What Is Whole chicken and How Can I Use It?

Wondering what to do with whole chicken? This guide covers how to pick it, cook it, store it, and swap it, plus 226 recipes to put it to work.

What is whole chicken?

Broiler and fryer chickens range from 6 to 8 weeks old and weight about 3 to 4 pounds (1 1/4 to 1 3/4 kg) according to the National Chicken Council.

However you may find that the chickens in your local supermarket tend to be closer to 2 1/2 pounds (1 kg) as factory farms rush the birds to market at an ever faster pace.

These chickens may also be referred to as "spring chicken".

Broilers and fryer chickens can typically be used interchangeably. They are generally best cooked with high heat which make it an ideal choice to butterfly and broil, grill, or sauté in a skillet or frying pan.

The meat is young, tender and quite mild tasting which can make them a less than ideal choice for braises and stews where an older bird would deliver significantly more flavour while the younger broiler or fryer will tend to dry out.

The following chart from the National Chicken Council in the US shows the U.S. broiler chicken performance from 1925 to 2011.

Year	Days (age)	Weight	Feed to Meat	Mortality %
1925	112	2.50	4.70	18
1935	98	2.86	4.40	14
1940	85	2.89	4.00	12
1945	84	3.03	4.00	10
1950	70	3.08	3.00	8
1955	70	3.07	3.00	7
1960	63	3.35	2.50	6
1965	63	3.48	2.40	6
1970	56	3.62	2.25	5
1975	56	3.76	2.10	5
1980	53	3.93	2.05	5
1985	49	4.19	2.00	5
1990	48	4.37	2.00	5
1995	47	4.67	1.95	5
2000	47	5.03	1.95	5
2005	48	5.37	1.95	4
2006	48	5.47	1.96	5
2007	48	5.51	1.95	4.5
2008	48	5.58	1.93	4.3
2009	47	5.59	1.92	4.1
2010	47	5.70	1.92	4.0
2011	47	5.80	1.91	3.8
2012	47	5.95	1.9	3.7
2013	47	6.01	1.88	3.7
2014	47	6.12	1.89	4.3
2015	48	6.24	1.88	4.8

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 unit (yield from 1 lb ready-to-cook chicken) (32g)

Amount per Serving

Calories 96Calories from Fat 60

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 6.7g 10%

Saturated Fat 1.9g 9%

Trans Fat ~

Cholesterol 28mg 9%

Sodium 27mg 1%

Total Carbohydrate 0.0g 0%

Dietary Fiber 0g 0%

Sugars 0.0

Protein 8.3g

Vitamin A 2% Vitamin C 0%

Calcium 1% • Iron 3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your caloric needs.

recipeland.com/nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find whole chicken: Whole chicken is usually found in the poultry section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Chicken, whole is a member of the Poultry Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese: 整鸡
British (UK) term: Chicken, whole
en français: poulet entier
en español: pollo entero

How much does whole chicken weigh?

Amount	Weight
1 unit (yield from 1 lb ready-to-cook chicken)	32 grams
½ back, bone removed	53 grams

Poultry Products

Chicken pieces 91 Ground chicken 23 Chicken 1213 Chicken meat, cooked 40 Chicken thighs, boneless, skinless 146 Chicken, whole 226 Chicken breast halves, boneless, skin-on 14 Chicken tenders 27 Chicken breasts 1188 Chicken breast halves, boneless, skinless 800

Recipes using whole chicken

There are 226 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Barbecued Chicken

Grilled chicken rubbed with a bold homemade spice blend of paprika, chili powder, and garlic, brushed with a sweet ketchup-brown sugar BBQ sauce with a hint of orange. Crispy skin, juicy meat, zero fuss.

Roasted Chicken 'n Rice Casserole

An incredibly easy to prepare chicken 'n rice casserole.

Chicken Pesto Vegetable Stir-Fry with Fettuccine

Quick, easy and delicious! An ideal supper on a busy week day.

P.F. Chang's Roasted Chicken Cantonese Style

A copycat recipe of a popular chinese chain in the US. The method used creates a super crispy skin for this roast chicken.

Chicken in a Pot with Dumplings

Simple and easy, this savory dish can make a rainy day seem bright!

Favorite Chicken Noodle Soup

Nothing is like a bowl of warm and delicious chicken noodle soup on a cold winter day.

Best Imperial Chicken

Imperial chicken with garlic-butter dipped pieces coated in Parmesan-parsley breadcrumbs and oven-baked until golden and crisp. Five-ingredient family dinner kids actually request.

Chicken & Dumplings Cracker Barrel Copykat

Chicken and Dumplings that is just like Cracker Barrel restaurant.

Roasted Sticky Chicken

Spicy slow roasted chicken. It is reminiscent of those rotisserie-style chickens that are so popular now, and it is very easy to make.

Barbecue Chicken

Set-it-and-forget-it slow cooker barbecue chicken simmered in a tangy tomato, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Just 10 minutes of prep and 6 to 8 hours on low for fork-tender, saucy chicken.

Mamma's Chicken

Chicken pieces dipped in lemon juice, coated in seasoned breadcrumbs and cheese, then baked with sliced onions. Simple Italian home cooking.

Mama's Lemon Chicken

Mama's lemon chicken dipped in fresh lemon juice, coated in Parmesan breadcrumbs, and baked with olive oil, parsley, and onion. A crispy, tangy Italian-style baked chicken.

Sour Cream Onion-Chive Chicken

Crispy breadcrumb-coated chicken baked with onion halves, then served with a creamy sour cream pan sauce made from the drippings. Fork-tender comfort food for 8.

Butterball Roasting Broiler Easy Easter Suppe

Whole roasted chicken rubbed under the skin with garlic, lemon, and fresh rosemary, roasted alongside potatoes in one pan. A simple, elegant Easter dinner that serves 10.

Chicken Pilaf Atzem (Epirus Style)

Traditional Greek chicken pilaf from the Epirus region. Bone-in chicken sautéed in butter with onion, simmered with cinnamon and tomato sauce, then finished with rice that absorbs every drop of flavor.

Chicken Pilaf Atzem (Epirus Style)

Chicken & Oyster Casserole

Flour-dredged chicken browned and baked until tender, then finished with heavy cream, plump oysters, and slivered almonds. A classic, old-world surf-and-turf casserole.

Chicken Potatoes & Sausage

One-pan chicken with Italian sausage and potatoes baked together with oregano, paprika, and garlic salt. The sausage fat bastes the chicken while crisping the potatoes for an effortless rustic Italian sheet pan dinner.

Florentine Chicken

Florentine-style fried chicken, marinated in olive oil, lemon, and parsley, then dipped in flour and egg and deep-fried golden. The original Tuscan take on fried chicken, long before Nashville hot.

Chicken-And-Vegetable Soup

Two whole chickens simmered with leeks, carrots, celery, and fresh thyme yield a crystal-clear broth and tender diced meat. A from-scratch chicken soup that's worth every minute of the 2.5-hour simmer.

Chicken Cacciatore

Slow cooker chicken cacciatore with two whole chickens braised in tomatoes, red wine, garlic, and Italian herbs. Set it, forget it, and feed a crowd of ten with zero effort.

Cranberry Chicken

Flour-coated chicken pieces browned in a skillet, then simmered in a sweet-tart cranberry sauce with orange and lemon juice. A one-pan comfort dinner ready in an hour.

Southern Chicken & Dumplings

Classic Southern chicken and dumplings simmered from a whole chicken with carrots, onions, parsnips, and fresh herbs. A slow-cooked, soul-warming one-pot supper like grandma made.

Stewed Chicken with Okra & Tomatoes

Golden-browned whole chicken pieces simmered with okra, fresh tomatoes, cumin, and white wine until fall-off-the-bone tender. A soulful one-pot stew that tastes even better the next day.

Chicken with Anchovy Olive Sauce

Chicken quarters poached with rosemary, then browned and sauced in a bold blend of anchovies, black olives, capers, jalapeños, pine nuts, and basil. Intensely savory and impossible to forget.

Teriyaki Chicken Delight

Grilled chicken quarters marinated overnight in a honey-teriyaki glaze with sherry, garlic and ginger. Basted and turned on the grill until burnished and sticky. Backyard barbecue at its best.

Complete Chicken Dinner in a Pot

Whole roasted chicken stuffed with garlic under the skin, cooked in one pot with carrots and potatoes. Five ingredients, zero fuss, dinner done.

Chicken with Pink & Green Peppercorns #1 of 2

A show-stopping French technique: whole chickens deboned, stuffed with mushrooms and ground veal, marinated in cognac, and served in a pink and green peppercorn cream sauce with demi-glace. Part 1 of 2.

Chicken with Rice

A hearty arroz con pollo loaded with browned chicken, chorizo sausage, saffron rice, tomatoes, and bell peppers, all baked together until the rice is fluffy and golden. Feeds a crowd of 10 with ease.

Fried Chicken for Chanuka

Fried chicken for Chanukah, marinated overnight in lemon juice, olive oil, and nutmeg, then flour-dipped, egg-washed, and pan-fried golden. A Sephardic-style Hanukkah centerpiece for the oil miracle.

Granny's Chicken Okra Gumbo with Sausage

Granny's chicken and sausage gumbo, built on a deep brown roux and loaded with okra, smoky sausage, and tender chicken. Thickened twice with okra and file, simmered low, and ladled over hot rice.

Mediterranean Roast Chicken

Mediterranean roast chicken marinates two whole birds overnight in lemon, olive oil, garlic, and rosemary, then roasts with new potatoes and green olives. One-pan Sunday supper for a crowd.

Chinese Chicken Salad

Chinese chicken salad with shredded roast chicken, bean sprouts, cucumber, and carrots in a sesame-tahini dressing with soy sauce, garlic, and rice wine. Crisp, nutty, and satisfying.

Chicken Provencale

Chicken Provencale with browned chicken pieces baked over white beans, tomatoes, carrots, garlic, and Provencal herbs. A French country one-dish dinner with cassoulet-style heart.

Garlic & Sage Tangy Grilled Chicken

Garlic and sage grilled chicken with a tangy cider vinegar marinade thickened by an emulsified egg-and-oil base. Smoky from indirect charcoal heat, juicy and herby in every bite.

Microwave Casseroled Chicken

Microwave casseroled chicken: whole roaster cooked in the microwave with cream of celery soup, egg noodles, and mixed vegetables. Full dinner in 50 minutes.

Chicken & Lentils in Clay

Whole chicken and lentils baked in a clay cooker with smoked pork, aromatics, red wine, and dry mustard. A one-pot French-style braise with deeply concentrated flavor.

Favorite Bbq Chicken

Smoked BBQ chicken marinated overnight in Italian dressing, rubbed with spice, then smoked low and slow with hourly lemon mopping and a barbecue sauce glaze. Juicy, smoky chicken for the grill or smoker.

Favorite Avgolemono Soup

Favorite avgolemono soup: the Greek egg-lemon soup made from scratch, simmering a whole chicken into rich homemade stock, then thickened with tempered eggs and bright lemon. Silky, tangy, and comforting.

Kernel Censor's Fried Chix

Crispy fried chicken marinated overnight in an Italian dressing paste, dipped in milk and club soda, dusted with pancake mix, deep-fried, then oven-finished. A two-stage cooking method for shatteringly crisp skin and juicy meat.

Chicken & Cherries Jubliee Slow Cooker

Discover this easy slow cooker Chicken and Cherries Jubilee recipe with tangy chili sauce and dramatic flambé finish – perfect for beginner cooks seeking impressive dinner ideas like "slow cooker chicken with cherries and sherry" or "flambéed savory cherry chicken for special occasions."