American · roast chicken
Lemon and Garlic Roast Chicken
A whole chicken roasts to deep golden brown with lemon, garlic, thyme, and savory pan juices.
Total time90 min
Hands-on15 min
Cleanuplow
Serves6
Cook
Make dinner
- 01
Heat the oven to 425°F. Pat the chicken dry and place it breast-side up in a roasting pan.
- 02
Rub with olive oil, lemon zest, thyme, salt, and pepper. Put the halved lemon and garlic inside the cavity.
- 03
Roast for 65 to 75 minutes, until the breast reaches 165°F and the thigh reaches at least 175°F.
- 04
Rest for 15 minutes before carving and spoon the lemony pan juices over the meat.
Make it work
Useful swaps
- Use rosemary instead of thyme.
- Roast two small chickens side by side when serving a crowd.
Why this is a good weeknight call
Only 15 minutes are hands-on. It keeps the cleanup to one main pan. The ingredient list stays focused, and the recipe has a clear stopping point instead of extra optional projects.
