Clean & Simple Roasted Chicken

We made this chicken for Thanksgiving and the entire family loved it! We don't actually like "traditional" Thanksgiving foods, so we served this with sweet-sweet potato cubes, balsamic garlic asparagus, and our fall cauliflower quinoa salad with raisins. Don't let the ingredients or steps fool you, it was actually pretty easy! Everything was simple and delicious!

This would be perfect for your next party or even just for your weekly food prep! We only had a little bit of leftover chicken but it was still fantastic the next day. 

We've made this recipe numerous times since we published it in 2015 so we thought it was time for an update! We use different vegetables each time so we've included a list of the ones that we recommend but use your imagination! The vegetables make this recipe delicious! We've made this with just one chicken (as you see in the video) and two chickens (as pictured). The seasoning we have listed is for more than one chicken. The other ingredients we have listed will be the perfect amount for one chicken.

Clean Eat Recipe: Clean & Simple Roasted Chicken

Seasoning Ingredients:

The list below should provide you with enough seasoning to make at least two chickens. If you do not want to make your own seasoning we love Lane’s BBQ rubs. We recommend the Garlic Rub for this recipe. Enter code heshe for 10% off! (affiliate link)

• 1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp coriander
• 1/2 tsp thyme
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• 1/8 tsp crushed red pepper
• 1/8 tsp cumin
• 1/8 tsp turmeric

Other Ingredients:

• 1 whole organic chicken
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 oranges (recommended) or lemons
• 6-8 sprigs of fresh rosemary or thyme

Your choice of vegetables (below are some options):

• 1 onion
• 6 carrots
• 4-6 parsnips
• 4-6 red potatoes

Watch How to Make Our Clean & Simple Roasted Chicken (1 Min):

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Cut onion, carrots, parsnips and potatoes into 1.5" - 2" chunks and place in bottom of roasting pan.  Mix the vegetables with about 1/2 Tbsp of the olive oil and toss with seasoning and additional salt and black pepper.  Place sprigs of fresh rosemary or thyme on top of the vegetables.
3. Cut oranges (or lemons) into quarters and set aside until step #7.
4. Remove chicken giblets and rinse chicken carefully while removing excess fat and pin feathers.  
5. Place chicken on oven roasting rack over vegetables and lightly brush the outside of the chicken with the olive oil. Note - It is unnecessary to liberally coat the chicken in oil as the water from rinsing will help the seasoning rub bind to the skin. 
6. Liberally spread the seasoning on the inside and outside of the chicken.
7. Stuff the oranges (or lemons) into chicken cavity.
8. Place entire roasting pan in the oven and bake for 75-90 minutes or until internal temperature of the chicken reaches at least 165-degrees Fahrenheit.  
9. When chicken is complete, cover entire pan with aluminum foil for 15-20 minutes.
10. Transfer chicken and vegetables to separate platter.  Carve (or pull) chicken and enjoy!

Below are the nutrition facts that we calculated (for the chicken only). You will need to calculate your specific nutrition information for the vegetables that you use.

Thanksgiving Turkey Vegetable Tray

We were having our last meeting for Girls on the Run and I wanted to bring some healthy snacks for the girls. I decided that I would make a vegetable tray and try to turn it into the shape of a turkey. For someone who isn't very good at this kind of stuff, I think it turned out pretty well! ;-) I have another one I need to make soon so I'll make it again (try to improve!) and post it here.

I went to Costco and bought a vegetable tray ($9.99) a bag of peppers (6 mixed peppers for $5.99) and a bag of cucumbers (3 for $3.99). I ended up only using one pepper and one cucumber and only half of the carrots from the tray. You could easily make this for under $10, depending on how many people you are trying to feed.

I modeled mine after this one and a few other pictures I saw floating around the internet.

You can really use any vegetables you want, just make sure you use ones with a lot of colors! As I mentioned, I started with a vegetable tray that contained carrots, broccoli, snap peas, cauliflower, and dressing. I also added cucumbers and bell peppers.

I started at the top and placed by broccoli in a semi-circle. Then I added the carrots and sliced peppers. I transferred the dressing from the plastic container into a glass one. I placed it under the peppers and then started filling in the gap with cucumbers. Around the bottom, I added snap peas.

All you have left to do is to put together the turkey face! I used a red bell pepper and cut off all of it except for the end. I also cut a hole in the middle so that the beak would fit in and stay put. For the legs, I used carrots and just carefully cut out little "toes" using kitchen scissors. For the eyes, I used raisins and just mashed a few together with my hands to make them stick (how's that for professional!?). You could also use dates. It might be best to wait and assemble the turkey face when you get your tray to where it will actually be consumed. That way you don't risk the whole thing falling into the dressing!

That's it! This is an easy and inexpensive way to dress up a vegetable tray! Enjoy creating your own. Let me know if you think of something different or have a picture to share!

Six Quick & Easy Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes

I know I have a ton of recipes on this website but I actually don't like complicated recipes or spending all day in the kitchen - and that applies to the holidays too! I'm not even a fan of your typical Thanksgiving food (never have been!). I do love the holidays but I think that more focus should be on spending time with the ones you love and less on elaborate cooking, cleaning, and shopping (unless that's your thing!).

I wanted to bring you some delicious but also very easy to make side dish recipes that you could use over the holidays or even just during your normal food prep! Also, don't forget to get your FREE copy of our Fit Festive Foods eCookbook! Enjoy!

Six Quick & Easy Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes

Balsamic Garlic Asparagus

Fall Cauliflower Quinoa Salad with Raisins

Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash

Creamy Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese
by Hettman Homestead

Pomegranate, Butternut Squash, & Wild Rice Power Salad
by Hettman Homestead

Maple Acorn Squash
by Hettman Homestead

Looking for a Cranberry Sauce recipe? We have one in our FREE Fit Festive Foods eCookbook!