Simple Roasted Chicken

A roast chicken is so versatile and can be very easy with a few simple steps. However, most people find it so intimidating. I promise, I can change all of that. The secret, and only key ingredient, is herb butter. Any herb butter! Pick your favorite flavors and make your own (that's what I show you below). Once you have your herb butter, all it takes is a little massaging and a little waiting and you are on your way to a delicious roasted chicken.

Recipe yields 2-3 servings

Ingredients
2 1/2 - 3 lb whole chicken
1/2 cup unsalted butter
4 sprigs rosemary
1 lemon
Salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste

About a half hour before you are ready to start, let your chicken sit at room temperature.

Preheat the oven to 425F degrees. Finely mince the leaves of the rosemary. Please note you can use thyme, parsley, tarragon, whatever spices you prefer or have on hand. Today I chose to use rosemary, but get creative and change it up if you would like.

In a bowl, add the butter, minced rosemary and zest from the lemon. Mix to combine all ingredients and create an herb butter. (You will want your butter to be soft to make this easier.)

Using your fingers, loosen up the skin from the chicken. Take about a tablespoon of the herb butter and massage it into the chicken breasts between the meat and the skin. Continue until both breasts are coated, using a tablespoon at a time until they are covered. With the remaining butter, massage it into the rest of the bird, being sure to get into all the corners and edges (don't forget under the wings!). Stuff the bird with lemon halves and extra rosemary sprigs.

Place the chicken in a roasting pan, heavily lined with aluminum foil and place in the oven. Cook for about 1 hour before checking the chicken. Your chicken will be ready when the juices are clear, if you still see pink, continue to cook at 15 minute intervals.

Once the chicken is fully cooked, remove from the oven and let rest on a cutting board before carving and serving. Enjoy your deliciously fresh and simple roasted chicken!