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Herb and Lemon Roasted Chicken

This herb and lemon roasted chicken with potatoes is my favorite easy-but-impressive meal! Crispy, juicy and infused with the aromas and flavors of fresh herbs, citrus and garlic. You simply can't beat such a timeless classic!
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Ingredients  

  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 tablespoons chopped tarragon
  • 1/4 cup olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • Zest of one lemon
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
  • 1 4-pound whole chicken
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold, divided
  • 1 whole head garlic
  • 1 lemon, halved
  • 1 pound baby potatoes, halved
  • 1 large onion, quartered

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  • In a small bowl, combine the chopped herbs, olive oil, minced garlic and lemon zest. Season with salt and pepper. Reserve.
  • Place the chicken, breast side up, on a large cutting board. Remove the giblets and trim excess fat. Season the chicken cavity with salt and pepper. Carefully use your fingers to loose the skin over the breasts. Using a sharp knife, make a few slits (3 or 4) on each thigh to allow the flavors to penetrate.
  • Spread half of the herb mixture under the chicken skin, being careful not to tear it. Place two tablespoons of butter under the skin on each side.
  • Slice the top of the garlic head off, exposing the cloves. Insert the lemon halves and garlic head into the chicken's cavity.
  • Truss the chicken with butcher's twine, tightly closing the legs together.
  • Rub the chicken with the remaining herb mixture and season with salt and pepper.
  • Scatter the potatoes and onion wedges around the chicken. Drizzle the chicken and potatoes with more olive oil.
  • Roast for 1 to 1.5 hours, basting every 15 minutes with the pan juices and rotating the pan, until the chicken is golden brown and a kitchen thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thighs reads between 160 and 165 degrees F. If, by this point, the potatoes are not yet golden brown, remove the chicken to a cutting board and place the roasting dish with the potatoes back into the oven.
  • Let the chicken stand for 10 minutes before carving. Discard onion wedges.
  • Serve with the potatoes and pan juices.

Notes

Got a bigger chicken?

No problem! Just roast for longer. You should calculate 15 minutes per pound and, if possible, always check with a thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked to the minimum safe temperature of 160 degrees F. (It will reach the actual recommended temperature of 165 degrees F as it rests.)

Tarragon:

Some people don't like the licorice taste of tarragon. If that's you, just skip it or substitute with fresh rosemary, thyme, sage or oregano.

Make ahead:

Roast your chicken 30 minutes before your guests arrive and let it rest. When party time comes, pop it in the 400 degrees F oven for 5 to 10 minutes to heat it up!

Reheating leftovers:

Reheat the leftovers in the oven, at 350 degrees F, in a baking dish covered in foil for 20-25 minutes. I like to pour about a cup of chicken broth on the dish so the steam can bring moisture back into the meat.
To re-crisp the skin, remove the foil and continue roasting for 5 more minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g, Calories: 421kcal, Carbohydrates: 36g, Protein: 10g, Fat: 28g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 17g, Cholesterol: 51mg, Sodium: 109mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 4g