Roast Chicken with Garlic and Lemon

Check Out: Roast Chicken Recipes

Note: This was first posted in Dec 2008, now updated with new photos and improved recipe.

With Christmas around the corner, it’s the time of the year to cook more hearty meals like a whole roast chicken. We were extremely satisfied with the end result of this particular roast chicken, I think largely due to the butter mixture which was stuffed underneath the chicken skin. For those who have not roasted a chicken before, you have to totally try it out this holiday season. Roasts like this is relatively fuss-free because the oven is doing 90% of the work, leaving the cook time to sit back and unwind this holiday season. A whole roasted chicken like this makes great party food for all occasions.

The reason why we have been roasting a chicken instead of a traditional turkey these few years – (1) my standalone oven is too small to fit in a whole turkey, (2) we are feeding only 2 persons, (3) chicken is much cheaper than turkey, (4) chicken meat usually tastes juicier and less dry than turkey, at least to me. If you are a fan of roast chicken too, do check out the other roast chicken recipes.

Carefully pull the top chicken skin and slowly stuff the butter paste under the chicken skin (Step 2)

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Roast chicken with Garlic, Lemon and Thyme Recipe

For those who have not roasted a chicken before, it is definitely easier than it looks. This roast chicken recipe is relatively fuss-free because the oven is doing 90% of the work.

Serves: 1 whole chicken (serves 2-4)

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 1 hr 10 mins

Ingredients:

• 1 whole chicken innards and neck removed
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• salt to taste
• freshly cracked black pepper to taste
• 1 tbsp garlic powder optional

(A) Butter Paste (mix well in a small bowl until a paste is form)

• 30 grams butter cubed
• 1 tbsp chopped parsley
• zest of 1 lemon

(B) Stuffing

• 2-3 sprigs thyme for best results, submerge in hot water for 30 seconds
• 2-3 sprigs rosemary for best results, submerge in hot water for 30 seconds
• 15 garlic cloves slightly bruised
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 lemon halved

Tools

• grater or microplane
• kitchen twine
• wire rack
• oven tray
• pastry brush.

Directions:

1. Place chicken on a flat chopping board, breast side up. For aesthetics, tuck the wings under the chicken and tie the thighs together using kitchen twine.
2. Carefully pull the top chicken skin and slowly stuff (A) under the chicken skin. Be careful not to tear the chicken skin while doing so.
3. Stuff the cavity of the chicken with (B). If you have leftover herbs, sprinkle them around the pan or on the chicken.
4. Brush the chicken skin all over with olive oil using a pastry brush. Season chicken with salt, black pepper and garlic powder.
5. Rest the chicken, breast side up, on a wire rack sitting on a bigger roasting tray to collect the chicken juices. Bake chicken in preheated oven at 200°C (392°F) for about 40 minutes. Take the tray out of the oven and brush the chicken with the juices that are collected in the drip pan. If there are not enough juices, use olive oil.
6. Return tray to oven and bake for another 30 minutes, increasing the oven heat to 220°C (428°F) during the last 10 minutes. The roasting time may differ with your oven, but basically you should roast until the chicken is nicely golden brown.

Noob Cook Tips

1. You can also roast vegetables at the same time for a more complete meal.
2. Roasted chicken bones make the best stock. Check out my easy step by step tutorial on How to Make Chicken Stock From Roast Chicken.

Ingredients Used: bay leaf • chicken • garlic • lemon • olive oil • parsley • rosemary • thyme