Chicken cooking times and calculator
Whether you’re roasting a whole chicken, or just cooking a chicken crown or chicken breasts or thighs, this page will tell you how to cook chicken perfectly. It tells you how long your chicken needs to cook, hints and tips on the best way to cook your roast chicken, including on how to cook chicken safely, and some ideas for the best chicken recipes around. All you need to do is follow our advice to get the perfect roast chicken dinner!
Chicken roasting tips
- Let the meat come up to room temperature before cooking
- Always ensure chicken is fully cooked before eating. You can check this by inserting a skewer in the thickest part of the meat and checking that the juices that come out are clear, not pink or red.
- Don't forget to rest the meat before carving. This allows the meat to relax and distributes the juices throughout. A general rule of thumb used by chefs for resting meat is 1 minute for every 100g of meat.
Need the right cut?
Find butchers, farm shops and food suppliers that match the meal you are planning.
Find suppliersRecipe ideas for Chicken
A little inspiration for the cut you have selected.
Chicken cooking time questions.
Use the calculator for planning, then make the final food-safety checks before anyone eats.
How do I use this Chicken cooking time calculator safely?
Choose the cut and weight, use the calculated time as a planning guide, then check the thickest part of the meat with a food thermometer before serving.
Can I rely on cooking time alone for Chicken?
No. Oven performance, cut shape, starting temperature and stuffing all change the result. Use the time as guidance and confirm doneness with temperature and visual checks.
Should Chicken rest before carving?
Yes. Resting helps the meat relax and improves carving. The page tips include practical resting guidance for the selected meat.
Useful next steps.
Move from a single timing to a complete cooking plan, method guide or supplier search.