Description
Roasted chicken with garlic and herbs brings comfort straight to your dinner table with minimal effort and maximum flavor. Fragrant herbs and golden-brown skin make this classic dish a weeknight winner that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 5 lb whole chicken
- 6 tablespoons butter
Herbs and Aromatics:
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
- 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary leaves
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley leaves
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1 onion
- 1 lemon
- Salt
- Pepper
- 1 recipe chicken brine (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the brining solution and submerge the whole 5 lb chicken for enhanced flavor, then thoroughly pat the surface completely dry with paper towels.
- Heat your oven precisely to 400°F, ensuring the rack is centered for even roasting.
- Gently tuck the chicken wings underneath the body and carefully stuff the cavity with 2 sprigs each of fresh rosemary and thyme, plus quartered onion and lemon segments.
- Secure the chicken legs together using kitchen twine, creating a compact shape for uniform cooking.
- Combine 6 tablespoons softened butter with 2 teaspoons minced garlic, 2 teaspoons minced thyme leaves, 2 teaspoons minced rosemary leaves, and 1 tablespoon minced parsley in a small mixing bowl.
- Carefully separate the chicken breast skin and massage the herbed butter mixture directly underneath the skin and across the entire chicken surface.
- Position the seasoned chicken into a roasting pan, placing it breast-side up for optimal browning.
- Roast the chicken at 400°F for approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes, monitoring the internal temperature at the thigh until it reaches exactly 165°F.
- Inspect the chicken every 20 minutes during roasting, covering with aluminum foil if the skin browns too quickly.
- Remove the chicken from the oven and allow it to rest for 10 minutes, which helps redistribute the juices before carving and serving with the delicious pan drippings.
Notes
- Brining helps keep the meat juicy and adds deeper flavor, so take time to thoroughly dry the chicken after brining for crispy skin.
- Softening the butter makes it easier to spread under the skin and helps create an even layer of herb-infused seasoning across the entire chicken.
- Using fresh herbs delivers more intense flavor compared to dried, so grab rosemary and thyme from your garden or a fresh produce section if possible.
- A meat thermometer is essential for checking doneness without cutting into the chicken and losing precious moisture during roasting.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Category: Roasted
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 367 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg