how long for what temperature: roast chicken
High heat method (this creates a crispy, darker skin): 1  Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) and cook whole (thawed) chicken for 10-15 minutes. 2  Then reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and roast for 20 minutes per pound. (Do not add the extra 15 minutes to the cooking time as with the regular method.) VIDEO: Orange Herb Roasted Chicken. Here's a roast chicken recipe that follows the regular-roast method.