Juicy, tender whole roasted chicken seasoned with lemon and rosemary is always a winner in my house! Make two and use the second for meal prep.
Whole Roasted Chicken
We love roasted chicken in my home, which is probably why I have so many chicken recipes on my blog! The smell of this chicken roasting in the oven is enough to fall in love! Roasting a whole chicken is pretty simple to do, as long as you have a thermometer you can’t go wrong. The combination of rosemary and lemon is wonderful with chicken! Serve this with roasted vegetables or baked sweet potato on the side and use the leftover chicken bones to make a wonderful stock. If you have an air fryer, you might love this Air Fryer Whole Chicken.
A few times a month I roast a whole chicken or two, sometimes in the oven, sometimes in my slow cooker (I shared the slow cooker recipe in my latest cookbook, Skinnytaste One and Done). It’s a dish I know everyone will love and leftovers are always great for chicken salad or sandwiches.
How To Roast a Whole Chicken
Trussing the bird first, before roasting, helps to ensure that the chicken cooks evenly, and that its breast meat remains moist and not dried out. Of course, it’s totally optional and you can skip that step if you want to save time.
Then add your seasonings: salt, dried herbs, fresh citrus juice, the possibilities are endless here. Season it the night before for more flavor, uncovered in the refrigerator. Roast the chicken 425F until the internal temp is 160 to 165F, then let it rest 10 minutes before carving.
Leftover Chicken Recipes
Roast two chickens instead of one and use the second chicken for lunches during the week. You can add them to salads, enchiladas, or any recipe that required shedded chicken. Here’s some ideas for leftover chicken:
- Chicken Waldorf Salad
- Chicken Salad with Lemon and Dill
- Rotisserie Chicken Enchilada Skillet
- Chicken Chimichangas
- BBQ Chicken Quesadillas
And don’t throw away the carcass! Make chicken stock – Put the whole carcass in a pot of water with onions, celery, garlic, parsley and fresh herbs and let is simmer slowly all day, then use the stock for recipes that call for chicken stock or broth.
What To Serve with Roasted Chicken
- Air Fryer Butternut Squash
- Baked Potato
- Broccoli and Orzo
- Shredded Brussels Sprouts
- Smashed Potatoes
- Baked Sweet Potato
More Chicken Recipes You May Like:
- Southwest Chicken Skillet
- Chicken Rollatini
- Braised Chicken with Tomatoes and Rosemary
- Chicken Enchiladas
- Chicken Parmesan
Roast Chicken with Rosemary and Lemon
Ingredients
Instructions
- Heat oven to 425F.
- Season chicken inside and out with salt, pepper, and herbs de Provence.
- Squeeze half of the lemon on the outside of the chicken and stuff the remains of the lemon along with onion, garlic, rosemary sprigs inside the chicken. Transfer to a sheet pan, and tie the chicken by taking kitchen twine and plumping up the breast, then coming around with the string to lasso the legs and tie them together. Don't forget to tuck the wing tips under themselves so they don't burn.
- Roast the chicken with the feet towards the back of the oven, until the juices run clear, and internal temperature is 160°F, about 50-60 minutes (Insert thermometer between the thickest part of the leg and the thigh).
- Let the bird rest for 10 minutes, tenting with foil before carving.
- Serve chicken, either one breast, or one thigh/drumstick, skin is optional.
Last Step:
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Notes
Nutrition
Photo Credit: Jess Larson
