5 from 30 votes
Roast Chicken Recipe
This classic Roast Chicken Recipe uses a whole chicken seasoned simply with salt, pepper, lemon, and fresh rosemary, enhanced with softened butter spread over the skin. Roasting at 400°F results in a golden, crispy skin and tender, juicy meat inside. The lemon and herbs add fragrance and subtle flavor throughout the bird.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 10 mins
Resting Time
10 mins
Total Time
1 hr 30 mins
Servings:
6
Calories:
39 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 1 (4-5 pound) chicken whole
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 1 lemon cut into quarters, large
- 3-4 prigs rosemary fresh
- 2 tablespoons butter softened, salted
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Prepare the chicken by patting it dry with paper towels and removing the giblets and/or gravy pouch.
- Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Place lemon and rosemary in the cavity. Tie the chicken’s legs together with kitchen twine. Spread butter over the top of the skin.
- Place chicken in a roasting pan or a 9x13-inch baking dish. Bake for 60 minutes, then check the temperature in the thickest part of the thigh. Continue cooking, checking every 10 minutes, until it reaches 165 degrees F.
- Remove chicken from the oven and let it sit for 10–15 minutes before carving and serving.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Store leftover cooked chicken in an airtight container refrigerated for up to 3 days or freeze for 3–4 months.
- Leftover chicken meat can be used in various dishes like white chicken chili, chicken tortilla soup, tacos, chimichangas, or flautas.
- You can adapt this recipe for a slow cooker roast chicken if preferred.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1g
Calories
39kcal
(2%)
Carbohydrates
2g
(1%)
Protein
0.3g
(1%)
Fat
4g
(6%)
Saturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.2g
(1%)
Monounsaturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Trans Fat
0.2g
(10%)
Cholesterol
10mg
(3%)
Sodium
31mg
(1%)
Potassium
27mg
(1%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
0.5g
(1%)
Vitamin A
122IU
(2%)
Vitamin C
10mg
(11%)
Calcium
6mg
(1%)
Iron
0.1mg
(1%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 39
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1g | |
| Calories | 39kcal | 2% |
| Carbohydrates | 2g | 1% |
| Protein | 0.3g | 1% |
| Fat | 4g | 6% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.2g | 1% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Trans Fat | 0.2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 10mg | 3% |
| Sodium | 31mg | 1% |
| Potassium | 27mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 0.5g | 1% |
| Vitamin A | 122IU | 2% |
| Vitamin C | 10mg | 11% |
| Calcium | 6mg | 1% |
| Iron | 0.1mg | 1% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.