Perfect Roast Chicken
The Perfect Roast Chicken Recipe and The Secret Recipe Club
The Perfect Roast Chicken Recipe and The Secret Recipe Club
Sunday lunch……a late lazy start to the day, coffee or tea with the Sunday papers, sat at the kitchen table in my slippers and dressing gown…….the smell of cherry wood as the fire hisses and crackles, and the prospect of a family lunch together later. I love Sundays, although that wasn’t always the case when I was younger and still at school, as Sunday was the last day of freedom before lessons, exams and school. We don’t always have our main meal of the weekend on Sunday, although I am an ardent admirer of the “Sunday lunch tradition”; we sometimes have our “roast dinner” for a mid-week supper or on Saturday evening, if at all. But if I am cooking Sunday lunch for family and/or friends, there is one roast that always makes me feel cosy and contented, and that’s a roast chicken.
Perfect Roast Chicken
There is something very homely and comforting about a crisp roast bird, and although I love roast beef, roast pork and roast lamb, I have to say that a plump roast chicken is my favourite – with sage scented stuffing, crunchy golden roast potatoes and seasonal vegetables, as well as a jug of gravy. I always buy an organic bird, which has had a longer and more enjoyable life with a high level of compassion and welfare; they may cost more money, but they taste better and I feel I am not contributing to an unnecessary and cruel practice of mass reared birds, all crowed into small sheds with no daylight or a chance to run around and enjoy the outdoors. And, my initial outlay is worth it, as a large chicken just keeps on giving and provides me with at least 2 to 3 more family meals, as you can see here: Thrifty & Organic Meal Planner: Honey Roast Chicken, Hand Pies and Bread & Butter Pudding Recipes.
Butter Basted Roast Chicken
Today’s recipe for The Perfect Roast Chicken comes from my “secret partner” for another “reveal day” for The Secret Recipe Club; the club is a monthly cooking challenge where each month you are “assigned” a participating food blogger to make a recipe from. It’s a secret, so you don’t tell them you are making something from their blog, and the first they know about it is when you post the recipe on a designated “reveal day”. It’s a fabulous way to meet new people, discover new blogs and recipes, and I have been a member now for 2 years. This month, my secret blog assignment was for My Catholic Kitchen, a blog that I know well and visit regularly, as we are both members of the same “tribe” in “Triberr“.
Organic Chicken
Veronica, or Vonnie as her family and friends call her, is the author of My Catholic Kitchen and it is a blog filled with amazing tasty recipes and inspirational posts. Veronica says that she is…….“a food writer, food blogger, food photographer, recipe contest winner, college graduate, self-proclaimed bookworm as well as a lover of freshly baked bread, Krispy Kreme Donuts, a great cup of coffee, fried chicken and all that is comfort food”……….She is a self-taught cook and food photographer and she really has some lovely images, as well as recipes on her site. Here’s a few that grabbed my attention when I was over there looking to see what I would cook…..CANDIED BACON, ESPRESSO PECAN CAKE, PIMENTO CHEESE TEA SANDWICHES, CHEDDAR SWIRL BREAKFAST BUNS, CEDAR PLANKED SALMON and SEAFOOD LASAGNA ROLL-UPS. But it was her roast chicken that I turned to, as you may have already guessed, and I decided to cook Veronica’s PERFECT ROAST CHICKEN.
Roast Chicken Dinner
Veronica’s method for her Perfect Roast Chicken is exactly like my mum’s recipe.…….you stuff the cavity with fresh lemon, onions and some sprigs of thyme. The whole bird is then smeared with butter and salt and pepper, and it’s a sublime way of roasting chicken. Mum used to add her roasties (roast potatoes) in the same tin as the chicken, around the outside, and they would cook in the chicken fat and juices………DELICIOUS! I served my roast chicken with fresh sprouts, baton carrots and crisp duck-fat roast potatoes with a sausage, sage and onion stuffing, and some delectable home-made gravy made with the juices from the roasting tray and some wine!
Roast Potatoes, Sprouts and Carrots
This really is a PERFECT way to roast a chicken, and I want to say a BIG thanks to Veronica for reminding me how mum used to cook chicken! I have shared Veronica’s recipe below, with a few tweaks here and there, and the next time you want to roast a bird, this is THE way to cook it, trust me! That’s all for today and my secret recipe reveal, see you soon when I have more new recipes and some LOVELY festive giveaways too! Karen
INGREDIENTS:
1 1.2 to 1.5kg organic Chicken
1 tablespoon Maldon sea salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 lemon, quartered
3-4 garlic cloves
1 onion, peeled and quartered
3-4 sprigs of lemon thyme
2 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature.
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 220C/425F/Gas mark 7
Remove inside giblets and such. Rinse the bird under cold water. Pat dry with a paper towel. sprinkle the inside of the cavity with half the salt and pepper. Stuff the cavity with the lemon, garlic, onion, and thyme.
Mix in a small bowl the butter and the rest of the salt and pepper. Rub the bird all over with the butter mixture.
Place the chicken in the pan and roast for 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours or until golden and crispy and the juices run clear.
Let the bird rest for about 15 minutes before you carve it.
Moist roast chicken
The Perfect Roast Chicken
Some of my Roast Chicken Recipes:
Garlic Roast Chicken with Root Vegetables Recipe
Garlic Roast Chicken with Root Vegetables Recipe
Honey Roast Chicken with Winter Roots
Honey Roast Chicken with Winter Roots
Joanne T Ferguson says
G’day Karen you photos are mouthwatering today, true!
Well done, you chook looks wonderfully moist and what a fun Secret Recipe Club get together it looks like too…
Is it be invite only or someone has to refer as would love to join the fun too!
Cheers! Joanne
aka mickeydownunder
Karen says
Thanks Joanne, you can ask to join The Secret Recipe Club here: http://secretrecipeclub.com/join-src/ there is a waiting list, but the sooner you put your name on the list, the quicker you will be accepted when there is a vacancy!
LOVE roast chook and this way of cooking it is fool-proof!
Have a great day!
Karen
A Couple in the Kitchen says
We just love roast chicken, and try to make it slightly different every time. Thanks for the new idea!
Karen says
I am so pleased you like this method of roasting, which makes for a succulent and crisp bird!
Dominic says
oh yes please!
Karen says
Okay then, pass your plate Dom! 🙂
SallyBR says
Beautiful post! You are right, there’s something about roasting a chicken that immediately makes us feel happy and loved.
I don’t normally roast a full chicken, only pieces, so I should follow your lead… 😉
Happy Reveal Day, I am ready for mine next week!
Karen says
Thanks so much Sally and I MUST remember to pop over to the lovely group D next week to see what you have been cooking up!
This really is a very easy way to roast a whole chicken too! 🙂
Karen
Our Eating Habits says
This looks like the perfect meal! I so want to make it right this very minute!
Karen says
Thanks so much, it went down a storm! Karen
Rhonda says
This dish with the ‘roasties’ reminds me so much of when I lived in England and Sunday dinner was such a big deal. I have a free range whole chicken in my freezer just calling my name now.
Karen says
That’s it exactly Rhonda! That’s what us “Brits” love for Sunday lunch, proper roasties! Karen
Glamorous Glutton says
There’s something very comforting about roast chicken. This looks really yummy. GG
Karen says
There is isn’t there GG, and this one went down very well! Karen
veronica gantley says
I am so glad you picked my roast chicken. It is a really good recipe. I am so glad we are together on both triberr and SRC.
Karen says
Aw thanks Veronica and thanks once again for such a wonderful recipe too! Karen
Karen - Cinnamon Freud says
Simple roast chicken is so amazing. Yours looks great
Karen says
Thanks so much Karen!
Lisa {AuthenticSuburbanGourmet} says
Looks and sounds incredibly tasty! Glad to be part of SRC group C with you!
Karen says
Thank you Lisa – it’s also great to be part of Group C too!
Denise - Eat Laugh Love says
Nothing like a perfect chicken. Funny how many people don’t know how to make something so incredibly simple and always delicious. Your photos are lovely.
Karen says
Thanks so much Denise, and yes, a whole roast chicken is a thing of beauty!
mary says
There’s nothing that says “home” more than a roast chicken! wonderful 🙂
Mary x
Christine @ Christine's Kitchen Chronicles says
Mmm that roast chicken looks like the perfect meal for a cold day. It also has me thinking about Thanksgiving!
Karen says
Thanks Christine, this would be great for a small gathering for Thanksgiving if a turkey was too big! Karen
DANIELLE VEDMORE says
Wow -that looks amazing! Chicken is my favourite Sunday lunch meat!
Margaret says
Love roasting a chicken. Always lots of flavor and juices. That is a mighty pretty chicken.
Margaret says
mediterranean.
Tracy Nixon says
Lovely! G+’d Chicken for us tomorrow then!