Last Updated on May 14, 2024
This guide will take you through the steps of making the ultimate whole-roasted chicken recipe for Christmas eve. It’s easy and stuffed with flavor.
What Makes The Perfect Chicken Recipe For Christmas Eve?
Christmas is fast approaching and already we are getting an influx of requests for holiday chicken recipes.
At first, we were super stuck on ideas. We couldn’t think of anything that hasn’t been done already. So, we actually decided to make a very simple recipe, but go over the basics of cooking the perfect chicken recipe for Christmas eve.
This way, you have a delicious cooked basic recipe to use. And you can apply the rules to other whole chicken recipes for Christmas too.
So, what exactly makes a perfectly cooked whole chicken? The most important part of a good baked chicken for Christmas is that it’s cooked. Sounds silly, but you’d be shocked to learn how many people end up with food poisoning after the yearly roast.
Then, you also need to ensure it’s flavorful. This can be achieved by simply seasoning the outside of the chicken with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Obviously, you can also add rubs, marinate the chicken, and add stuffing.
Another great trick we will show you today is how to get butter underneath the skin.
And finally, you need to make sure that the flavor of your chicken recipe for Christmas eve is easy to pair. This means it’s best to stay away from specific flavor profiles. For example, if you make a heavily BBQ-basted or spicy roast chicken, it won’t go well with the traditional accompanying dishes.
What is this chicken recipe for Christmas eve?
Today, our chicken recipe for Christmas eve is simple. We will add a simple breading on the inside, smear some unsalted butter under the chicken’s skin, and season the outside with salt and pepper.
It’s extremely simple so that we can focus on technique. But don’t worry, we’ll never give you a sub-par recipe. This whole roasted chicken is still incredibly flavorful. It has a juicy tender texture and super crispy golden skin.
What You Need To Make This Chicken Recipe For Christmas Eve
Ingredients for the stuffing
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1/3 cup celery, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian herb mix
- 2 cups soft bread crumbs
- 3/4 cup whole milk, divided
- Sea salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 large egg
Ingredients for the roast chicken
- 4 pounds whole chicken, cleaned
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- Sea salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Equipment
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing bowls
- Roasting tray with rack
- Aluminum foil
- Frying pan
- Spatula
- Pastry brush
- Toothpicks, twine, or pins
Step by step instructions
Step 1: Make the stuffing
Preheat your oven to 375ºF (190ºC). Line a roasting tray with foil. Place the roasting rack over the foil. Set it aside.
Add the butter to a frying pan over medium heat. Once melted, add the onions and celery. Allow them to sweat for about 5 minutes until the onions are translucent.
Add the poultry seasoning, herb mix, and soft breadcrumbs. Mix them in well.
Then, add about 1/3 cup of whole milk. The crumbs will absorb the liquid and become soggy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Finally, add the egg and more milk if needed. Only add a tablespoon of milk at a time to adjust the consistency of the stuffing.
Remove the stuffing from the heat and set it aside to cool.
Step 2: Spread butter under the chicken skin
Place the prepared and cleaned chicken on the rack. Use your fingers to gently lift the skin off the flesh. Rub the softened butter underneath the skin. Try to distribute it evenly and cover as much surface area as you can.
Don’t worry if there are larger chunks underneath the skin. They will melt away and help make the skin even more crispy.
Step 3: Stuff the chicken
Once the stuffing has cooled, add it inside the chicken cavity. Don’t pack too much stuffing inside. It should be loosely placed in.
Once the cavity is full, close the loose skin and secure it with toothpicks, needles, or butchers twine.
Step 4: Finish off the chicken
Finally, brush the chicken with a little bit of olive oil all over the surface. Make sure you get between all the crevices. Then, season the top with salt and pepper.
Step 5: Bake the whole chicken
Cover the chicken with a piece of foil. Place the roasting tray on the middle rack. Then, roast the chicken (covered) for about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Remove the foil and continue baking the chicken for 20-30 minutes. The internal temperature of the chicken and stuffing should be 165ºF (74ºC). And the skin should be super crisp and golden brown.
Step 6: Rest the chicken
Before carving or serving the beautifully roasted chicken, leave it to rest. Place it at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes. This will help the meat retain its juices and tender texture.
Meanwhile, you can make gravy with pan drippings.
Expert Tips And Tricks
- You can also make roast chicken breast Christmas edition using this guide. The only things that will change are the stuffing (unless you make a type of roulade) and the roasting times.
- If your chicken is browning too soon once the foil is removed, place it back on. Continue roasting the chicken until it’s completely cooked.
- We don’t like adding herbs to the surface of the chicken for roast Christmas chicken. It often burns and creates an astringent taste. Rather add chopped herbs underneath the skin with the butter or in the stuffing.
- Use sea salt flakes or Maldon salt for the surface of the skin. The larger salt crystals help make a crispier skin and give the chicken a golden color.
Preparations Times And Servings
| Preparation Time | Roasting Time | Servings |
| 20 minutes | 1 hour 30-40 minutes | 1 whole chicken |
Wrapping Things Up – The Perfect Whole Roast Chicken Recipe For Christmas Eve
We hope that this chicken recipe for Christmas eve and its guide came in handy. This roast is absolutely decadent and stuffed with loads of flavors.
Let us know how your chicken came out. And, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Perfect Roasted Chicken Recipe For Christmas Eve - 2 Hours
Equipment
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing bowls
- Roasting tray with rack
- Aluminum foil
- Frying pan
- Spatula
- Pastry brush
- Toothpicks, twine, or pins
Ingredients
Ingredients for the stuffing
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1/3 cup celery, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian herb mix
- 2 cups soft bread crumbs
- 3/4 cup whole milk, divided
- Sea salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 large egg
Ingredients for the roast chicken
- 4 pounds whole chicken, cleaned
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- Sea salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Make the stuffingPreheat your oven to 375ºF (190ºC). Line a roasting tray with foil. Place the roasting rack over the foil. Set it aside.Add the butter to a frying pan over medium heat. Once melted, add the onions and celery. Allow them to sweat for about 5 minutes until the onions are translucent.Add the poultry seasoning, herb mix, and soft breadcrumbs. Mix them in well.Then, add about 1/3 cup of whole milk. The crumbs will absorb the liquid and become soggy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.Finally, add the egg and more milk if needed. Only add a tablespoon of milk at a time to adjust the consistency of the stuffing.Remove the stuffing from the heat and set it aside to cool.1/4 cup unsalted butter, 1 small onion, chopped, 1/3 cup celery, chopped, 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian herb mix, 2 cups soft bread crumbs, 3/4 cup whole milk, divided, Sea salt, to taste, Freshly ground black pepper, to taste, 1 large egg
- Spread butter under the chicken skinPlace the prepared and cleaned chicken on the rack. Use your fingers to gently lift the skin off the flesh. Rub the softened butter underneath the skin. Try to distribute it evenly and cover as much surface area as you can.Don't worry if there are larger chunks underneath the skin. They will melt away and help make the skin even more crispy.4 pounds whole chicken, cleaned, 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- Stuff the chickenOnce the stuffing has cooled, add it inside the chicken cavity. Don't pack too much stuffing inside. It should be loosely placed in.Once the cavity is full, close the loose skin and secure it with toothpicks, needles, or butchers twine.
- Finish off the chickenFinally, brush the chicken with a little bit of olive oil all over the surface. Make sure you get between all the crevices. Then, season the top with salt and pepper.1/4 cup olive oil, Sea salt, to taste, Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Bake the whole chickenCover the chicken with a piece of foil. Place the roasting tray on the middle rack. Then, roast the chicken (covered) for about 1 hour and 10 minutes.Remove the foil and continue baking the chicken for 20-30 minutes. The internal temperature of the chicken and stuffing should be 165ºF (74ºC). And the skin should be super crisp and golden brown.
- Rest the chickenBefore carving or serving the beautifully roasted chicken, leave it to rest. Place it at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes. This will help the meat retain its juices and tender texture.Meanwhile, you can make gravy with pan drippings.
Notes
My name is Ania, and I am very glad to see you here. I have always loved cooking; even some of my earliest memories are flipping through a cookbook and making pudding standing on a stool because I was too small to reach the stove.
You should know that I am not a professionally trained chef, just a big food lover who grew up in a family obsessed with cooking and focused on what we eat.
