Description
Succulent roasted chicken with garlic and herbs melds Mediterranean flavors into a comforting dinner classic. Fragrant rosemary, thyme, and garlic infuse tender meat with rich, aromatic notes you’ll savor until the last delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 whole chicken (45 lbs / 20.4 kg), giblets removed
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 tbsps unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped (or 1 tsp dried)
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped (or 1 tsp dried)
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 tsp dried)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp paprika (for color)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 lemon, halved
- 1 small onion, quartered
- 3 carrots, cut into chunks
- 3 celery stalks, cut into chunks
- 1 cup chicken broth (or white wine for extra flavor)
Instructions
- Preparation: Ignite the oven to a robust 425F (220C), ensuring complete interior warmth for superior roasting dynamics.
- Chicken Preparation: Thoroughly pat the chicken dry with paper towels, creating an ideal surface for achieving a crisp, golden exterior. Delicately separate the skin from the meat, massaging a vibrant mixture of softened butter, minced garlic, rosemary, thyme, parsley, salt, pepper, and paprika beneath the skin.
- Flavor Infusion: Lavishly coat the chicken’s entire surface with the remaining herb butter. Stuff the cavity with fresh lemon halves and quartered onions to enhance aromatic complexity. Truss the legs with kitchen twine to maintain an elegant shape and promote even cooking.
- Roasting Foundation: Construct a flavorful base in the roasting pan with chopped carrots and celery. Position the chicken breast-side up, introducing a splash of chicken broth or white wine to amplify moisture and depth of flavor.
- Cooking Process: Initiate roasting at 425F for an initial 15-minute high-heat phase, then reduce to 375F for consistent cooking. Baste periodically with pan juices to maintain moisture and develop rich caramelization. Roast for approximately 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes.
- Finishing Touches: Confirm doneness by verifying the thickest part of the thigh reaches 165F. Rest the chicken for 15 minutes, allowing juices to redistribute and ensuring maximum tenderness. Present the succulent roasted chicken with aromatic pan drippings or a luxurious homemade gravy.
Notes
- Optimize Chicken Moisture: Pat chicken extremely dry before seasoning to guarantee crispy, golden skin that locks in juices and prevents steaming instead of roasting.
- Butter Infusion Technique: Carefully work herb butter underneath skin using fingertips, ensuring direct flavor penetration into meat without tearing delicate chicken skin.
- Temperature Precision: Use reliable meat thermometer to check internal temperature at thickest thigh point, avoiding overcooking which leads to dry, tough meat texture.
- Resting Period Importance: Allow chicken minimum 15 minutes rest after roasting, covering loosely with foil to retain heat and let juices redistribute, resulting in incredibly tender, succulent meat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg