Cajun Chicken Recipe

Name: Cajun Chicken Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 535 min
Ingredients: 5-6 lb Whole Chicken; ¼ Cup Butter (room temperature); Cajun Brine:; ¼ Cup Coarse Salt; 3 Tbsp Brown Sugar; 2 tsp Smoked Paprika; 2 tsp Dried Oregano; 2 tsp Ground Red Pepper; 1 tsp Garlic Powder; Water to cover the Chicken; 3 Tbsp Coarse Salt; 2 Tbsp Chili Powder; 1 Tbsp Onion Powder; 1 Tbsp Garlic Powder; ½ tsp Cumin; 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper; 1 Tbsp Dried Thyme; 1 Tbsp Dried Basil; 1 Tbsp Dried Oregano; 1 Tbsp Dried Cilantro; ¼ tsp White Pepper; 2 tsp Black Pepper; *Or your favorite Cajun Seasoning

This Cajun Chicken Recipe makes a delicious and flavorful whole chicken that your family will love. And it's just as good as anything you'd buy in the store. Chicken recipes make dinner easy and this one is no exception.

With this recipe, you’ll roast up a chicken that's juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and packed with Cajun spices. It’s a cost-effective way to make a homemade version of a Cajun roasted chicken that rivals any store-bought option!

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Cajun Roast Chicken Recipe
What To Serve With Cajun Chicken
Ingredients For Cajun Chicken Recipe
Best Chicken Roasting Tools
How To Roast a Cajun Spiced Chicken
Tips For Roasted Cajun Chicken
FAQs For Whole Cajun Roast Chicken
Cajun Recipes
Easy Dinner Recipes
📖 Recipe

I love that this recipe works for weekly family meals or a small gathering. It’s easy enough for casual dinners but tasty enough to share with guests. You'll also love this Picnic Chicken with BBQ Sauce.

Cajun Roast Chicken Recipe

This Cajun roasted chicken is perfect for those nights when you want a flavorful meal that feels a little more exciting than the usual. The Cajun brine gives the chicken incredible flavor while keeping it moist. The Cajun spice rub adds just the right amount of heat and seasoning.

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This recipe is super practical too. A whole chicken easily feeds a crowd when paired with simple sides like roasted vegetables, green beans, or a salad. Plus, if you get chicken on sale, making this at home is much cheaper than buying a prepared roasted chicken.

What To Serve With Cajun Chicken

A side of coleslaw can add a cool, creamy contrast to the spicy seasoning, balancing out the dish perfectly. You could also include some oven-roasted sweet potatoes for a touch of natural sweetness. Here are some of our favorite side dishes:

Ingredients For Cajun Chicken Recipe

This cajun chicken recipe may seem like it needs a lot of ingredients, but most of them are the spices for the chicken. I love this combo of spices because they remind me of the flavor of Costco rotisserie chicken.

Whole Chicken - I prefer organic free-range chicken.
Butter - Room temperature. Provides flavor, helps the spice to adhere and helps to create the golden brown skin.
Brown Sugar - Helps to balance the heat of the cajun spices.
Smoked Paprika - Provides a smoky flavor to the chicken.
Cayenne Pepper - Adds the heat. Add less for a less spicy chicken.

Best Chicken Roasting Tools

To make this Cajun roasted chicken, you’ll need a decent-sized roasting pan with a rack. If you don’t have one, a baking dish will work, but a rack helps the chicken cook evenly.

A meat thermometer will come in handy to make sure the chicken is done. Tongs are great for handling the chicken in a mess-free way.

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How To Roast a Cajun Spiced Chicken

Before making this chicken with cajun seasoning, you'll want to make the brine. The brine is important because it injects the chicken with flavor and helps it to stay moist and juicy while cooking.

To whip up the Cajun brine, grab a large bowl and combine all the brining ingredients with a cup of warm water. Give it a good stir until everything is fully dissolved.

Clean the chicken, removing and discarding the innards. Then put the chicken in a large bowl and cover it with the brine. I get my chicken from ButcherBox, which has the healthy, high-quality meat at great prices. Best of all, it's delivered to your door.

Fill the bowl with enough water to cover the chicken. Then cover the bowl with plastic wrap or foil and place it in the fridge. Let the chicken brine for 8-12 hours and make the Cajun rub by combining all the rubbing ingredients in a bowl.

When the chicken is done brining, remove it from the bowl. Rinse and pat dry. Place it on the rack in the roasting pan. Mix softened butter with Cajun rub and rub it on the chicken.

You'll want to bake the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165° F on a meat thermometer.

whole cajun roast chicken on cutting board

Doesn't that look yummy? The skin is crispy and delicious while the inside is so tender!

This Cajun-baked chicken recipe will taste moist and juicy, making it a hit with the whole family!

Tips For Roasted Cajun Chicken

Tip 1: Always use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken. It should reach 165°F at the thickest part of the thighs. This ensures your chicken is cooked perfectly - safe to eat but still juicy.

Tip 2: You can make the cajun spice mix in advance and keep it in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Tip 3: If you don't want to make a whole chicken, you can also use the cajun spice in the recipe on boneless skinless chicken breasts or skinless chicken thighs. This dish is very versatile!

FAQs For Whole Cajun Roast Chicken

Should you cover the chicken when roasting?

I don't cover it while it is cooking, but I do cover it when it comes out of the oven while the juices redistribute through the meat.

Can I cook this chicken in the crockpot?

You can! Cook on low heat for 6-8 hours. The skin will not get crispy as it will when you roast it, but you can always transfer the chicken to an oven to broil for 10 minutes.

How do I store leftover Cajun chicken?

Store leftover Cajun chicken in an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to 3 days. If you want to keep it longer, you can freeze it in freezer-safe bags for up to 2 months. To reheat, place it in an oven at 350°F until warmed through to help preserve its crispiness.

Cajun Recipes

People love Cajun recipes because of their bold flavors and easily accessible ingredients. Packed with a mix of spices like paprika, cayenne, and garlic, these dishes deliver just the right kick of heat. Here are some easy Cajun recipes we love: