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Lemon Garlic Roast Chicken


Roasted Garlic Chicken
Open my refrigerator and you are apt to find a roast chicken.  A roasted chicken is a staple in my refrigerator.  I learned long ago that having a roast chicken on hand is a wonderful time saver.  First, it is a delicious family dinner entree that is easy to prepare on a busy weekend.  Later, the leftovers become lunch in the form of a soup or sandwich or become a light dinner as part of a crisp salad.

You can buy a prepared rotisserie chicken at any grocery store these days, and I do when I am really pressed for time.  Those store roasted chickens are just not the same as the chickens you roast in your home oven.  To me, the store roasted versions always seem over cooked and over seasoned.  That's why I prefer to roast my chicken at home.

One of my favorite recipes for roast chicken is my lemon garlic roast chicken.  It is made with ingredients I always have on hand, so no extra effort is required running to the store for a missing ingredient.  One thing I like to do is prepare the chicken at for least an hour or two before roasting to give the lemon and seasonings a little extra time to work their magic.  Just be sure to cover the chicken well and refrigerate it.


Roasted Chicken Ingredients
Lemon Garlic Roast Chicken
Print Recipe

  • 1 whole chicken, 4-5 pounds, rinsed and patted dry
  • 1- 1/2 lemons
  • olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.  Mix together the salt, pepper and garlic powder in a small bowl.  Place the chicken in a roasting pan and coat it generously with olive oil.  Using your hands, rub the chicken all over with the oil.  Sprinkle approximately half of the seasoning mixture inside the cavity of the chicken.  With your fingers, loosen the skin attached to the breast and legs by gently inserting your fingers between the skin and the meat.  Once loosened, spread about half of the seasoning mixture under the skin.
You Have to Get in There with Your Hands

Thinly slice 1/2 of the lemon and place the slices under the skin of the chicken.  Cut the whole lemon into quarters and place those lemon pieces into the chicken's cavity.  Spread the remaining seasoning mixture over the outside of the chicken using your fingers to distribute the seasoning evenly.

Place Lemon Slices Under the Skin
Tie the legs of the chicken together with twine.  Place the chicken in the oven to roast until the skin is browned and the internal temperature measures 185 degrees F, about 60-90 minutes.  Baste the chicken occasionally while it roasts.
Tie the Legs Together with Kitchen Twine

Remove the chicken from the oven, cover with foil and allow to rest for 15 minutes. Serve with your favorite sides.

Browned and Crispy
Today roasted chicken.  Tomorrow, salad topped with the leftovers.  Yum!
Salad with Chicken, Pecans, and Dried Cranberries
Enjoy!

Comments

  1. I am going to try this chicken. I think my family would like it, even my kids!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Diann. I think this is a kid friendly meal. My boys always liked it when they were young.

      Delete

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