Description
Rosemary Lemon Garlic Roasted Chicken brings Sunday dinner magic straight from Grandma’s kitchen to your table. Crispy golden skin and tender meat make this classic recipe a total crowd-pleaser that’ll have your family asking for seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 whole chicken (4–5 pounds)
- 1 garlic bulb (peeled and divided into cloves)
Aromatics and Herbs:
- 1 lemon
- 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely minced
Seasonings:
- 0.5 teaspoons garlic powder
- Sea salt
- Ground black pepper
Instructions
- Remove the internal organs from the whole chicken and discard. Pat the entire chicken dry using a paper towel, absorbing all excess moisture.
- Season the chicken thoroughly inside and out with 1 teaspoon sea salt and ½ teaspoon ground black pepper. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon finely minced rosemary across the exterior surface.
- Dust the chicken’s exterior with ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ensuring even coverage.
- Squeeze the juice from half a lemon directly onto the chicken’s skin, coating the surface completely.
- Stuff the chicken’s cavity with both lemon halves, 3 fresh rosemary sprigs, and 5-6 peeled garlic cloves.
- Distribute remaining garlic cloves around and underneath the chicken, tucking them into natural crevices.
- Roast the chicken in a preheated oven at 400°F for approximately 1½ hours, until the skin turns golden brown and crispy.
- Confirm doneness by checking that chicken juices run clear when pierced at the thickest part of the thigh.
Notes
- For a crispy skin, ensure the chicken is completely dry before seasoning, which helps the salt and herbs adhere better and promotes browning.
- Fresh rosemary delivers more intense flavor than dried, so grab sprigs from your garden or a fresh bunch at the market if possible.
- Distribute garlic cloves strategically around and under the chicken to infuse maximum flavor into the meat during roasting.
- When checking doneness, use a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh – it should read 165°F for safe consumption.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes (oven) or 4-6 hours (slow cooker)
- Category: Roasted
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 425 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 5.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 55 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg