what degrees should a whole chicken cook to
Instructions. 1  Larger birds meant for roasting have a heartier taste, while smaller fryers tend to be less flavorful. 2  The jury is in: 400Â°F (204Â°C) is the perfect temperature for cooking a whole chicken.  Depending on the size of your chicken, it should take about 1 to 1-1/2 hours to roast at 400Â°F (204Â°C).