Recipe Background
As far as roasted chickens go, Roasted Lemon Chicken is perhaps the simplest way to make it yourself at home! No fancy ingredients or complicated steps; just season the chicken, stuff it with lemons, and roast it. Once it's ready, you have a beautifully golden, savory bird perfumed with sunny lemon throughout! Roasted Lemon Chicken is a summer meal that amateur and seasoned chefs alike will love to make and eat!
As far as roasted chickens go, Roasted Lemon Chicken is perhaps the simplest way to make it yourself at home! No fancy ingredients or complicated steps; just season the chicken, stuff it with lemons, and roast it. Once it's ready, you have a beautifully golden, savory bird perfumed with sunny lemon throughout! Roasted Lemon Chicken is a summer meal that amateur and seasoned chefs alike will love to make and eat!
Ingredients
- 1 (4-pound) whole chicken cavity cleaned
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 2 small lemons
Directions
- Position an oven rack in the upper third position of the oven.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Under cold water, wash the chicken, inside and outside, and remove any excess fat.
- Allow the chicken to rest for 10 minutes on a plate, slightly tilted to allow the water to drain.
- Pat the chicken thoroughly dry with a paper towel.
- Generously season the chicken with the salt and the pepper, rubbing the seasoning all over the outside and inside of the chicken.
- Gently roll the lemons on the counter to help bring the juice to the surface.
- Using a toothpick, place about 20 punctures into each of the lemons.
- Place both of the pierced lemons inside the cavity of the chicken.
- Using toothpicks, close the chicken cavity.
- Using kitchen string, tie the chicken legs together at the knuckle, leaving the legs in their natural position without pulling them tight.
- Place the chicken into a roasting pan, breasts facing down.
- Roast the chicken for 30 minutes.
- Carefully turn the chicken over to be breast-side up, being caareful not to puncture the skin.
- Roast the chicken until it starts to become golden, about 30-35 minutes.
- Increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees F.
- Roast the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F in the thickest part, about 20 minutes.
- Allow the chicken to rest for 10 minutes.
- Transfer the chicken to a platter and serve with the pan juices.
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