Gather all ingredients before starting recipe.
Pre heat oven to 425°F
Mix 1 tsp sweet paprika, 1 tsp cumin1 tsp black pepper, and 1 tsp chili powders in a small bowl and set aside until ready to use on chicken.
Cut the whole chicken in two, remove the back bone, or buy 2 chicken halves.
Liberally season the chicken, both sides, with kosher salt and ground black pepper.
Liberally season the chicken, both sides, with the seasoning mixture.
Place chicken halves on wire rack positioned over a roasting pan, drizzle with a little olive oil and add 1/2 cup of water to the pan.
Roast chicken in a pre heated oven for 45-50 minutes, or until the chicken has reached a 165° internal temperature. Baste the chicken with the pan juices every 15 minutes. If the pan appears to be dry, add more water each time your baste.
