I used to make Roast chicken all the time but then the grocery store chains started making Rotisserie Chickens for $4-5.00 and it was an easy weeknight meal. Lately, the Rotisserie chicken has increased to $8-9.00 and the size of the chicken has gotten smaller so I recently started making them at home again. I had forgotten how Delish they were! SO MUCH BETTER than the store! Crispy skin, juicy meat, and a wonderful au jus in the pan you can make gravy from if you like.
There are many variations for roasting a chicken but these are ingredients I usually use. Share your comments with me about what your favorite flavors are and I’ll try them too!
Preheat oven to 400 F
Turn down to 375 F after you put the chicken in the oven.
Recipe:
5-7 lb Chicken- *Patted dry and giblet bag removed
- 1 celery stalk cut into 3 pieces
- 1 /2 a white onion cut into wedges
- 5 cloves of garlic peeled
- 2 sprigs of Rosemary.
- 1 lemon cut in half
- 1/4 cup of butter/olive oil
- 2 tsp S & P
- 1 tsp of Dried herbs (I like Mural of Flavor)
- 1/2 cup of water or broth
Squeeze the lemon into the cavity of the dry chicken. Sprinkle a tsp of salt and pepper into the cavity as well. Put the onion, garlic, celery, herbs and squeezed lemon into the cavity of the chicken too. Pat the skin dry with paper towel. It HAS to be dry or your butter won’t smear all over. With your clean hand, wipe the butter all over the chicken and sprinkle S& P and dried herbs all over the butter. If you can, bend the wing tips underneath the breast so they don’t burn.
I don’t often use a rack to put my chicken on. I like to use an onion or two sliced into 1/2 inch thick slices. I place the chicken on top of the sliced onions. I then squeeze the rest of the lemon and water into the pan. I roast until a thermometer shows 165 degrees and juice runs clear. I also let the chicken “rest” for 15 minutes uncovered (I like crispy skin) while I finish the rest of dinner. You can serve it with the chicken jus in the pan or make chicken gravy from the drippings. 
*I do not wash my chicken in the sink. I have read that doing that contaminates your entire sink area. I’ve had people ask me about that so I thought I would share my opinion.