Garlic Roast Chicken (Barefoot Contessa)

Submitted by KissKiss

"After seeing this on Food Network and trying it that very night, I'll never make a roasted chicken any other way. The vegetables alone are worth it, but the chicken is so unbelievably tender and juicy that you can't help but go back for seconds. I've made only very subtle changes to suit my taste, and I would recommend nearly doubling the veggies if feeding four grown people. Reheated leftovers are phenomenal (use medium power on microwave)."

 

• Ready In: 2hrs
• Ingredients: 8
• Serves: 3-4

ingredients

• 1 (5 -6 lb) roasting chickens
• salt and pepper
• 2 heads garlic, cut in half crosswise
• 1 lemon, quartered
• 1⁄2 large sweet onion, sliced thick
• 4 carrots, cut diagonally into 2-inch chunks
• 12 petite golden delite potatoes, halved
• 5 tablespoons butter, melted

directions

1. As soon as you get the chicken home, salt it inside and out, wrap it and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
2. When you are ready to cook the chicken, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Pat the outside of the chicken dry with paper towels. Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the chicken and stuff the cavity with the all the garlic and lemon.
3. Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the chicken. Place it in a roasting pan just large enough to hold it and the vegetables.
4. Scatter the onion slices, carrots and potatoes around the chicken. Brush the outside of the chicken with the butter, pour all remaining butter over vegetables and sprinkle everything with salt and pepper.
5. Roast the chicken for 1 1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear when you cut between a leg and thigh. Baste chicken and vegetables with juices a couple times during cooking. (Our 5 1/2 lb chicken needed 1 hr 20 mins.).
6. Remove the chicken, place on cutting board, and cover with aluminum foil. Place the vegetables back in the oven and continue cooking for an additional 15 minutes.
7. When the vegetables are cooked, carve the chicken and place the slices on a platter surrounded by the vegetables. Drizzle some pan juices over the chicken and vegetables.

Reviews

[lolablitz]

Delicious! I had a 4# bird and used Kittencal's method for "blasting" (20 minutes at 450, 40 minutes at 400), with wonderful results. I appreciated that I didn't have to put pats of butter under the skin and could just brush it on top. We LOVED the garlicyness of this and I will definitely use again. Thanks!

 

[1019871]

This chicken is amazing and so easy. The next time I will cut back on the butter and use a little bit of olive oil with it.

 

[French Tart]

This may have been seen on American Food Network TV, but this is a classic way of cooking roast chicken in France and quite DIVINE! I made this today for Sunday lunch, and it ticked all the boxes thanks KissKiss! I DID tinker a wee bit! I added a sprig of fresh rosemary in the cavity and used single cloves of garlic, as I did not have a whole head left! I also only added potatoes to the roasting tray, as I had planned to make spiced pumpkin mash already..............BUT it was still delicious, a classic recipe that is worth TEN stars darlink! Made for Hail the Chefs in the Photos forum, and just because I wanted to make and photograph one of your recipes! Merci darlink, FT:-) PS. I used the pan juices to make a wine gravy, added them to some wine and a spoon of cornflour to thicken.................just divine and totally awsome! All garlicky and lemony and with a hint of rosemary!

 

[Karens Krazy Kitchen]

I saw the episode and have been making my chickens this way ever since. Fantastic recipe! Ina rarely dissapoints...

 

[Kaija S.]

Delicious! The chicken comes out juicy, tender, and so flavorful. By far the best roast chicken recipe! My husband LOVED it. Will definitely be making this again.