1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Tuck wings under bird, tie up legs. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Put onions, apple cider, pear butter and 2 tablespoons thyme into a large roasting dish and stir.
2. Set chicken in center of dish. Roast 1 1/2 hours.
3. While chicken is roasting, stir together maple syrup, cider vinegar and remaining 1 tablespoon thyme in a small bowl. Brush some glaze over chicken.
4. Set pears around chicken, stirring to coat them with pan juices. Continue to roast chicken until PERFECT ROAST® Thermometer pops and when meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of thigh registers 180°F (approximately 2 hours), basting with glaze often. Remove from oven and set chicken on a serving platter.
5. To serve, arrange pears and onions around chicken and accompany with pan juices.

This recipe is also available on our Hispanic website, Pollo Asado Caliente con Peras y Tomillo.

Warming Roast Chicken with Pears and Thyme

Average User Ratings:

Warming Roast Chicken with Pears and Thyme
By Tracy | January 1, 2007, 11:10 am | Wayne, PA

If you like sweets, this is a great recipe. Made for friends and I loved it. Followed the recipe exactly. The chicken was very tender and moist. My friend, who does not have a sweet tooth, thought it was too sweet for his taste. I used Bosc pears that were not ripe, so they should have gone in the oven sooner (needed more than 30 minutes to soften)

Warming Roast Chicken with Pears and Thyme
By Marcia Spink | November 27, 2006, 11:21 am | Philadelphia, PA

I used a 7 lb Perdue oven stuffer roaster and followed the recipe exactly. The result was a beautifully browned juicy chicken that tasted great. The second time a made it I used bosc pears and it was just fine. Try not to skimp -- I used vadalia onions, real maple syrup, and fresh thyme. All my guests have asked for the recipe.