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A black platter with golden brown herb butter chicken, roasted onion, a lemon wedge, and sprigs of thyme and oregano by Dorie Greenspan
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5 from 1 vote

Roast Chicken with Herb Butter

A roast chicken is one of the easiest, and most rewarding, dinners you can make. This version, with its mix of parsley, rosemary, thyme, basil, cilantro, sage, tarragon, chives, and/or oregano comes together quickly and is truly satisfying.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time2 hours
Course: Mains
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 86

Ingredients

  • 1/2 lemon
  • 1 stick (4 oz) unsalted butter, very soft
  • About 1 cup loosely packed minced mixed fresh herbs, (including parsley, rosemary, thyme, basil, cilantro, sage, tarragon, chives, and/or oregano)
  • 4 scallions, white and light green parts finely chopped, dark green parts reserved
  • Fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • One (4-pound) chicken, room temperature
  • 1 small onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2/3 cup white wine or water
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons sherry vinegar, for the pan sauce (optional)
US - Metric

Instructions

  • Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat it to 450°F (230°C).
  • Finely grate the zest of the lemon into a small bowl, reserving the lemon. Toss in the butter, minced herbs, and finely chopped scallions and mash the ingredients together until well blended. Season with salt and pepper. Divide the seasoned butter in half. Wrap 1 piece tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for your next chicken or another use. Use the rest for the chicken.
  • Pour the oil into a Dutch oven swish it around so that it slicks the sides of the pot.
  • Pat the chicken completely dry with paper towels. Use your fingers to gently pull the chicken skin away from the meat, loosening it along the breasts and drumsticks. Work from the top and bottom of the chicken, lifting the skin up with your knuckles to help you open up some space without tearing the skin. Use a chunk of herb butter at a time and squish, squiggle, and otherwise schmush most of the butter under the skin of the chicken, spreading it as best you can against the meat. Don’t worry about getting it in an even layer—the butter will melt and baste all the meat in the oven. Any butter that plops off the chicken can be rubbed all over the skin. Season the chicken inside and out with salt and pepper and stuff the cavity with the reserved herb stems and scallion greens. Squeeze the half lemon over the bird and tuck the lemon inside the cavity.
  • Place the chicken, breast side up, in the Dutch oven. Toss in the onion and bay leaf and then pour the wine or water around the chicken and roast, uncovered, until done, 60 to 80 minutes, depending on the size of your chicken. If it looks as if the pan juices are running low, add some water. The chicken is done when a thermometer poked into the thickest part of a thigh registers 165°F (75°C). Alternatively, you can test for doneness by cutting a slit in the chicken between the drumstick and breast and check that the juices run clear.
  • Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let rest for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, skim the fat from the surface of the pan juices, discard the bay leaf, and, if desired, stir in some sherry vinegar.
  • Carve the chicken and serve with the pan juices on the side.

Nutrition

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 86kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 14mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g