Oven Roasted Chicken: Anti-Inflammatory Spice Rub + Apple Juice

If you’ve been craving a nourishing dinner that fills your home with a warm aroma, this oven roasted chicken is perfect. I created this recipe to be anti-inflammatory, simple, and full of flavor without using questionable ingredients.

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This whole chicken is coated in one of my favorite healing spice rubs (turmeric, paprika and more). It is roasted in an apple-juice bath that keeps it unbelievably juicy. This is an easy, wholesome weeknight dinner that feels like comfort food, but supports your immune system, digestion, and overall inflammation levels. If you’ve been needing a healing reset meal — this one is it.

Roasting whole chickens is a great way to have multiple meals throughout the week. You can save leftover chicken to use in casseroles, soups, and more! I also love saving the bones to use in our instant pot homemade bone broth, a nourishing beverage I drink everyday for my gut-health and helping to keep my autoimmune conditions in remission.

Oven Roasted Chicken Pairs Wonderfully With:

There are so many wonderful side dishes to pair with this oven roasted chicken. Here are some of our favorites:

• Garlic Roasted Cauliflower and Green Beans
• Zesty Superfood Green Salad
• Mashed Sweet Potatoes
• Gluten-Free, Refined Sugar-Free Apple Crisp

What You’ll Need for this Anti-Inflammatory Oven Roasted Chicken:

Choosing high-quality poultry makes a noticeable difference—not just in flavor, but in how nourishing your meal truly is. Organic, pasture-raised chickens are the gold standard. They’re raised on natural diets, allowed to forage, and tend to have a richer nutrient profile and better flavor.

At the very least, I recommend choosing organic, air-chilled chicken. This helps you avoid antibiotics, vaccines, GMO inflammatory grains, and chlorine baths that are commonly used in conventional chicken production.

These higher-quality birds aren’t just better tasting, they’re also far more aligned with an anti-inflammatory, gut-healing lifestyle.

Ingredients:

• Organic Whole Chicken: Giblets and neck removed- Save these for bone broth!
  • If you don’t have a whole chicken on hand you can also make this recipe with chicken breast, thighs, or drumsticks. Just adjust the cooking time accordingly.
• 1 tbsp Coconut Flour (helps the skin crisp beautifully)
• 1 tbsp Coconut Sugar
• 2 tsp Himalayan Pink Salt
• 2 tsp Paprika
• 1 tsp Cumin
• 1 tsp Turmeric
• 1 tsp Garlic
• 1/2 tsp White Pepper
• 1-2 cups Apple Juice: (no added sugars or unnecessary ingredients)

How to Roast the Chicken (Step by Step Instructions):

I love using a Dutch oven for this recipe, but any baking dish or roasting pan with deep sides will work well. The first portion of the roasting time is covered to lock in moisture. If your dish doesn’t have a lid, simply cover it with unbleached parchment paper and then foil—I like using parchment as a barrier so the foil never touches the food.

1. Preheat your oven to 375℉.
2. Place the chicken in your baking dish. Rub the spice mixture all over the chicken, coating it thoroughly. Don’t forget to rub a little inside the cavity as well.
3. Carefully pour the apple juice into the baking dish, being mindful not to wash the spice rub off the chicken. You want just enough juice so the bottom portion of the chicken is sitting in it.
4. Cover the baking dish and place it in the oven. Use the roasting time guide below based on the weight of your chicken.
5. About halfway through the cooking time, remove the lid and continue roasting uncovered until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165℉.
6. If you prefer extra crispy skin, switch the oven to broil for the final few minutes of cooking.
7. Remove the chicken from the oven, let it rest briefly, then serve warm and enjoy.

Roasting times for whole chicken based on weight:

• 2½–3 lbs at 375℉ for 1–1¼ hours
• 3½–4 lbs at 375℉ for 1¼–1¾ hours
• 4½–5 lbs at 375℉ for 1½–2 hours

FAQ about Oven Roasted Chicken:

What makes this oven roasted chicken anti-inflammatory?

This recipe uses a blend of anti-inflammatory spices like turmeric, cumin, paprika, and garlic, along with clean, whole-food ingredients. These spices are known to help reduce inflammation and support digestion, making this oven roasted chicken especially supportive for a gut-healing lifestyle.

Why roast chicken in apple juice?

Roasting chicken in apple juice helps keep the meat incredibly juicy while adding natural sweetness without refined sugar. The apple juice also acts as a gentle brine, which tenderizes the chicken and pairs beautifully with warming spices. Be sure to choose apple juice with no added sugars or artificial ingredients.

Can I use chicken pieces instead of a whole chicken?

Absolutely. While this recipe is written for a whole oven roasted chicken, you can also use chicken breasts, thighs, or drumsticks. Simply adjust the cooking time and check for an internal temperature of 165℉ to ensure doneness.

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Oven Roasted Chicken: Anti-Inflammatory Spice Rub + Apple Juice

This oven roasted chicken is coated in an anti-inflammatory spice rub and roasted in an apple juice bath for incredibly juicy, flavorful meat. Made with simple, real-food ingredients, this nourishing recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, and perfect for a comforting, gut-healing family dinner.

Author thispurelyjoyfullife.com – Kimberley

Ingredients

• Organic Whole Chicken: Giblets and neck removed- Save these for bone broth!
• 1 tbsp Coconut Flour helps the skin crisp beautifully
• 1 tbsp Coconut Sugar
• 2 tsp Himalayan Pink Salt
• 2 tsp Paprika
• 1 tsp Cumin
• 1 tsp Turmeric
• 1 tsp Garlic
• 1/2 tsp White Pepper
• 1-2 cups Apple Juice: no added sugars or unnecessary ingredients

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 375℉.
• Place the chicken in your baking dish. Rub the spice mixture all over the chicken, coating it thoroughly. Don’t forget to rub a little inside the cavity as well.
• Carefully pour the apple juice into the baking dish, being mindful not to wash the spice rub off the chicken. You want just enough juice so the bottom portion of the chicken is sitting in it.
• Cover the baking dish and place it in the oven. Use the roasting time guide below based on the weight of your chicken.
• About halfway through the cooking time, remove the lid and continue roasting uncovered until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165℉.
• If you prefer extra crispy skin, switch the oven to broil for the final few minutes of cooking.
• Remove the chicken from the oven, let it rest briefly, then serve warm and enjoy.

Notes

Roasting times for whole chicken based on weight:

• 2½–3 lbs at 375℉ for 1–1¼ hours
• 3½–4 lbs at 375℉ for 1¼–1¾ hours
• 4½–5 lbs at 375℉ for 1½–2 hours

This oven roasted chicken is one of those nourishing, real-food recipes you’ll find yourself coming back to again and again. With its anti-inflammatory spice rub, simple ingredients, and juicy apple juice roast, it’s a comforting meal that supports gut health and healing while still being easy enough for everyday life. If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear how it turns out—leave a comment below, share it with someone who loves wholesome cooking, or save it for your next cozy dinner.

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