How long do you bake a five-pound chicken?

While the exact amount of baking time for a dish depends on the temperature, a 5-pound chicken can be baked at 350 F for approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes. At this temperature, the general guideline is to bake a chicken 20 minutes for each pound, plus an additional 15 minutes. A chicken that is cooked all the way should read 165 degrees F when a meat thermometer is inserted into its inner thigh.

Chickens can be cooked at high heat for part of the cooking time if a crispier skin is preferred. The chicken is first cooked for 10 to 15 minutes at 450 F. The oven's temperature is then reduced to 350 F, and the chicken cooks for 20 minutes per pound.