My dad gave us a funny contraption that props the chicken up on end so that it stands in the roasting pan. Sort of like beer can chicken but without the can (my kids think that cooking a chicken sitting with a beer can up its poor bum is the funniest thing they have ever seen!)
Simple:
There are two ways to do it. The overnight method and my way. Clean out a whole chicken, then rub it with garlic powder, salt, pepper, paprika, etc. (I don't remember the original spice combo. this is what I use, plus whatever else I feel like). Fill the cavity with a chopped onion. You are supposed to put it in a ziploc bag overnight, but I oven set it on roast right away. The oven is 250 degrees for five hours. The first half hour and approx. every 15 minutes after, baste the chicken. You can make more than one at a time and have something quick to make on busy nights.