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!