About
Take us home! That's how The Perfect Roasted Chicken will make you feel the minute it hits the oven. A whole chicken is seasoned, topped with melted butter, and surrounded by lemon and garlic pieces, then roasted until fork-tender. Home is where the good food is... and The Perfect Roasted Chicken makes the perfect meal! Let's eat!
Ingredients
- 1 (3.5-4-pound) whole chicken, patted dry
- kosher salt, to taste
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 lemon, halved crosswise and seeds discarded
- 1 head garlic, unpeeled and halved crosswise
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
Directions
Step 1 -Adjust an oven rack to the middle position, then preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Step 2 -Place the chicken on a cutting board with the breast facing up and the legs pointing in.
Step 3 -Use a sharp knife to slice through the skin connecting the chicken's left leg and the breast, creating a slice about 3 inches long. Continue to cut downward until the joint connecting the thigh to the body is sliced. Repeat on the right side.
Step 4 -Generously season every surface of the chicken, including the cavity, with the salt and the black pepper.
Step 5 -In a large, oven-safe skillet, add the seasoned chicken, breast-side up and cut-side down, and arrange the lemon halves and the garlic halves around it.
Step 6 -Evenly drizzle the melted butter over the seasoned chicken.
Step 7 -Roast the chicken until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F in its thickest part, the skin is nicely browned, and no rosy pink color remains, about 45 minutes.
Step 8 -Transfer the skillet to a wire rack and let the chicken rest, about 15 minutes.
Step 9 -Optionally, use a clean, sharp knife to carve the roasted chicken and place it on a serving platter.
Step 10 -Evenly pour the pan juices from the skillet over the chicken pieces and use the roasted lemon and the roasted garlic for garnish or discard them.
Step 11 -Serve.
