Chicken Cooking Time Calculator
Enter the weight of your chicken to get the cooking time, temperature, resting time and how to check it is done.
Use the weight as it goes in the oven, including any stuffing you have added.
Answer
1 hr 32 min at 200°C
What to do
- 1Prepare the whole chickenTake the meat out of the fridge, season it and get the tin ready.
- 2Preheat the ovenHeat the oven to 200°C.
- 3Cook at 200°CCook for 92 minutes.
- 4Check whether it is doneCheck the thickest part reads 75°C or more.
- 5Rest the meatCover loosely with foil and rest for 15 minutes. Resting is part of cooking, not dead time.
- 6Carve5 minutes.
How to check it is done
- Based on 20 minutes per 500g plus 20 minutes at 200°C (180°C fan).
Next step
Food safety
- Poultry must be cooked all the way through. Cut into the thickest part and check it is steaming hot, the juices run clear and there is no pink meat. With a food thermometer, the middle should reach 70°C for two minutes, or an equivalent combination such as 75°C for 30 seconds.
- Cooking times are a guide only. Ovens, joints and starting temperatures vary, so always check the food is cooked before serving rather than relying on the clock.
Source: Food Standards Agency, Cooking your food: cooking poultry and pork (GOV.UK) · Reviewed 2026-09-11 · Guidance version 2.0.0
Source: Standard UK roasting guidance (Food Standards Agency doneness advice, common UK joint timings) · Reviewed 2026-09-10 · Guidance version 1.1.0
Reference and detail
How to tell it is cooked
Pierce the thickest part of the thigh. The juices should run clear with no pink, and there should be no pink meat next to the bone. If you have a food thermometer, the middle of the thickest part should reach 70°C for two minutes, or an equivalent combination such as 75°C for 30 seconds.
Resting
Rest the chicken for 15 to 20 minutes under loose foil before carving. The meat relaxes, the juices settle and carving is far easier.
Questions and answers
Questions about roasting a chicken
Should I roast a chicken in a fan oven or a conventional oven?
Either works. A fan oven cooks a little faster and more evenly, so if your recipe or the calculator above gives a conventional temperature, drop it by around 20°C when using fan.
How do I know when a whole roast chicken is cooked?
Check the thickest part of the thigh: the juices should run clear with no pink meat next to the bone. A food thermometer in the thickest part should read at least 75°C.
Food safety
Poultry must be cooked all the way through. Cut into the thickest part and check it is steaming hot, the juices run clear and there is no pink meat. With a food thermometer, the middle should reach 70°C for two minutes, or an equivalent combination such as 75°C for 30 seconds.
Source: Food Standards Agency, Cooking your food: cooking poultry and pork (GOV.UK) · Reviewed 2026-09-11 · Guidance version 2.0.0
Does a stuffed chicken take longer to cook?
Yes. Stuffing packed into the cavity adds weight and slows the heat reaching the middle, so weigh the bird once it is stuffed and use that figure in the calculator above, not the empty weight.
How long should I rest a roast chicken before carving?
Around 15 to 20 minutes under loose foil. The meat relaxes and the juices settle back through it, which makes carving much easier and keeps the slices moist.
How much chicken do I need per person?
It depends on appetite, bone-in weight and what else is on the table.
How do I fit a roast chicken dinner together so everything is ready at once?
Add the chicken and your side dishes to the Meal Synchroniser and it will work out when each one needs to start, so the roast, potatoes and gravy are all ready at the same time.
Guidance
Read the full guide
- How to Roast a ChickenBuying the right size bird, the oven temperature to use, how long it needs, how to tell it is done, and what to do with what is left.
Safety guidance reviewed against Food Standards Agency sources on 11 September 2026. How we calculate cooking times and safety guidance.