Cooking a stuffed whole chicken can seem intimidating, but it’s actually quite simple if you follow a few tips. With the right techniques, you’ll have a beautiful, juicy chicken with flavorful stuffing every time. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know, from prep work to cooking times.
Choosing and Preparing the Chicken
Let’s start with picking the right chicken You’ll want to select a fresh whole chicken between 4 and 6 pounds Make sure to remove the giblets from the cavity, Rinse the chicken under cool water and pat it completely dry,
Next prepare your stuffing. For a classic flavor I like to use a mixture of bread cubes, diced celery, onions, chicken broth, sage, thyme, and seasoning. You can get creative and add diced apples, cranberries, sausage, or other ingredients you enjoy.
Once your stuffing is ready, loosely fill the chicken cavity without packing it too tight. Truss the legs together with kitchen string to secure the stuffing. Rub the outside of the chicken with olive oil or butter and generously season with salt and pepper.
Determining Cook Time
So how long should you cook a stuffed whole chicken? Here are some time estimates as a guide:
- 4 pound chicken: Bake at 350°F for approximately 1 1⁄2 – 2 hours
- 5 pound chicken: Bake at 350°F for approximately 2 – 2 1⁄2 hours
- 6 pound chicken: Bake at 350°F for approximately 2 1⁄2 – 3 hours
The total cook time can vary based on the size of your chicken, oven temperature, and stuffing ingredients. The most reliable way to test doneness is by using a meat thermometer.
Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh, avoiding bone. It should register 165°F when fully cooked. If under, continue baking and check the temperature every 10-15 minutes until it reaches 165°F.
Cooking Methods
You have options when it comes to cooking your stuffed whole chicken. The oven is most common, but here are two other great methods:
Oven Roasting: Preheat oven to 350°F. Place chicken breast-side up on a rack in a roasting pan. Baste with pan drippings every 30 minutes for even browning and moisture. Roast until 165°F.
Slow Cooker: Place seasoned chicken in a slow cooker and add 1⁄2 cup broth. Cook on low for 7-8 hours until 165°F. The stuffing cooks right inside the bird.
Grilling: Prepare a charcoal or gas grill for indirect cooking. Place chicken over indirect heat and grill with the lid closed. Rotate occasionally and grill until 165°F, about 1 1⁄2 – 2 hours.
Monitoring Doneness
Always verify doneness by taking the internal temperature in multiple places. Insert thermometer into the thickest part of breast, thigh, and stuffing to ensure they all reach 165°F.
The juices should run clear when chicken is pierced with a fork. If they are pink, continue cooking until clear. The skin will be beautifully browned and the meat should look opaque throughout when fully cooked.
If the skin starts to brown too quickly, tent foil loosely over the chicken to slow cooking. Remove foil for the last 15 minutes to crisp the skin.
Letting Your Chicken Rest
Once your stuffed chicken reaches the proper internal temperature, remove it from the oven or grill and let it rest for 15-20 minutes before carving.
This rest time allows the juices to redistribute so they don’t run out when you cut into it. Cover loosely with foil as it rests to keep warm. The internal temperature will rise about 5-10°F during this time – that’s perfectly normal.
Serving Suggestions
Your tender, juicy stuffed chicken makes a spectacular centerpiece to any meal. Pair it with savory sides like roasted potatoes, rice pilaf, or warm rolls. Round out the meal with roasted vegetables or a fresh salad.
For easy carving, remove any trussing and cutting board. Cut straight down along both sides of the breastbone to remove halves. Then slice between leg and thigh to separate. Arrange slices on a platter and spoon stuffing alongside.
Stuffed whole chicken also shines in soups, sandwiches, wraps, and salads over the next few days. Simply shred or dice the leftover meat and get creative!
Key Takeaways
- Allow 1 1⁄2 – 2 hours cook time per pound at 350°F
- Always verify doneness by taking internal temperature
- Let chicken rest 15-20 minutes before carving
- Pair with hearty sides like roasted veggies or potatoes
With this guide, you can masterfully cook a whole stuffed chicken for any occasion. Just follow the tips above for tender, juicy meat with perfectly cooked stuffing every time. Now go enjoy this satisfying, flavorful meal with family and friends!
Chicken Stuffed with a Mixture of Bread Cubes, Pear, Sage, Bacon, Onion, and Almond
- Purchase a chicken. I always encourage people to buy the best chicken you can get your hands on—the best according to your preference. For me, it’s free-range and organic. I was raised on home-grown chicken so I developed a taste for the good stuff. Once you get your chicken home, give it a rinse and check the cavity for surprises. Pat it dry with paper towels and clean the sink with soap and water.
- Stuff and season the chicken. To the right you will find a stuffing recipe that I wrote for this article. I love stuffing of all kinds. I wrote this particular recipe while driving to my grandmother’s house. It turned out to be the best stuffing I have made to date. Season the chicken with the herbs, salt, and pepper before you stuff. Use a large spoon to fill the cavity with stuffing. Tying the legs together will keep them from opening while cooking.
- Bacon will help keep the breast meat from drying out. Move the oven rack to the lower-middle of the oven, and preheat to 450 degrees F. This chicken will be roasted twice as long as an unstuffed bird, so we want to protect the breast meat. Laying bacon on top of the breasts will keep them from getting overcooked. This is a classic French cooking technique called “barding”; it works really well.
- Prepare to roast the stuffed chicken. To prevent the chicken from drying out, roast it covered from start to finish. I used aluminum foil, but a pan with a lid is preferred. Covering the pan will also create a lot more steam which will help cook the chicken faster. Place a thermometer through the foil and into the center of the stuffing to monitor the temperature as it cooks.
- Roast the stuffed chicken. Check the chicken after an hour. My four-pound chicken took over 2 hours to roast at 450 degrees. But the true measure is when the stuffing reaches 155 degrees. If you want to crisp the exterior, roast it uncovered for the last 20 minutes. Let the stuffed chicken rest for 20 minutes before you eat it.
- Buy a nice-looking, good-smelling chicken.
- Use homemade stuffing; the boxed stuffing pales in comparison. Plus, stuffing is one of the easiest things in the world to make. The recipe that I wrote for this article benefited from homemade chicken stock and homemade bread.
- Another way to boost the flavor of your stuffed chicken is to brine it first; read my recipe for chicken brine.
- Bacon really boosts the flavor and keeps the chicken from drying out; use good bacon.
- You may crisp up the skin of your chicken by popping it under the broiler for a couple minutes. Keep an eye on it.
- The juice in the bottom of the pan is a mixture of fat and juice; it would probably go well with the chicken.
Simple Roast Chicken and Stuffing
FAQ
How long do you cook a stuffed roast chicken?
Brush the chicken with the oil. Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the meat, not touching the bone. Roast at 325°F for 2 1/2 to 3 hours or until the drumstick moves easily and the center of the stuffing reaches 165°F, basting occasionally with the pan drippings.
How long does it take at 350 to cook a whole chicken?
At 350 degrees you should count on 20-25 minutes per pound for a 3 to 8 pound chicken. As with all meats, check the temperature 15-20 minutes before the time it should be done. You never know how accurate your oven is, and you don’t want to overcook and dry out the chicken.Oct 1, 2021
Does chicken take longer to cook if stuffed?
Cooking a stuffed chicken requires a longer cooking time than an unstuffed one. This is because the stuffing inside the chicken needs to reach a safe temperature of 165°F (74°C). As a general rule, add an extra 15 to 30 minutes to the total cooking time for a stuffed chicken.
What is the cooking temperature for stuffed poultry?
Bake uncovered at 375 F for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until internal temperature is greater than 165 F. The pork stuffed chicken cooks for 1 hour covered and 1 hour uncovered at 375 F.
How long does a stuffed chicken take to cook?
The cooking time for a stuffed whole chicken depends on its size and the oven temperature. As a general rule, you can estimate that the chicken will take about 20 minutes per pound (450 grams) to cook at 350°F (175°C). However, it’s always best to rely on an instant-read thermometer to determine when the chicken is fully cooked.
What temperature should stuffed chicken be cooked at?
Only the minority of street food vendors correctly indicated 78 °C (25.1 %) and 57 °C (33.8 %) as the correct minimum internal cooking temperature for stuffed chicken and vegetables/fruits, respectively.
How long should stuffed chicken rest before cooking?
For a stuffed chicken breast, let it rest for half the cooking time before cooking. A good rule of thumb is to let your meat rest for half the amount of time it cooked for. So if you plan to cook your stuffed chicken breast for 20 minutes, let it rest for 10 minutes first. This isn’t just for chicken! You should let any thick cut of meat rest—especially beef and pork.