Dutch Oven Orange Roasted Chicken

Family dinners during the holiday season are incomplete without a Dutch Oven orange roasted chicken! I mean, a feast table without a cooked whole chicken placed right in the middle, surrounded by potatoes, carrots, and gravy, does not even sound right! And as the festive season is just around the corner, this is the perfect time to share my Dutch oven orange roasted chicken recipe with everyone!

Family dinners during the holiday season are incomplete without roast chicken! I mean, a feast table without a cooked whole chicken placed right in the middle, surrounded by potatoes, carrots, and gravy, does not even sound right!

And as the festive season is just around the corner, this is the perfect time to share my Dutch oven orange roasted chicken recipe with everyone!

So, get your ovens ready, as this tangy chicken whole chicken is all prepped up to be the highlight of your dinner table!

Why We Love Dutch Oven Orange Roasted Chicken?

What’s not to love about the Dutch oven orange roasted chicken? I mean, it’s quick, it’s easy, it’s savory, and it’s a total crowd pleaser!

This orange roasted chicken recipe is relatively easy to make, as you simply have to rub the orange marinade onto the chicken, and that’s about it. There’s no cutting, chopping, whisking, or stirring involved. Just wash and dry the chicken, mix all the spices with olive oil and orange juice, and brush it evenly on the front and back of the chicken. Now all that’s left is to pop it in the oven and wait 60 minutes for it to bake into a moist and flavorful dish, with the meat falling right off the bones!

The ingredients required for the Dutch oven orange roasted chicken are also pretty basic; nothing that needs you to run to the store. So, if you have a whole chicken in your fridge or even pieces of chicken, you can easily whip up this savory delicacy in less than an hour.

The main ingredient for this recipe, as you can probably guess by the name, is the orange juice, orange zest, and whole oranges. And if you don’t have oranges at hand, substitute them with lemons!

The chicken basted in tangy orange and spice marinade turns out to be mouthwateringly succulent, moist, and zesty. So, if you’re looking for a fancy meal to prepare for a festive feast, a casual dinner with family or friends, something fulfilling for a potluck supper, or if you just want to have good food for no apparent reason, the Dutch oven orange roasted chicken is a great option.

dutch oven orange roasted chicken with fresh oranges

Ingredients for Dutch Oven Orange Roasted Chicken

Like I said earlier, the ingredients that you need for this recipe are quite common and readily available in our kitchens, especially the spices:

  • 1 whole chicken (3 lbs): Washed and dried with giblets and excess fat removed.
  • 2 tsp salt: No dish is complete without salt!
  • 1/2 tsp herbes de Provence: A mix of thyme, basil, rosemary, tarragon, savory, marjoram, oregano, and bay leaf to give your roast chicken a distinct flavor.
  • 1/2 tsp ground paprika: For that sweet and peppery taste.
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper: It might just be a teaspoon; however, it heightens the flavor of your roast chicken with its piney and citrusy notes.
  • 3 tbsp olive oil: The thickness of the olive oil binds all the spices and keeps the marinade in place on the chicken.
  • 2 tbsp orange juice: For that tangy taste and to help smoothly brush the marinade on the chicken.
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest: It gives the recipe an additional pop of citrusy flavor.
  • 2 oranges: To make the chicken moist and flavorful from the inside as well.
  • Thyme and Rosemary: Both herbs combine to enhance the overall taste of the dish.
close up view of orange roasted chicken with fresh herbs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Dutch Oven Chicken

Here are some common queries to help you with the recipe:

Q. What do I use in place of oranges?

If you don’t have oranges, you can use lemons instead.

Q. What to serve with the Dutch oven orange roasted chicken?

You can serve this dish with baked or fresh oranges, potatoes, onion, carrots, apples, green beans, broccoli, or lemons on the side. And if you want to make it more fulfilling, you can also serve croutons.

Q. How long does it take for the chicken to be ready?

If you use a 3 lbs chicken, it will be done in almost an hour at 360 degrees F.

overhead shot of dutch oven orange roasted chicken in a white dish

Tips and Tricks

1. Don’t overcook the chicken, as it will lose all its moisture and turn out dry.

2. You can add sugar to the marinade to give the chicken a beautiful caramelized color and taste.

3. Spoon the extra liquid over the cooked chicken for extra taste.

More Easy Chicken Recipes to Enjoy

Yield: 1

Dutch Oven Orange Roasted Chicken

Dutch Oven Orange Roasted Chicken

Family dinners during the holiday season are incomplete without an orange roasted chicken!

Prep Time 12 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Additional Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 27 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 whole chicken (3 lbs)
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp herbes de provence
  • 1/2 tsp ground paprika
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp orange juice
  • 1 tablespoon orange zest
  • 2 oranges
  • thyme, rosemary

Instructions

  1. Put spices and salt in a bowl, mix everything. You can use other spices to taste.
  2. Add olive oil and orange juice, stir.
  3. Wash and dry the chicken. Wash the orange and cut into pieces, put inside the chicken.
  4. Place chicken backside up in Dutch oven and brush with marinade.
  5. Turn the chicken breast side up and thoroughly brush it with the rest of the marinade, rubbing it into the skin.
  6. Tie the chicken legs with a cooking string. Cut the second orange into pieces and put in a pan. Add sprigs of rosemary and thyme. Cover the Dutch oven with a lid and place in a preheated 360F oven. Cook for 60 minutes.
  7. Remove the Dutch oven lid and set the oven temperature to 400F so that the top of the chicken is browned. Wait 15 minutes, after which you can remove the chicken from the oven.
  8. Serve the chicken whole or cut up. For serving, slices of baked or fresh orange, as well as fresh or baked vegetables, are suitable.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.