continue to roast until the chicken is cooked through and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thigh (avoiding bone) reads 155 degrees F, about 20 minutes more.
• Place the chicken on a cutting board with the vegetables. Skim the fat from the pan, leaving about 2 tablespoons. Place the pan over a burner and add the flour. Cook until browned, then add the wine. Scrape out all the pan juices and the wine-flour mixture into a small saucepan. Cook for 3 minutes, then add the cream and remaining 2 tablespoons butter, whisking. Season with salt and pepper. Slice the meat off the bird and add the cooking juices to the gravy. Place the sliced meat on a platter and sauce with the gravy. Garnish with the vegetables.