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Festive Roasted Chicken with Fruit and Nut Stuffing

Festive Roasted Chicken with Fruit and Nut Stuffing pairs juicy roast chicken with a lush, aromatic filling of apples, pears, grapes, and toasted walnuts. Hints of citrus zest, herbs, and warm cinnamon create a bright, cozy flavor perfect for holiday dinners or special Sunday meals. The contrast of crisp skin and fruity, buttery stuffing makes each bite layered and satisfying.

  • Prep45 mins
  • Cook1 hr 45 mins
  • Serves6
  • DifficultyMedium
Festive Roasted Chicken with Fruit and Nut Stuffing

easyChef Pro health score

Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Festive Roasted Chicken with Fruit and Nut Stuffing, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.

40 Health Score
Glycemic ImpactPoor
36 / 100
Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
Nutritional DensityPoor
0.76 / 100
Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
Energy DensityGood
92 / 100
Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
1 / 4
Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.

How it scores for each health goal

The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.

21
Heart Health
59
Metabolic
23
Digestive
29
Inflammatory
55
Performance
39
General Wellness
  1. 1

    Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Spread the walnuts on a baking sheet and toast them for about 45 minutes, until they begin to brown and smell fragrant.

  2. 2

    Watch the walnuts closely, as they can burn quickly. Set the walnuts aside.

  3. 3

    While the walnuts roast, rinse the chicken thoroughly with cold water, then pat it dry inside and out with paper towels. Place the chicken in a small roasting pan and season the inside and outside with salt and pepper.

  4. 4

    In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons Italian dressing, 2 tablespoons melted butter, 1 teaspoon orange peel, the lemon peel, thyme, and basil. Brush the mixture over the inside and outside of the chicken.

  5. 5

    To make the stuffing, heat 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the apple, pear, and pineapple chunks; cook and stir for about 5 minutes, until the apple and pear are tender.

  6. 6

    In a large bowl, combine the cooked fruit mixture with the roasted walnuts, bread, prunes, grapes, 2 tablespoons Italian dressing, orange juice, apple cider, 1 teaspoon orange zest, honey, and cinnamon, and stir to mix.

  7. 7

    Increase the oven temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Spoon the stuffing into the chicken cavity, including the space under the neck skin.

  8. 8

    Secure the skin over the neck cavity with toothpicks, fold the wings under the chicken, and tie the drumsticks together.

  9. 9

    Roast the chicken in the preheated oven for 1 hour, then untie the drumsticks.

  10. 10

    Return the chicken to the oven and continue roasting until the bone is no longer pink and the juices run clear, about 45 minutes to 1 hour more.

  11. 11

    Check with an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh near the bone; it should read 180 degrees F (82 degrees C).

  12. 12

    Remove the chicken from the oven, cover it with a doubled sheet of aluminum foil, and let it rest in a warm place for 10 minutes before slicing.

About This Recipe

Festive Roasted Chicken with Fruit and Nut Stuffing is made with 19 ingredients and serves 6. It takes about 2 hrs 30 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Apple Cider, Butter, Chopped Walnuts, and Dried Basil. Each serving provides about 501.52 kcal, and is a good source of protein.

Recipe Questions

What is Festive Roasted Chicken with Fruit and Nut Stuffing made of?
The main ingredients are Apple Cider, Butter, Chopped Walnuts, Dried Basil, Dried Lemon Peel. The full list of 19 is above.
How long does it take to make Festive Roasted Chicken with Fruit and Nut Stuffing?
About 2 hrs 30 mins in total: 45 mins to prepare and 1 hr 45 mins to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 501.52 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is Festive Roasted Chicken with Fruit and Nut Stuffing easy to make?
This recipe is rated medium, with 19 ingredients and 12 steps.
Is Festive Roasted Chicken with Fruit and Nut Stuffing healthy?
Festive Roasted Chicken with Fruit and Nut Stuffing has an easyChef Pro health score of 40/100. Per serving, it provides 501.52 calories and 65.14 g of protein, or 130% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 641.62 mg (28% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 3.23 g (16% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Tree Nuts, Milk, Wheat, Gluten and Alcohol, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.

How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products

easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.

The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.

Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.

For recipes, changing an ingredient, quantity or serving size changes the nutrition and may change the score. Remix the recipe in easyChef Pro to calculate fresh nutrition and scores for the version you actually make. Product scores are based on the nutrition and serving information associated with that specific product.

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