Le Creuset French-Style Roast Chicken With Tarragon Cream Sauce

French-style whole roast chicken with the most delicious creamy tarragon sauce! This is a wonderful Sunday or company meal served with heaps of fluffy mashed potatoes, a green leafy salad or seasonal vegetables, and some crusty bread. Very easy recipe that can be made either in the oven, -or- in the crock-pot. Adapted from the Le Creuset website.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 10 mins
• Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

• ROAST CHICKEN

• 4 1⁄2 lbs roasting chickens
• 2 -3  teaspoons dried tarragon
•  salt and pepper

• TARRAGON CREAM SAUCE

• 2  cups  hot chicken stock
• 1⁄2 cup heavy cream
• 2 -3  teaspoons dried tarragon
• 2  teaspoons cornstarch
•  salt and pepper

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Lightly grease the inside of Le Creuset or crock pot. Wash and dry the chicken and truss into shape. Grease it lightly all over with olive oil and rub a little salt and pepper on the skin. Place the chicken, breast side up, in Le Creuset or crock pot, and sprinkle the tarragon over the breasts and legs.
3. Cover Le Creuset with the lid, place it in the heated oven, and roast for 2 to 2 1/2 hours until the juices run clear, not pink, when the thigh is pierced with a skewer, or an instant-read thermometer reads 180°F (For crock pot, cook covered on HIGH for 6 to 8 hours, less time for a smaller bird).
4. Lift out the chicken onto a warm platter, cover it with aluminum foil and a clean dish towel and leave to rest while making the sauce.
5. SAUCE:
6. To make the sauce, pour out any excess fat from the pan. Pour the hot stock into Le Creuset and place it over medium heat on the stove top and bring to a boil. Stir to remove any residues from the bottom, which can be incorporated into the sauce. Once the liquid is boiling, stir in the cream blended with the tarragon and cornstarch. Reduce the heat and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly. (For crock pot, after pouring off any excess fat, place hot stock and the blended cream, tarragon & cornstarch into the crock pot and stir well. Cover and cook on LOW for 30 minutes).
7. Taste and adjust the seasoning of the sauce, if needed, before serving it with the carved chicken, fluffy mashed potatoes and a vegetable side.