temperature to roast a chicken
1 Preheat the oven to 450Â°F. Rinse the chicken, then dry it very well with paper towels, inside and out. 2  The less it steams, the drier the heat, the better. 3  Salt and pepper the cavity, then truss the bird. 4  Trussing is not difficult, and if you roast chicken often, it's a good technique to feel comfortable with.