Make succulent whole roasted chicken that's bronzed, crispy, and full of flavor! This is a simple method for perfect roasted chicken with butter, garlic, and herbs.
Servings : 4
Prep Time 10 minutesmins
Cook Time 1 hourhr15 minutesmins
Resting Time 20 minutesmins
Total Time 1 hourhr40 minutesmins
Ingredients
3 to 4poundwhole broiler-fryer chicken
3tablespoonsbutter,melted
3clovesgarlic,minced
¾teaspoonsalt,or to taste
1teaspoondried basil
½teaspoondried thyme
¼teaspoonlemon pepper seasoning,or you can also use fresh ground black pepper
1lemon,quartered
3sprigsfresh rosemary
4clovesgarlic,peeled
Instructions
Preheat oven to 450˚F.
Remove giblets from inside of the chicken's cavity.
Thoroughly dry the chicken with paper towels.
Place chicken, breast side UP, on a rack set over a shallow roasting pan or jelly roll pan.
Brush the chicken with the melted butter.
Sprinkle or rub minced garlic all over the chicken.
In a small bowl, combine salt, basil, thyme, and lemon pepper; rub onto the chicken.
Add some salt to the inside of the cavity and fill the cavity with lemon slices, rosemary, and garlic cloves.
Tie the legs together with kitchen twine, and tuck the wings under the body of the chicken.
Roast, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
Reduce oven temperature to 350˚F and continue to cook until done, about 1 more hour and 10 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165˚F.
Remove from oven and baste the chicken with the juices.
Let rest for about 15 minutes before cutting and serving.
Notes
Cooking Temperature: You can roast a chicken at any temperature; however, in my opinion, it's best to preheat the oven to 450˚F, roast the chicken for ten minutes at that temperature, and then reduce the oven temperature to 350˚F. In all my testing, I found this was the best method for crispy skin but tender and juicy meat.
Instant Read Meat Thermometer: To avoid dry chicken, use this critical tool. Chicken is done cooking when the internal temperature registers at 165˚F.
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American, American/Southern
Keyword: how to roast a chicken, roast chicken, whole roasted chicken