There’s nothing quite like the aroma of roast chicken filling your kitchen, warm, savory, and nostalgic. This roast chicken with potatoes recipe is a timeless dish that brings comfort to any table. It’s easy to prepare, packed with flavor, and ideal for both special occasions and simple weeknight dinners.
Start by choosing a whole chicken or your preferred cuts, thighs and drumsticks are especially juicy and flavorful when roasted. Pat the chicken dry, then season generously with salt, pepper, garlic, and a mix of herbs like rosemary, thyme, and oregano. A drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon over the skin ensures it gets crispy and golden as it roasts.
The real beauty of this dish is how the potatoes soak up all the flavor. Cut them into chunks, Yukon Gold or red potatoes work well and toss them with olive oil, salt, pepper, and fresh herbs. Arrange them in the roasting pan around the chicken so they absorb the savory juices as everything cooks together.
Roast everything in a preheated oven at 200°C (400°F) until the chicken is deeply golden and the potatoes are tender with crisp edges. Depending on the size of your chicken, it will take about 45 minutes to an hour. Baste the chicken once or twice during cooking for an extra-crispy skin and juicy meat.
Serve the roast chicken carved into pieces with the potatoes on the side, and don’t forget the pan juices, they’re perfect drizzled over everything or mopped up with crusty bread. Add a simple salad or steamed green beans to round out the meal.
What makes this recipe special is its simplicity. With just a few ingredients and one pan, you get a satisfying, rustic dish that never fails to impress. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or just craving a homemade comfort meal, roast chicken with potatoes is always a winner.
Ingredients
- 1 chicken
- 4 potatoes
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp thyme dried
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Wash and dry the potatoes, then cut them into large chunks.
- Place the chicken in a roasting pan and rub the skin with olive oil, salt, black pepper, thyme, paprika, and garlic powder.
- Arrange the potato chunks around the chicken in the roasting pan.
- Roast the chicken and potatoes in the preheated oven for 1 hour, or until the chicken is cooked through and the potatoes are crispy and golden brown.
- Remove the chicken and potatoes from the oven and let them rest for a few minutes before serving.
- Serve the roast chicken with the crispy potatoes.
Too simple for me. I prefer more action in my recipes, like sauce or something. Where’s the flavor?
Tried this but all my potatoes were burnt. Maybe my oven sucks.
Huh, I didn’t know you had to wash the potatoes. Aren’t they already clean? I skipped that step and it still turned out good! 👍
You should really wash them, though! Dirt and stuff can make you sick. That’s what I do, just to be safe.
Honestly, I never wash my potatoes either! They just taste fine to me. 😄
This is a weeknight saver. Minimal ingredients, maximum flavor. My kids ate it without complaining (rare!).
Super easy and honestly really flavorful. The paprika + garlic powder combo makes the chicken skin taste amazing, and the potatoes came out crispy like you promised. Will make again for sure!
Um, I don’t know. You think the garlic powder made a difference? Didn’t taste much change but maybe I need to season more? 🤔
Easy and quick! Made this on a weekday and it turned out great! Kids loved it!
I tried this and it was ok, but the chicken took way longer than an hour to cook. Maybe my oven’s off? 🤔
I dunno, it shouldn’t take that long… Maybe your chicken was bigger than average? Mine was good in an hour. 🤷♂️
I had the same issue! My chicken took a bit longer too. I think different ovens really do cook differently. Maybe try checking the temp with an oven thermometer next time!
I followed the recipe but my chicken turned out dry. Maybe it needs a longer roasting time or more oil? Not sure if I’ll try again.
YUM!🥰 This was a hit! The whole house smelled amazing and it was a nice change from takeout. Thanks for sharing!
Is 400 degrees too high? My oven runs hot.
Good recipe! I didn’t have paprika so I used curry powder instead… weird but tasty!
This recipe is so simple and delicious! My family loved it!
400°F seems high for 1 hour with a whole chicken? Mine looked browned before it was fully done, so I had to cover it with foil halfway. End result was good, just watch timing based on your chicken size.
This was AMAZING! Juicy chicken and the potatoes were so crispy. Will totally make again!
Best roast chicken recipe ever!! 5 stars for sure! Tried with carrots too, so good! 🔥
Roasting chicken is easy but somehow mine never looks like the picture. What am I doing wrong? 😩
First time roasting chicken. It was fun! Plus, the smell made my neighbors jealous!
400°F is fine, but 1 hour feels short unless the chicken is small. I checked at 45 min and it needed more.
Ehhh, it was okay. I expected more flavor. Gonna add lemon next time.
I think the spices are good, but maybe you just need to cook it a bit longer. Chicken sometimes needs more time to really soak those flavors in!
Really basic recipe… I expected more flavor. I will try adding lemon next time!
Can u make this in a microwave? I live in dorm and do not have an oven.
It was okay, but I think I overcooked the chicken a bit.
Overcoked? Just think of it as ‘extra crispy’! 😄 It happens to the best of us!
It’s hard to get chicken just right! Maybe try using a meat thermometer next time. Cooking can be tricky.
Absolutely delicious! The chicken was so moist and the potatoes crispy just like I like them. Definitely a keeper!
400°F for 1 hour seems a bit optimistic for my oven. Also I used dried thyme but it tasted kinda flat—next time I’ll use more or add fresh herbs.
Yeah 400°F for 1 hour totally depends on the size of your chicken—my oven runs hot so it works, but on others it needs more time. I also agree about thyme: dried can go “meh” unless you use enough (or add a bit at the end).
I was skeptical at first, but this really turned out great. The spices made a huge difference. Would recommend!
I don’t know. Sounds kinda basic. Chicken and potatoes? My grandma made that all the time, but it was just boiled. 🤷♂️
I’m glad you liked it! The spices really do add a lot of flavor. I’m definitely trying this recipe this weekend.
Simple and tasty. I added a little extra pepper and it still didn’t overwhelm. Resting time helped a lot.
Extra pepper is the move. I usually go heavy on paprika too, but I worry at 400°F for 1 hour it’ll dry out—yours didn’t?
Glad it worked for you! The resting time makes such a difference—keeps the chicken juicy. 😊
I didn’t have thyme, used oregano, still tasted great!
Oregano works too! It’s nice to know the dish still turned out good. I might try that next time!
Really? Oregano instead of thyme? That sounds weird but hey if it tasted great then who cares!
This recipe is missing an important step! You should brine the chicken first! I don’t know how this works for everyone else smh.
I totally agree! Brining really makes a difference in flavor and juiciness. I always brine my chicken before roasting!
Um, brining? That’s too much work for me. I think it’s fine without it, plus I don’t even know what brining really is.
Made this tonight and it turned out perfectly—crispy potatoes and juicy chicken. The spice mix (paprika + garlic powder) is such a good combo. I’ll definitely do it again!
The seasoning list is solid. I think I could’ve cut the potatoes a little smaller because mine took longer than an hour to brown, but flavor was still on point.
This recipe is SO GOOD! My family loved it. 5 stars!
I’m so glad to hear you loved it! It’s my go-to for family dinners too. The potatoes really do turn out great!
I don’t get why everybody loves roast chicken… I prefer beef.
Chicken skin got nice and seasoned, but my potatoes weren’t as crispy as I expected. Next time I’ll cut them a bit smaller or parboil.
Oh that makes sense—400°F can brown the outside but if the potato chunks are too big they don’t dry out enough to get properly crispy. Cutting them smaller or doing a quick parboil usually fixes it.
I dunno, I always do big chunks and they still get crispy… maybe your oven runs low? Also did you pat them REALLY dry before the oil/spices? If there’s moisture, they’ll kinda steam.
The spices are great, but I’d add a little lemon or butter. This felt a tad dry without it.
I don’t know, my chicken came out kinda dry. Maybe I left it in too long? 🤔
Yum!
Can I use sweet potatoes instead? I don’t like regular ones.
Can’t believe how good this turned out! I thought I’d mess it up for sure!
I tried this with olive oil and spices—smelled amazing. The skin got crispy, which is always my goal!
Easy weeknight roast. I just substituted rosemary for thyme and it still tasted amazing.
Honestly? It was okay. Not bad, but it didn’t wow me. Maybe I’m missing something like lemon or a sauce?
400°F is a bit too low for my oven—my chicken needed closer to 1 hr 20 min. Still came out tasty though. Next time I’ll crank it slightly.
Why “1 chicken” though? Like, how much does it weigh? I used a smaller bird and it finished early, so I had to adjust. Recipe is fine, just need clearer measurements.
Pretty good! I followed it mostly, but next time I’ll cut the potato chunks a bit smaller so they crisp up more evenly. Chicken cooked through perfectly though.
This recipe is a classic! Perfect for Sunday dinners. My family loved it!
I totally agree! This recipe is so easy and the taste is just amazing! Perfect for family gatherings.
I don’t understand why you wouldn’t just boil the chicken instead? Seems weird.
Honestly, I think roasting tastes so much better! Plus, the potatoes get all the flavors too. 🤷♂️
Boiling is just… not the same. Roasting gives it that crispy skin! You gotta try it! 🐔
5 stars! This will be a new family staple!
meh. also i forgot to wash the potatoes lol but they turned out okay-ish. will try again
400°F for an hour feels short for safety on bigger chickens… I checked internal temp and it still needed more time. Please include a temp in the instructions.
My potatoes burned the edges before the chicken was done. I think my chunks were too small and I didn’t space them enough. Will adjust and try again!
I followed it exactly and the chicken skin didn’t get very crispy. Maybe my oven runs cool. Flavor was still decent—pepper and paprika came through.
5 stars! This is better than what we get at our local restaurant. Yummy!
Totally missed the thyme and used oregano. Not the same!
Not bad, but 400°F seems a little high for my oven. I had to cover the chicken loosely after 40 minutes so it wouldn’t over-brown.
I tried it, but the chicken was dry. Maybe I overcooked?
You forgot to mention a meat thermometer! That’s the only way to know it’s done!
Chicken turned out great! The potatoes were a bit overcooked though. Will try again.
Chicken is easy to cook, but potatoes? They always burn or mush up! Maybe use smaller ones or cook them less?
Glad to hear the chicken was a hit! I’ve had that issue with potatoes before; maybe try cutting them smaller next time?
5 stars. omg.
Can’t believe people make roast chicken so complicated! This is easy peasy.
This recipe is super easy! My family loved it, especially the potatoes. Will definitely make again.
Are you sure about that cooking time? My chicken looked raw at one hour. 🤔
Yummy! 😋 The chicken skin was so crispy, you don’t even need gravy!
Totally agree! The crispy skin is the best part! 😍
Pretty good flavor combo. I wish the timing was a bit more specific though—my chicken took closer to 1 hr 20 min.
I followed this exactly and the potatoes came out perfect. The paprika + garlic powder combo is doing some real work.
Love hearing that! The paprika + garlic powder combo really makes the skin and potatoes taste restaurant-level.
I did it too and mine were kinda close, but my potatoes got a little soft—maybe I cut them too small. Still tasty though!
So simple but it actually hits the sweet spot—crispy potatoes and juicy chicken. I used bone-in thighs and it still worked great.
Pretty good, but my potatoes weren’t very crispy at 1 hour. I think my chunks were too big. Next time I’ll cut smaller or roast a bit longer.
Ah yeah, totally makes sense. Large chunks usually steam before they crisp up—cutting smaller or adding time (and maybe cranking the oven a bit) should help a lot.
Honestly kinda bland for me. I know it’s salt/pepper/spices, but it felt missing something—maybe lemon or butter? It was edible, just not wow.
Totally get that. I love this kind of spice rub, but it can be a little one-note without a little fat or acid. A squeeze of lemon at the end or a knob of butter while it rests usually fixes it for me.
Pretty solid and easy. I didn’t have dried thyme so I used Italian seasoning and it was still tasty. Next time I’ll cut the potatoes a tiny bit smaller for extra crisp.
I’m skeptical about using only dried thyme—does it really compare to fresh? Mine was okay, but not wow-worthy.
I get you—dried thyme is a bit flatter than fresh. I usually bump the dried up slightly or mix in a pinch of fresh at the end if I’ve got it. Otherwise it can taste kind of “fine,” not wow.
Huh I think dried thyme works just fine. Like, if you roast it long enough it still smells good. Fresh is prettier maybe, but dried gets the job done. Mine turn out tasty every time.
Chicken came out juicy and the potatoes were crunchy on the outside. I added a little extra olive oil and everything came out better.
Just okay. Took longer than 1 hour to cook.
I found it took closer to 1.5 hours, but the taste was worth the wait! Maybe your oven runs hot?
Took me like 2 hours! That’s just ridiculous, who has that much time to roast a chicken??
Eh… 1 chicken and 4 potatoes? That’s not really a recipe, lol. I guess it works, but I need actual weights/times.
This was so easy and delicious! The chicken came out super juicy and the potatoes were perfect! Definitely making this again. 😊
Looks good!
Too simple. I need more flavor. Maybe add lemon or something.
Not gonna lie, I forgot to dry the potatoes and they didn’t crisp as well. Lesson learned: pat them dry, people!
Ahh that makes sense—moisture really kills the crisp. Good on you for learning fast though. Next time, pat them super dry (and maybe leave them a minute) and they’ll brown way better.
Yum! We loved it. The spices were spot on. My kids devoured it all! 🌟
Glad to hear that! It’s great when kids enjoy healthy meals. Did you add any extra veggies?
Why do you have to cut potatoes? Just put them whole, they taste the same right?
Cutting them helps them cook better and get nice and crispy! Whole potatoes might be mushy inside. Trust the recipe!
This recipe is fine, but I think more seasonings could’ve been better. Felt a bit bland.
Am I the only one who thinks ‘1 chicken’ is vague? Like… whole chicken? or pieces? I guessed and it was okay.
Nope, I noticed that too. “1 chicken” to me means a whole chicken, like 3–4 lb, but if someone has pieces it changes the time a lot.
Simply tasty dish! My kids ate all their veggies! We paired it with some green beans too!
YUM!!! 🍗 Potatoes were crispy and chicken soooo juicy! Love it!
So glad you loved it! The chicken really does come out amazing, right? 🍗💖
Nice and simple, didn’t overcomplicate anything. The spice mix (paprika + garlic powder) smelled amazing. Would definitely make again.
Roast chicken? More like roast disaster! Didn’t turn out right 🙁
Oh no! Sorry to hear it didn’t work out! Maybe the oven temp was off? I’ve had that happen too.
Yummy!!! #BestDinnerEver
This sounds great! Can’t wait to try it myself!
I dunno, roast chicken don’t sound that exciting. Guess I’ll stick with pizza.
Very easy to follow, but my chicken wasn’t golden brown like the picture. I want to know what I did wrong.
The spice blend is solid, but I’d add a bit of lemon or garlic cloves next time for more depth. Otherwise pretty perfect.
Roast chicken with potato! Me love! Simple and delicious!
Looks good, but is it really that simple? I always mess up the timing with the chicken and potatoes.
This is one of my favorite meals! So comforting and easy to make 😍. Can’t wait to try it again!
5 stars easy
Super easy and it actually tastes like “real roast chicken,” not just something thrown in the oven. The paprika + thyme combo is money.
Totally agree—paprika + thyme is the magic. I did this for dinner and it came out way more “real roast chicken” than I expected.
Wow, so easy! I didn’t have thyme so used oregano, still came out yummy! 🥳
Tasty! I used sweet potatoes instead. Still turned out great! 🙂
Will try this tomorrow. Sounds easy enough for my cooking skill level.
Is it really that easy? Looks too good to be true.
Tried this tonight—super simple and the potatoes actually got that crispy, golden edge. The spice mix on the chicken skin is on point. 10/10 comfort food.
Yes!! Crispy golden potatoes + seasoned chicken skin is the dream. I’ll have to try your combo exactly.
This came out way better than I expected—crispy potatoes, juicy chicken. The spice mix (paprika + thyme + garlic powder) is legit.
Ok dish but what oven temp? 400°F is too high for chicken, innit? Just saying…just saying.
I followed the recipe exactly, but the chicken was a bit dry. Maybe it needs less time? Not sure how I feel about it.
Why use thyme? I don’t like it! Can I use something else? Probably won’t try this. 😒
You can totally skip the thyme! Try rosemary or oregano instead; they’ll work just fine. Good luck!