Hey everyone. Writing another post on the beauty that is Roasted chicken. There are many ways that you can do this, but messing around with flavor profiles is something that is always awesome to do and it's a pretty healthy if you do it the right way.
The first thing that you'll need is the proper cooking vessel. Roasting chicken in a dish is a no no. It doesn't allow the fat to drop off the chicken, therefore allowing it to cook in its own fat. I say bleh to that. Get a good Roasting or broiler pan and make sure you cook on an elevated surface. Or you can cook directly on the oven track with a dish on the rack below it to catch the drippings. Let me remind you that doing the second option may be catastrophic to your kitchen either by fire or a supreme mess. Here are the ingredients you'll need.
4 lb plus chicken leg quarters
Salt
Garlic powder
Black pepper
Cajun seasoning
Italian Herb Seasoning
Paprika
Chilli Powder
Lay out your chicken on your pan and elevated rack and preheat your oven to 425ºF. If you don't have a rack that will fit in a pan, twist aluminum foil and lay under the chicken in rows so that it holds up your chicken. Trust me, I've done it, it works. Cooking takes a little bit of ingenuity sometimes. Dust the chicken in salt, pepper, garlic powder and Herb blend just so that it sits on top of the chicken. You can do this skin on or off, I recommend off, it allows for the juices to stay in the chicken and the flavor to sweat down through during the cooking process. Lay on the paprika and chilli powder pretty heavy, afterall, it is the title of the dish. Place in the oven for about 45-50 minutes and remove and let stand for 10 minutes to allow it to cook on its own and for the juices to rest. What you get is a rich, smoky flavor chicken with low calories and goes well with just about everything. Mess around with other flavors like chilli lime with chilli powder and lime zest. Roasted chicken is a true delight and is ready to make. Enjoy your food and don't skimp on the flavor. See you again soon.
