Lemon Garlic Roast Chicken
Lemon Garlic Roast Chicken
Ingredients
For the Lemon Garlic Butter
- 8 oz salted butter, softened
- 1 lemon, zested
- 5 garlic cloves, grated
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- 1/8 cup parsley, chopped
For the Roast Chicken
- 1 whole chicken, 3–4 lbs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup lemon garlic butter, prepared
- 3 lemons
- 1 head of garlic
Instructions
- 1
First, prepare the lemon garlic butter. In a medium bowl, combine the softened salted butter, zest of 1 lemon, 5 grated garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon mustard powder, and 1/8 cup chopped parsley. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated. Set aside.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Remove the whole chicken from its packaging and pat it thoroughly dry with paper towels. This step is crucial for crispy skin.
⏱️ 2 min
- 3
Let the chicken sit out at room temperature for about 30 minutes before cooking. This helps ensure more even cooking.
- 4
Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 425
- 5
Slice one of the lemons into rounds. Line the bottom of a baking dish or cast-iron skillet with these lemon slices.
⏱️ 3 min
- 6
Cut the remaining two lemons in half. Cut the head of garlic in half horizontally. Stuff the cavity of the chicken with the halved lemons and the halved garlic head.
⏱️ 3 min
- 7
Using gloved hands, gently loosen the skin of the chicken, particularly over the breast, to create pockets. Take about half of the prepared lemon garlic butter and rub it under the loosened skin, distributing it evenly.
⏱️ 5 min
- 8
Spread the remaining lemon garlic butter evenly over the entire outside of the chicken, ensuring it is fully coated.
⏱️ 3 min
- 9
Drizzle the buttered chicken with 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
⏱️ 1 min
- 10
Place the chicken breast-side up over the lemon slices in the prepared baking dish or skillet.
⏱️ 1 min
- 11
Roast the chicken in the preheated oven for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. During roasting, baste the chicken with the pan juices every 30 minutes, until its internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the thigh without touching the bone.
⏱️ 90 min•🌡️ 425
- 12
Once removed from the oven, let the chicken rest for 15 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more tender and flavorful chicken.
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Lemon Garlic Roast Chicken
For the Lemon Garlic Butter
- 8 oz salted butter, softened
- 1 lemon, zested
- 5 garlic cloves, grated
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- 1/8 cup parsley, chopped
For the Roast Chicken
- 1 whole chicken, 3–4 lbs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup lemon garlic butter, prepared
- 3 lemons
- 1 head of garlic
Instructions
- 1
First, prepare the lemon garlic butter. In a medium bowl, combine the softened salted butter, zest of 1 lemon, 5 grated garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon mustard powder, and 1/8 cup chopped parsley. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated. Set aside.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Remove the whole chicken from its packaging and pat it thoroughly dry with paper towels. This step is crucial for crispy skin.
⏱️ 2 min - 3
Let the chicken sit out at room temperature for about 30 minutes before cooking. This helps ensure more even cooking.
- 4
Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 425 - 5
Slice one of the lemons into rounds. Line the bottom of a baking dish or cast-iron skillet with these lemon slices.
⏱️ 3 min - 6
Cut the remaining two lemons in half. Cut the head of garlic in half horizontally. Stuff the cavity of the chicken with the halved lemons and the halved garlic head.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
Using gloved hands, gently loosen the skin of the chicken, particularly over the breast, to create pockets. Take about half of the prepared lemon garlic butter and rub it under the loosened skin, distributing it evenly.
⏱️ 5 min - 8
Spread the remaining lemon garlic butter evenly over the entire outside of the chicken, ensuring it is fully coated.
⏱️ 3 min - 9
Drizzle the buttered chicken with 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
⏱️ 1 min - 10
Place the chicken breast-side up over the lemon slices in the prepared baking dish or skillet.
⏱️ 1 min - 11
Roast the chicken in the preheated oven for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. During roasting, baste the chicken with the pan juices every 30 minutes, until its internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the thigh without touching the bone.
⏱️ 90 min•🌡️ 425 - 12
Once removed from the oven, let the chicken rest for 15 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more tender and flavorful chicken.