Apple and Sage Roast Chicken

from 10 votes

Add an autumnal twist to a comfort food favorite with this crowd-friendly recipe for Apple and Sage Roast Chicken.

A skillet with a roast chicken stuffed with apples and sage

Raise your hand if you’re ready for all things holiday! (Me, me, me!) While it may not feel like fall in southern California and we’re still going strong with our 5-Minute Frozen Yogurt, there’s no reason we can’t bust out all things apple, sage, butternut and beyond.

So I’ve taken my beloved Simple Roast Chicken with Garlic and Lemon and given it an autumnal twist. Get ready for perfect poultry, folks! This Apple and Sage Roast Chicken is one heck of a juicy, flavor-packed bird.

A sauté pan filled with melted garlic butt and herbs

When it comes to roasting a chicken, there are a few key tips that will guarantee your path to poultry perfection:

  • Dry Skin = Crispy Skin: The drier your chicken is after rinsing it, the crispier the skin will be. So grab the paper towels and blot, blot, blot … and then blot some more to ensure every last drop of water has been soaked up.
  • ‘Tis the Season: Don’t fear the salt! A plain chicken can handle a good dose of sodium (and pepper) so make sure you’re generous with your S+P both on the exterior of the bird and inside the cavity.
  • All About That Baste: Looking for a deep golden brown color? Basting is critical! Don’t omit this step or you’ll risk uneven browning.

A raw chicken in a skillet being brushed with garlic butter

Ready to steer clear of the grocery store rotisserie chicken? Grab the bird, preheat your oven and get ready for the most classic of all comfort foods. And don’t forget The Best Secret Ingredient Mashed Potatoes or 5-Ingredient Butternut Squash Fritters to complete your fall feast!

A roast chicken with apples and sage in a skillet

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Main Course

Apple and Sage Roast Chicken

Add an autumnal twist to a comfort food favorite with this top-rated recipe for Apple and Sage Roast Chicken.
Author: Kelly Senyei
4.80 from 10 votes
A skillet with a roast chicken stuffed with apples and sage
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 4 servings

Ingredients 

  • 1 (4- to 5-pound) roasting chicken
  • 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoons minced fresh sage
  • 2 cloves garlic (See Kelly's Notes)
  • 1 apple, cored and cut into wedges

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 450°F.
  • In a small saucepan set over medium-low heat, combine the butter and minced sage. Cook until the butter is melted.
  • Rinse the chicken, remove the giblets (if included) and trim off any excess fat. Thoroughly dry the chicken then place it in a skillet, nonstick sauté pan or roasting pan. 
  • Brush the chicken all over, as well as inside the cavity, with the melted sage butter then season the chicken all over (including inside the cavity) generously with salt and pepper. Place the apple wedges and smashed garlic cloves inside the cavity then using kitchen twine, tie together the legs.
  • Roast the chicken for 1 hour, basting it every 15 minutes with the juices and excess melted butter than collect in the pan. (Tilt the pan to collect the juices and spoon them back atop the chicken.)
  • Remove the chicken from the oven once it has reached an internal temperature of 165°F and let it rest for 10 minutes on a cutting board before slicing and serving.

Kelly's Notes:

  • The garlic can be added in two ways: You can mince the cloves then add them to the butter and sage or you can smash the cloves and place them inside the cavity. If you go the minced garlic route, it's important to baste the chicken every 15 minutes so that the garlic doesn't burn. If you go the smashed garlic route, you can baste the chicken only two or three times. Both ways work! 
  • ★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below!

Nutrition

Calories: 129kcal, Carbohydrates: 7g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 30mg, Sodium: 2mg, Potassium: 48mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 420IU, Vitamin C: 2.8mg, Calcium: 21mg, Iron: 0.3mg

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Recipe by Kelly Senyei of Just a Taste. Please do not reprint this recipe without my permission. If you'd like to feature this recipe on your site, please rewrite the method of preparation and link to this post as the original source.


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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I made this recipe today in a cast iron skillet it was absolutely delicious and a big hit in our house!!!!! Definitely a keeper

  2. 5 stars
    Made this last Sunday and we all enjoyed it, well I couldn´t taste much at all (brilliant side affects from being sick) but the rest of the family who can still taste and smell wolfed it down with some roast spuds, veg, gravy and yorkshire puddings so thank you for sharing this recepi, will make it again :) Rakel x

  3. 3 stars
    Added onions and potatoes to the pan to create a side dish of roasted vegetables. They came out great but limited the available juices especially early during the roasting.

    Chicken came out very moist, but not much of the apple flavor came through.

    Perhaps the use of a cider syrup based glaze can be considered. I will give some thought for next time.

  4. 5 stars
    This is one chicken I will never forget it’s absolutely the best i ever made especially with crushed garlic and an ipa ale rub added. Get ready for chicken heaven.

  5. 5 stars
    This wasn’t my first (chicken roasting) rodeo, but it was by far the best recipe I’ve ever used. Never used such a high heat or a cast iron skillet, but I had a small bird that fit perfectly. I’ve also never made sage butter. Since this is chicken in the time of being stuck at home, I used dried sage I had in the pantry and what. A. Game. Changer. It was amazing. I served it with my own take on a pumpkin cornbread I’d made in the same skillet earlier in the day. Thanks so much for opening my eyes to probably the best chicken I’ve ever served. Be well!

      1. I’m cooking this right now with rosemary instead of sage. I’m cooking longer at 350 instead of 450, because I’m not brave enough yet to increase my cooking temp by 100 degrees. Maybe next time
        Thank you! My house smells delish!

  6. 5 stars
    I’m going to modify this recipe for cornish hens. Do you have any suggestions for this modification? Thank you!

    1. Hi Jan! I’ve never tried this with cornish hens, but you’ll need to adjust the roasting time. Would love to hear your results!

  7. 5 stars
    This was the easiest and most delicious recipe for a roast chicken I’ve tried in years. Autumn flavors, golden brown crispy skin… so yummy!

  8. I will try this Saturday. Of all the herbs I planted the only thing still alive is my sage, and I’ve never cooked with sage before. I’ll have it with the fritters which also call for sage. I’ll let y’all know what I think of the recipe after I’ve tasted it. Stay tuned…