How Long to Cook a Whole Chicken Per Pound
On average, when you're trying to determine how long to cook a whole chicken per pound, if you set your oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, you should cook your chicken for 20 minutes a pound. Adding stuffing or extras to your chicken while you cook will extend your cook time because it increases the weight. Due to this, any chicken that is five pounds or larger should be kept in the oven for an additional 15 minutes after the initial 20 minutes a pound in order to ensure that it is fully cooked. The best way to check if your chicken is fully cooked is to use a meat thermometer. Insert it into the thickest part of the chicken, if the internal temperature comes back as at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit, your whole chicken is done!
What is the Cook Time for a Whole Chicken per Pound?
|
Whole Chicken Weight |
Cook Time |
Cook Temp |
|
4 lbs. |
1 hour and 20 minutes |
350 degrees Fahrenheit |
|
5 lbs. |
1 hour and 55 minutes |
350 degrees Fahrenheit |
|
6 lbs. |
2 hours and 15 minutes |
350 degrees Fahrenheit |
|
7 lbs. |
2 hours and 45 minutes |
350 degrees Fahrenheit |
Cooking at 350 degrees will yield a delicious chicken, but if you're looking to cut down the cook time, we suggest increasing the oven temperature to 425, and shortening the cook time may be the best way to cook a whole chicken in the oven.