Description

A straightforward and rewarding recipe for roasting a whole chicken with crispy skin and juicy meat, perfect for first-timers and busy weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale

1 whole chicken (about 4–5 pounds / 1.8–2.3 kg)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 sprigs fresh rosemary, finely chopped
2 sprigs fresh thyme, finely chopped
1 lemon, zested and quartered
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper, freshly cracked
1 large onion, quartered
1 cup carrots and celery, chopped (optional)

Instructions

Step: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
Step: Remove giblets from the cavity and pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
Step: In a small bowl, mix softened butter, minced garlic, chopped rosemary, thyme, lemon zest, salt, and pepper until combined.
Step: Carefully separate the skin from the breast meat and rub half of the herb butter mixture underneath.
Step: Rub the remaining herb butter over the outside of the chicken.
Step: Place the quartered lemon and onion inside the cavity.
Step: Tie the legs together with kitchen twine.
Step: Place the chicken breast-side up on top of the optional chopped carrots and celery in a roasting pan with a drizzle of olive oil.
Step: Roast for 15 minutes at 425°F (220°C) to crisp the skin.
Step: Reduce oven temperature to 375°F (190°C) and roast for another 50-60 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
Step: Remove from the oven, tent loosely with foil, and let it rest for 15 minutes before carving.

Notes

If the skin browns too quickly, tent with foil halfway through roasting. For a dairy-free option, substitute butter with vegan margarine or additional olive oil. If using dried herbs, reduce the quantity by half.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Roasting
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 350 kcal
Sugar: 0.5 g
Sodium: 450 mg
Fat: 20 g
Saturated Fat: 9 g
Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 2 g
Fiber: 0.5 g
Protein: 25 g
Cholesterol: 95 mg

Keywords: whole chicken roast, juicy roast chicken, easy chicken recipe, herb butter chicken, crispy skin chicken, beginner chicken roast