roast-chicken-with-creole-stuffing

Chicken Recipe Collection

Roast Chicken with Creole Stuffing

I've used this recipe ever since I roasted my first chicken. Our whole family looks forward to it. The combination of shrimp, sausage, ham, vegetables and seasonings makes the stuffing unique and delicious.

Ingredients

  • 1-1/2 cups uncooked brown rice
  • 2 Italian sausage links
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 5 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 cup diced green pepper
  • 1/2 cup diced sweet red pepper
  • 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
  • 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1-1/4 teaspoons salt, divided
  • 1 cup diced fully cooked ham
  • 1 cup cooked small shrimp, peeled and deveined, optional
  • 3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
  • 1 roasting chicken (5 to 6 pounds)
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • Dash pepper

Directions

Directions

  1. In a large saucepan, cook rice according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a skillet, cook sausages in oil until a thermometer reads 160°. Remove sausages, reserving drippings. When cool enough to handle, cut sausages in half lengthwise, then into 1/4-in. pieces; set aside.
  2. Saute onion, garlic and peppers in drippings until tender, about 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes, lemon juice, basil, sugar, hot pepper sauce, bouillon, chili powder, pepper, thyme and 1 teaspoon salt; cook and stir for 5 minutes. Add to the cooked rice. Stir in ham, shrimp, if desired, parsley and sausage; mix lightly.
  3. Just before baking, stuff the chicken with about 3-1/2 cups stuffing. Place remaining stuffing in a greased 1-1/2-qt. baking dish; cover and refrigerate. Place chicken on a rack in a roasting pan; tie drumsticks together. Combine paprika, pepper and remaining salt; rub over chicken.
  4. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 1-1/2 hours, basting every 30 minutes. Cover and bake 1-1/2 hours longer or until juices run clear. Bake additional stuffing for the last 40 minutes of baking time, uncovering during the last 10 minutes.