Cajun Chicken Recipe - Mess for Less (2024)

This Cajun Chicken Recipe makes a delicious and flavorful whole chicken that your family will love. And it's just as good as anything you'd buy in the store. You'll also love this Picnic Chicken with BBQ Sauce.

⭐Why This Cajun Chicken Recipe Is Awesome

• Turns out crispy and juicy.
• Easily feeds the entire family with some simple sides such as green beans, asparagus or other vegetables.
• If you get chicken when it is on sale, this is much cheaper than prepared roast chicken from a store.

🥣Ingredient Notes

This cajun chicken recipe may seem like it needs a lot of ingredients, but most of them are the spices for the chicken. I love this combo of spices because they remind me of the flavor of Costco rotisserie chicken.

• Whole Chicken - I prefer organic free-range chicken.
• Butter - Room temperature. Provides flavor, helps the spice to adhere and helps to create the golden brown skin.
• Brown Sugar - Helps to balance the heat of the cajun spices.
• Smoked Paprika - Provides a smoky flavor to the chicken.
• Cayenne Pepper - Adds the heat. Add less for a less spicy chicken.

📋How To Roast a Cajun Spiced Chicken

Before making this chicken with cajun seasoning, you'll want to make the brine. The brine is important because it injects the chicken with flavor and helps it to stay moist and juicy while cooking.

STEP 1: To make the Cajun brine, pour all of the brining ingredients and 1 cup of warm water into a large bowl. Stir until dissolved.

STEP 2: Clean the chicken and remove and discard the innards. Place the chicken into a large bowl. Cover the chicken with the brine.

I get my chicken from ButcherBox, which has the healthiest, highest-quality meat at great prices. Best of all, it's delivered to your door.

STEP 3: Add enough water to cover the chicken completely. Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator. Allow the chicken to brine for 8-12 hours.

STEP 4: Once the chicken has brined, it's time to make the Cajun rub. Combine all the rub ingredients andmix well.

STEP 5: Preheat the oven to 425° F.

STEP 6: Remove the chicken from the brine and rinse it off and pat it dry. Place the chicken on a rack in a roasting pan.

STEP 7: Combine softened butter with the Cajun rub and rub it all over the chicken.

STEP 8: Roast the chicken at 425° F for 20 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350° F for an additional 20 minutes per pound. Bake the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165° F at the thighs when measured with a meat thermometer.

STEP 9: Remove the chicken from the oven and cover the pan loosely with foil for 10-15 minutes to allow the juices to distribute throughout the meat.

Doesn't that look yummy? The skin is crispy and delicious which the inside is so tender!

This cajun-baked chicken recipe will taste moist and juicy, making it a hit with the whole family!

👩🏻‍🍳Expert Tips

Tip 1: Serve this chicken with these Easy Loaded Smashed Potatoes or a side of veggies, a salad, or cauliflower rice.

Tip 2: You can make the cajun spice mix in advance and keep it in a airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Tip 3: If you don't want to make a whole chicken, you can also use the cajun spice in the recipe on boneless skinless chicken breasts or skinless chicken thighs. This dish is very versatile!

🤷🏻‍♀️Recipe FAQs

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