Updated on December 21st, 2023

Chicken is probably the most simple and flexible major ingredient you can prepare for your household. If you have come here with a chicken dish in mind or simply want to cook some chicken for weekly meal preparation, you’ve come to the perfect place.

Notably, this guide is one, especially for a 12 lb chicken. You will learn how long to cook the chicken and all the cooking time you need. Moreover, when you know the precise cooking time, you will see that cooking chicken becomes a delight.

Chicken Nutrition Facts

Tips to Cook a 12 Lb Chicken

Check out the complete cooking instructions and tips we’ve outlined for cooking a whole 12lb chicken.

Purchase the best bird you can – A 12 lb chicken produces parts large enough to tolerate a long run in the oven at a higher temperature. This means the chicken may be cooked long enough for the skin to crisp up while the meat remains juicy.

You can buy a whole chicken and have the backbone removed and the chicken quartered at the grocery store butcher. You will have more control over the chicken’s quality and the size of the pieces this way.

Carefully pick your pan – Some folks might argue that size does not matter; they probably didn’t know what they were talking about when it came to cooking chicken.

Always start with a small pan for that well-done skin and luscious, juicy meat that everyone likes. You will wind up with cooked chicken and flabby skin if you go any deeper than 2¼ inches.

Forget about using a deep roasting pan. Also, avoid gratin-style pans that are too tiny. Moreover, if you overcrowd the skillet, the chicken and all of the tasty and aromatic ingredients you add will steam.

The chicken should fit perfectly in the pan, with just enough room for a spoon to bast it. If you plan to prepare a sauce from the pan drippings, use a pan that can also be used on the cooktop (enameled cast iron or stainless steel).

Go for bold flavors in large quantities – When it comes to flavoring your chicken, you don’t have to hold back. Since plain chicken is so bland, it’s the ideal foil for your favorite robust flavors.

We recommend considering what flavors and seasonings complement and improve the moderately earthy side of chicken. Then you should also think about how those flavors would taste after an hour of cooking at 425°F.

The kitchen will well be filled with the rich perfume of the herbs while the chicken cooks and their tastes mellow and pervade the chicken.

The slower the chicken is cooked, the better – This is the general guideline for cooking protein. When you put the chicken breast in the pan, turn the heat up to medium-high. Quickly sear it. Reduce the heat to a medium-low setting. Cooking time for a boneless chicken breast of typical size is only about 6 minutes. When you press it when it’s done, it should be firm.

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How to Cook 12 Lb Chicken

Follow these easy steps to cook a 12lb chicken:

Combine the salt, sugar, garlic, and fresh herbs in a mixing dish. The chicken should be rubbed with the mixture. Lift the skin from the top of the chicken and sandwich the butter between the flesh and the skin, allowing the chicken to self-bast while cooking.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
Next, chopped oranges should be stuffed into the cavity of the chicken. Then now, you can place the chicken on a rack in a roasting pan, breast side down.
You can proceed to roast for 15 minutes, then lower the heat to 350°F and continue roasting until the chicken is done. The general rule of thumb for cooking chicken is 15 minutes per pound to cook and 10 minutes to rest – and that will be 3 hours for a 12 lb chicken to cook.
Throughout the cooking process, baste with pan drippings. When the meat is done, the juices should run clear, and an instant-read thermometer should read 165 degrees F.
You can then place the chicken on a serving plate after removing it from the oven.
Allow for a 30-minute rest period before serving.
Serve and enjoy.

Cooking time for a 12 lb Chicken

Since knowing how long to roast a chicken is crucial, we have highlighted the correct cooking time for you to get the best results:

Preparation Time	10 minutes
Cooking Time	3 hours
Resting Time	30 minutes
Total Time	3 hours, 40 minutes

When a meat thermometer in the thigh muscle registers 175°F, or when the drumsticks move readily in their sockets, the chicken is done.

Salt and Pepper Roast Chicken

This is a simple and delicious roast chicken recipe. The procedure is simple to follow. The chicken is seasoned, then roasted over high heat until the skin is bronzed and crisp and the flesh is moist. Season the chicken ahead of time; the flavor difference is noticeable if you have the time.

Also, if your oven starts smoking at high temperatures, you can cook your bird at 400 degrees instead of 450, though it will take an extra 5 to 20 minutes to finish.