Monday Meal: Chicken in a Pot

Posted // 2012-04-09 -

Is there anybody who doesn't love chicken? Well, yes. Me, for one, if it's overcooked and dry. This recipe for chicken cooked in a covered pot is virtually foolproof. It's very simple and produces moist, tender chicken every time, thanks in part to slow & low cooking and a method of sealing the pot really tightly. 

The recipe is based on a video I saw on TV a while back from (I think) Cook's Illustrated. I've made it many times, and each time I do I'm reminded why this is one of my favorite recipes. It's a real crowd-pleaser. 

Ingredients:

1 roasting chicken -- 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 pounds

1/2 tsp. cracked black pepper

2 tsp. kosher salt

1 1/2 Tbs. olive oil 

1 celery stalk, roughly chopped

1 small carrot, roughly chopped 

1 small onion, roughly chopped

5-6 garlic cloves, peeled

a couple of fresh rosemary sprigs

2 bay leaves

Method:

First, remove the giblets (if any) from the chicken and wash the chicken and cavity thoroughly inside and out. Pat dry with paper towels and tuck the wings under the back. Season the chicken all over with the salt and pepper. 

Move an oven rack to its lowest position and heat the oven to 250 degrees.

Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat just until it begins to smoke. Add the chicken to the pot, breast-side down and scatter the chopped onion, carrot, celery, garlic, bay leaves and rosemary around the chicken. 

Cook until the breast is lightly browned, about 5-6 minutes. Then, flip the bird onto its back. (I use a wooden spoon inserted into the chicken cavity for this.) Continue cooking the chicken until nicely browned, another 6-8 minutes.

Now, here's an essential step: Remove the pot from the heat. Then, place a large piece of tin foil over the pot.

Cover tightly with the lid. This will insure that valuable juices won't escape and the chicken won't dry out.

Put the covered pot in the oven and cook until done -- time dependent on the size of the chicken. You'll want the thickest part of the breast to read about 160 degrees F. and the thigh to reach 175 F. It will take anywhere from about an hour for a small (3 1/2 lb.) chicken to as much as 90 minutes for a larger bird.

When the chicken is done cooking, transfer it to a cutting board and cover loosely with foil. Let the chicken rest for at least 10, and up to, 20 minutes.

While the chicken is resting, you can make a simple natural jus. Just strain the juices from the Dutch oven into a fat separator, discarding the solids. Let the juice settle for 5-10 minutes to allow the fat to separate.

Then, pour the juice into a small saucepan, leaving the fat behind in the separator. Heat the natural jus on the stove over medium-low heat.

Carve the chicken and serve with the natural jus.

The chicken pictured here is served with cheese grits.