Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy Herb Roasted Chicken

What do you get when you cross a chicken and a pit bull?
Just the pit bull.

We love, love, love roasting whole chicken.  First off, it's super easy.  Second, this is a great option for two people because then you eat leftovers for the whole week.  Chicken enchiladas, chicken on top of spinach salad, chicken salad, chicken roll ups, chicken BLT, chicken pot pie, etc. etc.  The possibilities are endless!

This is also a fantastic option for dinner guests.  The prep takes 5 minutes, and once the bird is in the oven there's not much to do.  Once out, well that baby pretty much sets the table for you.

General plan: Rinse.  Dry.  Mix up some herbs, garlic, lemon zest, salt and/or pepper with either canola oil or here, we used olive oil.  Rub the bird down.  Fill the cavity with lemon slices, garlic either/and/or onion etc.  Cook.

Here's what you need:
1 whole chicken, we used organic, but get what you prefer
1/4 cup of olive oil (or canola oil)
2-3 tablespoons of herbs (whatever you're feeling: lemon zest, herbes de provence, sage, thyme, rosemary, garlic, etc.)
salt and pepper to taste
1-2 lemons (for stuffing the cavity and/or squeezing on the chicken as you eat its delicious goodness)



Preheat oven to 475 degrees.  Toss in 2-3 total tablespoons of whatever type herbs you are feelin' plus 1/4 cup of olive oil (or canola oil).  (For those that are less creative, use 2 tablespoons of herbes de provence and a couple cloves of minced garlic)

Mix together.

Prep chicken.  Take out of bag, rinse with cold water, take out any giblets etc. that may be in the cavity.  Dry chicken with paper towels, place on a rack or roasting pan lined with foil (easier cleanup).  Trim back any large flaps of fat that may be around the cavity if you'd like.

Take 2 lemons (and/or peeled garlic and peeled quartered onion)and stuff into the cavity.

Like so.

Take the flaps of skin and cut a small slit in each to tuck the legs into.  Or you can tie the legs with oven/ cooking string.  I like the skin slit way better.  Do as you like, etc.

Add herbs/oil mixture and rub down all over.

Rubbed down.

Bake in a 475 degree oven for about 30 minutes.  After 30 minutes, turn whole pan and reduce heat to 375.  Cook for another 45 minutes or so, until an internal thermometer equals 165 degrees.

 

Let rest 10 minutes before carving.