Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Whole Roasted Garlic Lemon Chicken


A couple of rainy days have had us indoors with the fireplace on and the oven cranking out holiday treats.  Tonight we opted for one of our favorite whole roasted chickens and ate like Kings!

Aromatic garlic combined with the roasting chicken and a sprinkle of Herbs de Provence filled the house with with home cooked goodness.  Even my burrito eating teenager was drawn downstairs asking if dinner would be ready soon.

While the aroma of garlic is strong, the chicken is delicately flavored providing perfectly seasoned leftovers.  A few squeezes of lemon brings an added brightness to this tender and juicy bird.  We thank him for bringing a bit of protein relief to our holiday sugar overload!

Whole Roasted Garlic Lemon Chicken

2 Tbs garlic, finely chopped
2 Tbs unsalted butter, very soft
2 Tbs lemon juice, freshly squeezed
1/2 tsp coarse salt
1 tsp Herbs de Provence
1 whole chicken
salt and pepper
Herbs de Provence
1 lemon, quartered

Preheat the oven to 375º.  Remove chicken from refrigerator and rinse, let rest as you are preparing garlic, butter and lemon.

Stir the finely chopped garlic into the very soft butter, mix well.  Add the lemon juice, coarse salt and Herbs, stir to combine.  Rub the butter under the breast skin as far as possible and then all over the chicken.  Add the lemon quarters to the cavity and sprinkle outside of bird with salt and pepper to taste.  Sprinkle with a few dashed of additional Herbs de Provence if desired.  Place on a rack or in a dutch oven coated with cooking spray.

Roast the chicken until a meat thermometer reads 160º when the breast temp is checked (about 90 minutes depending on the size of your chicken).  Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes.  Carve and serve!




30 comments:

  1. I love roasted chicken - have it every week and yours is stunning and delicious!

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  2. Oh man oh man I love roasted chicken. Even those of us with a sweeter side need a break now and again! So, when's dinner and what can I bring?? :D

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  3. I'm pretty sugared-out too...been busy running around, so the non-baker that is me? All I've been making in my kitchen the past week or so is sweets! I'm going to slow it down and make something good and comforting tomorrow night. Saving this chicken for when things are quieter next week...looks DELISH!

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  4. OMG - This looks incredible! This is one of those comfort foods that just makes me smile. I wish I was having this right now. Happy Holidays!

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  5. This looks wonderful! Great flavors and your pictures came out beautifully!

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  6. Yum, lemon garlic chicken. I can only imagine how wonderful your home must have smelled as this cooked! It looks perfectly done :)

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  7. This is so mouth-watering. I'm always a bit scared of roasting chicken, but I don't think I could pass this recipe up!

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  8. That looks like a perfect chicken.

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  9. I know this isn't anything new, but I've never thought to roast a chicken in my dutch oven! I need to get on this pronto!

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  10. You've got a gorgeous bird there! More people need to take pleasure in the simplicity that is roasting chicken. Especially with garlic. Always with garlic.

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  11. Ok, so I know it's not polite to beg but...can I have a wing please. Just a wing, that's all. Just kidding. I'm sure it's all going because it looks so yummy. I've gotta try this one. Thanks for sharing :)

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  12. LOOOOVE roasted chicken! Photo look incredible I am so hungry!!!

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  13. That chicken looks beautiful. I wish I was dining at your house.

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  14. You just cannot beat a whole roasted chicken - especially with the strong aroma of garlic wafting around in the air. This just looks like a perfect dish for the weather outside.

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  15. I adore garlic! It's one of my favorite spices (garlic is a spice, right?) when it comes to cooking savory food. Typically I'm more of a crock pot person over roasting, though...this would work in a crock pot, wouldn't it?

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  16. I think this will be one of the dishes for Christmas dinner. Simple and flavorful. May try it with Greek oregano instead.

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  17. I love roasted chicken. I'm going to have to try this recipe. Kim, wishing you and yours a beautiful Christmas holiday and a blessed new year!

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  18. I have always wanted to make a roasted chicken, but I always feel that I would mess it up. I think I might try this..

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  19. This looks divine!!! YUM!!

    Great blog; happy I found you!

    Merry Christmas!

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  20. Your roasted chicken looks so good and inviting! It is a favorite of ours, for sure.

    Merry Christmas, Kim, Liv, and Family

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  21. Foodtographer and I will be making this bird for Christmas dinner. Looks delish and I cannot wait to bask in the aromas I know it will send wafting through the apartment. Definitely looking forward to it.

    Have a very Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

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  22. Made this for my boyfriend - he said it was the juiciest most flavourful chicken he's ever had. I made it in the dutch oven, and it came out very moist. Will make again!

    Thanks for the recipe

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  23. Jennifer, I'm so glad he liked it. Sounds like the same thing that my husband said too! Thanks for letting us know that you liked it, you made my day!!

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  24. I decided to use this recipe to make my first ever roast chicken. It was amazing! It also went down a treat with my boyfriend. Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe!

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  25. Yay!!!! I'm so glad that it worked!! My kids ask for this one often... it's a keeper!

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  26. This looks amazing. Did you leave it uncovered the whole cooking time? Or did you have to cover it up at any time, to keep it from browning too much? I know with turkeys we start with it covered, but uncover later to brown. I cant wait to try this!

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  27. Tracy, I left it uncovered the whole time. It's not cooking as long as a turkey, so you want it to brown...!!

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  28. This just caught my eye on Pinterest. So simple, so delicious! I will be sleeping aboard The Star of India tonight (fingers crossed there will be no more rain!) with my daughter and her 5th grade class. I think I'll have to show your recipe to my husband, so he can have a yummy roasted chicken waiting for us when we get home tomorrow :-)

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  29. I love roasting a whole chicken and making gravy from the drippings. Yummy!

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