The Best Roasted Chicken

This is the best chicken I have ever made. My husband liked this so much that, because I had leftover potatoes, gravy, and cornbread stuffing, I had to make another chicken.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 60 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins
• Calories: 381 Calories

Ingredients

• ¼ cup butter, softened
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, divided
• 1 whole chicken
• 1 lemon, zested and halved

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Step 2

Mix butter, garlic, thyme, rosemary, lemon zest, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper together in a bowl.

Step 3

Loosen skin on chicken breast; rub butter mixture between skin and breast meat. Press on the skin to distribute evenly. Rub oil, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper all over; place lemon halves inside cavity. Set in a baking pan.

Step 4

Roast in the preheated oven, basting after 30 minutes, until chicken is no longer pink, about 1 hour. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone, should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Let rest before carving, about 15 minutes.