Stuffed chicken with Christmas stuffing & side dishes

The festive family dish. It's easier than it looks, ideal for beginners and perfect for the Christmas family table.

Ingredients (serves 4–6)

For the chicken

• 1 whole chicken (1.8–2.2 kg)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp sweet paprika
• 1 tsp thyme or oregano
• Salt & freshly ground pepper
• Juice of 1 orange or lemon

For the Christmas stuffing

• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 150 g ground meat (optional, for a richer flavor)
• ½ cup Carolina rice or long-grain rice
• 1 apple, diced
• 50 g prunes or raisins
• 40 g walnuts or almonds, chopped
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp allspice
• Salt & pepper

For the sides

• Potatoes, cut into wedges
• Carrots or sweet potatoes
• Olive oil, salt, pepper, thyme

Preparation – Step by step

1️⃣ Prepare the stuffing

Sauté the onion in olive oil in a frying pan.
Add the ground meat (if using) and stir until it changes color.
Add the rice, apple, dried fruit, nuts and spices.
Stir for 2–3 minutes, then remove from the heat (it doesn't need to be fully cooked).

2️⃣ Stuff the chicken

Season the chicken inside and out with salt and pepper.
Loosely fill the cavity (don't pack it too tightly).
Secure with toothpicks or tie with kitchen twine.

3️⃣ Add flavor

Rub the chicken with olive oil, paprika, thyme and orange juice.
Arrange the potatoes and vegetables around it.

4️⃣ Roast

Roast in a preheated oven at 180°C

Time: about 1 hour & 30 minutes

Halfway through, baste with the pan juices

If it starts to brown too much, loosely cover it with aluminum foil.

Serving suggestions

• With roast potatoes and carrots
• With green salad or cabbage and carrot salad
• With homemade mashed potatoes or rice pilaf

💡 Tips for beginners

• Take the chicken out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before roasting
• Don't overstuff the chicken
• Let it rest for 10 minutes before carving