Convection Oven Roast Chicken

Name: Convection Oven Roast Chicken Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 80 min
Total time: 85 min
Ingredients: 1 whole chicken; 2 tbsp olive oil; ½ tsp coarse black pepper; ½ tsp sea salt; ½ tsp dried parsley; ½ tsp dried thyme; ½ tsp smoked paprika; 1 tsp garlic salt; ½ tsp onion powder

Juicy and flavorful roast chicken, seasoned with a homemade spice rub and cooked to perfection in the convection oven.

Jump to Recipe

We enjoy cooking convection oven roast chicken, because it is easy to make, bursting with flavor, and incredibly juicy. Roast chicken only needs 5 minutes of prep time and then cooks completely hands off. While this flavorful chicken with crispy skin goes well with almost all sides, we love serving it with mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables and crusty white bread. This amazing roast chicken convection oven recipe will soon be a staple in your dinner rotation.

Table of Contents

roast chicken on a serving platter with sprigs of rosemary

Benefits Of A Convection Oven

The primary difference between a convection oven and a conventional oven is the way the heat is distributed. A general rule of thumb for convection cooking is to cook your food 25°F less than the recipe calls for in a traditional oven. You will also need to adjust cook time because cooking is generally quicker.

The circulating air helps dishes cook evenly, even on multiple racks.
You should not have to rotate dishes between racks if you are cooking multiple things.
The movement of the air promotes browning and crisping.
The circulating hot air can accelerate baking and roasting times.
Great for cooking a variety of dishes all at once. You can cook your roast chicken and roast your potatoes and even add another tray on another rack.

Why You’ll Love This

Notable: Juicy roast chicken with crispy skin that is tender and full of flavor
Main Ingredients: whole chicken, olive oil, and spices
Cooking Method: oven baked
Nutrients: 18g of protein per serving
Cooking Time: 5 minutes of prep time and 60-80 minutes of cooking time
Pairs well with: roasted vegetables, potatoes, rice, crusty white bread
Diets: keto friendly, gluten free, dairy free
Special Equipment Needed: instant read thermometer, sheet pan

convection oven roasted chicken on a plate with fresh herbs

convection oven roast chicken on a baking rack with rosemary

Ingredients

You may have all of these convection oven roast chicken ingredients in your refrigerator or pantry and not need to make a trip to the grocery store. See recipe card below for ingredient amounts and print the recipe.

Pantry Ingredients: olive oil
Meat Ingredients: whole chicken
Spices: black pepper, sea salt, dried parsley, dried thyme, smoked paprika, garlic salt, onion powder

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: We recommend serving this scrumptious and juicy roast chicken with a healthy side dish such as Air Fryer Roasted Vegetables. We also love our flavorful Air Fryer Broccoli and Green Beans with this chicken.

Instructions

This section shows how to cook roast chicken in the convection oven, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full step-by-step instructions, photos and nutritional information see the recipe in the recipe card below. You can print the recipe with or without photos.

PREPARE: Firstly, preheat the convection oven to 350°F, rinse and pat the chicken dry with a paper towel.

SEASON THE CHICKEN: Rub olive oil all over the chicken. Then combine all the spices in a small bowl. Next, gently rub the spice mixture all over the chicken.

seasoned and trussed chicken on a baking rack over a roasting pan

COOK: Place the chicken onto a baking rack over a roasting pan or baking sheet. Place into the center of the convection oven and bake for 1 hour. Check the internal temperature of the chicken. It should reach 165°F. It should take about 60-80 minutes to fully cook the chicken. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Stef says….

I love roasting whole chickens, because they are easy to make and taste wonderful. But even after the yummy meat is eaten you can still make the most flavorful Homemade Chicken Stock using the leftover bones.

cooked chicken on a baking rack over a roasting pan

WHAT TO MAKE NEXT: If you love roasting whole chickens then you’ll love Stef’s Herb Roasted Chicken Recipe. This flavor-bursting one-dish meal will fill your home with the most delicious aroma and is a must have for your recipe box.

Recommended Tools

Sheet pan or roasting pan with a baking rack – We recommend using a baking rack rather than setting the chicken right on the pan as it allows the heat to circulate under the chicken ensuring even cooking. Additionally, it helps crisp up the skin all around the chicken.

Recipe Tips

Follow these tips to make the best convection oven roast chicken.

Tip: Pat the chicken dry thoroughly. Only dry chicken skin absorbs the seasonings properly and turns nice and crispy during cooking.
Tip: Truss the chicken. Tying the drum sticks together with some kitchen twine ensures even cooking and a well shaped cooked chicken.
Tip: Make sure the skin of the chicken doesn’t burn. Loosely tent the chicken with aluminum foil if it browns too quickly.
Tip: Don’t skip the resting time. A 5-10 minute rest will seal in the juices and make the chicken extra juicy.

How To Store

Refrigerate: Store leftover baked chicken in an airtight container or ziploc bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freeze: You can freeze leftover oven-roasted chicken in an airtight and freezer safe container or ziploc freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Defrosting: A great way to defrost is in the refrigerator overnight.

whole roasted chicken on a serving platter with fresh herbs

Andrea says….

Sometimes there is not enough time to roast a whole chicken. Then I usually opt for one of my favorite 21 Whole Chicken Breast Recipes. Take a look if you are looking for boneless skinless chicken breast recipes that are all flavorful, moist and full of juices.

Common Questions

Do I have to truss a chicken before roasting?

While this is of course optional, we recommend at least tying the drumsticks together. This helps the chicken to cook evenly and keep a nice shape during the cooking process.

Is it very important to let the chicken rest after cooking?

YES. We highly recommend letting the whole chicken rest for 5-15 minutes after taking it out of the oven. This will help conclude the cooking process and give the juices time to redistribute themselves, ensuring a moist and juicy chicken.

How do I carve a chicken?

A popular way to carve a chicken is to cut off the entire chicken thighs first. Then cut the drumsticks of the thigh pieces. Next, carve off the breast pieces, by finding the chicken’s breastbone and cutting in a downward motion on each side. Finally cut the wings off the chicken. Arrange the pieces on a platter and serve.

How long to cook a 5 pound chicken in convection oven?

We like to cook our chicken at 350°F in the convection oven. The amount of time it takes varies slightly depending on the size of the chicken and the internal temperature of the chicken before you begin cooking. A 5 pound chicken should take about 60-80 minutes in the convection oven.