Ingredients:
- 3 ½ - 4 ½ pound whole chicken, neck removed
1 lemon, cut in halved
1 head of garlic, halved
Few sprigs of thyme, rosemary, parsley, sage - 5 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 2 tsp EACH: salt & pepper
Directions:
1. Position a rack in the center of the oven & preheat the oven to 425ºF. Place the chicken on a cutting board and pat dry using paper towels. Season the inside of the cavity with ½ teaspoon of salt. Place the lemon halves, garlic head, and herbs inside the cavity. Place the chicken breast-side up in a large cast-iron skillet or an oven-safe frying pan. Sprinkle the chicken with the remaining 1 ½ teaspoon of salt all over.
2. Melt the butter in the microwave and using a pastry brush, brush half the butter generously all over the chicken, save remaining butter do not discard. Sprinkle with pepper.
3. Roast chicken for 20 minutes, remove from oven, brush on the remaining butter mixture. Place the chicken back into the oven and continue roasting for 25 minutes. Insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh and check to make sure it registers at 165 degrees F. Continue to roast for an additional 10-15 minutes for 4 to 4-1/2 lb chicken. Remove from the oven and allow for it to rest for 15-30 minutes before carving.
