How Long to Cook a Whole Chicken at 400 Degrees
How long to cook a whole chicken at 400 degrees varies depending on the size of the chicken. The average cook time is about 15 minutes per pound, plus an extra 15 minutes at the end to ensure that it's fully cooked.
- 2½-to-3-pound chicken: 45 minutes to 1 hour
- 3½-to-4-pound chicken: 1 hour to 1¼ hours
- 4½-to-5-pound chicken: 1¼ hours to 1½ hours
Before you serve your chicken, double-check that it's done by inserting a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the breast; it should read 165 degrees. For the best roasted whole chicken, we actually recommend using a slightly higher temperature. For example, cooking a whole chicken in the oven at 425 degrees for 1 hour and 10 minutes, for a 4-pound chicken, may yield the best tasting whole roasted chicken dinner.