4.4 from 132 votes
Orange sage Christmas chicken
Juicy roast chicken flavored with orange, sage, garlic and thyme makes this easy Christmas chicken recipe the perfect no-fuss centerpiece.
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 20 mins
Servings: 6
Calories: 318 kcal
Course:
Dinner
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 1.5 kg / 3lb whole chicken
- ½ cup softened butter
- Zest of 1 orange
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 garlic cloves finely minced/crushed
- 1 tbsp sage finely chopped
- 2 tsp thyme leaves
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 oranges halved
- 1 onion quartered
- 2 garlic bulbs halved
- 10 sprigs fresh thyme
- 6 sage leaves
- 1 cup white wine
Instructions
- Place softened butter in a bowl then add the zest of an orange and a lemon, crushed garlic, finely chopped fresh sage and thyme leaves. Season with salt and pepper and mix well.
- Allow the chicken to come to room temperature before cooking.
- Gently loosen the skin over the breast and drumsticks with your fingers, taking care not to tear the skin.
- Spoon the butter under the skin and gently spread over the meat until the butter has been distributed over the chicken.
- In a roasting dish, add orange halves, quartered onion, halved garlic bulbs, thyme and sage.
- Place the chicken on top then drizzle with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper on both sides. Pour wine around the chicken then place in the oven.
- Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F.
- Allow the chicken to roast for 45-60 minutes, depending on size, until golden brown and cooked through.
- Remove from the oven and allow to rest for at least 10 minutes before carving and serving.
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Calories
318kcal
(16%)
Carbohydrates
1g
(0%)
Protein
23g
(46%)
Fat
24g
(37%)
Saturated Fat
9g
(45%)
Cholesterol
106mg
(35%)
Sodium
526mg
(22%)
Potassium
237mg
(7%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
1g
(2%)
Vitamin A
449IU
(9%)
Vitamin C
5mg
(6%)
Calcium
30mg
(3%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 318
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 318kcal | 16% |
| Carbohydrates | 1g | 0% |
| Protein | 23g | 46% |
| Fat | 24g | 37% |
| Saturated Fat | 9g | 45% |
| Cholesterol | 106mg | 35% |
| Sodium | 526mg | 22% |
| Potassium | 237mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 449IU | 9% |
| Vitamin C | 5mg | 6% |
| Calcium | 30mg | 3% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.