While chicken is perhaps the easiest main dinner ingredient, knowing how long to cook it is key.

Undercooked chicken is unsafe to eat and overcooked chicken is dry and rubbery and spoils the entire dish.

No matter which method you prefer, you’ll find how long to cook a chicken.

how long to cook a whole chicken illustration

Credit:BHG / Joules Garcia

Instead of solely relying on time, better to always use ameat thermometer.

How Long to Roast a Chicken

Roast chickenis juicy and delicious.

The cooking time for a 3-pound chicken is about 112 hours.

Ready to Cook Some Chicken?

Check out these delicious chicken recipes for a whole chicken, chicken breast, or meaty pieces: