Best Butter Roast Chicken Recipes

ROAST CHICKEN WITH MAPLE BUTTER AND ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Pat the chicken dry and season it well with salt and pepper, both inside and out. Place the chicken breast-side up in a 10-inch cast-iron or ovenproof skillet and stuff the rosemary sprigs into the bird's cavity.
• In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add the chopped rosemary and the maple syrup, and cook together until the rosemary is fragrant and the mixture has thickened slightly, about 1 to 2 minutes. Spoon all of the mixture over the chicken, making sure it is evenly covered. A decent amount will end up on the bottom of the pan, and that's O.K.
• Roast the chicken, basting with the pan juices every 15 to 20 minutes or so, until the chicken is glossy and golden brown and registers 165 degrees with an instant thermometer in the thickest part of the thigh, about 55 to 60 minutes. Remove from the oven and baste an additional time, if desired. Allow the chicken to rest for 10 minutes before carving. Whisk remaining juice and pass at the table.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH HERB BUTTER, ONIONS AND GARLIC

Steps:

• Mix butter, chopped herbs, fennel seeds and 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt in bowl; blend well. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before continuing.)
• Position rack in bottom third of oven; preheat to 400°F. Sprinkle main cavity of chicken with salt and pepper; fill with herb sprigs. Starting at neck end, slide fingers under skin of breast and upper part of legs, loosening skin. Spread 3 tablespoons herb butter under skin on breast and upper leg meat. Place chicken on rack in large roasting pan; tie legs together loosely to hold shape. Scatter onions around chicken. Brush chicken and onions with 2 tablespoons herb butter; sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Roast chicken 30 minutes. Remove pan from oven. Scatter garlic cloves around chicken. Brush chicken, onions and garlic with 1 tablespoon herb butter. Roast chicken and vegetables 30 minutes. Reserve 1 tablespoon herb butter for sauce; brush remainder on chicken and vegetables. Continue to roast until chicken is golden and thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 180°F, about 30 minutes longer. Insert wooden spoon into main cavity; tilt chicken so that juices drain into pan. Transfer chicken to platter; surround with onions and garlic. Tent with foil.
• Set roasting pan over medium-high heat. Add broth and wine; bring to simmer, scraping up browned bits. Pour pan juices into large glass measuring cup. Spoon off fat; discard fat. Pour juices into medium saucepan. Stir reserved 1 tablespoon herb butter and flour in small bowl to smooth paste. Bring pan juices to simmer; whisk in paste. Simmer sauce until slightly thickened, whisking occasionally, about 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve chicken with sauce.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH ROSEMARY-ORANGE BUTTER

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 400°F. Mince 1 shallot; mix with butter, rosemary and peel in small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Pat chicken dry. Using fingers, loosen skin from chicken breasts, legs and thighs. Sprinkle chicken cavity with salt and pepper. Spread half of rosemary-orange butter under chicken skin. Tie chicken legs together to hold shape. Spread remaining butter over chicken. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper.
• Place rack in large roasting pan. Add reserved chicken neck and heart to pan, then onion, carrots and celery. Chop 2 shallots; add to pan. Place chicken, breast side up, on rack in pan. Roast chicken until meat thermometer inserted into innermost part of thigh registers 180°F., stirring vegetables in pan occasionally, about 1 hour 40 minutes. Transfer chicken to platter. Tent with foil while making sauce (do not clean pan).
• Place same roasting pan over medium-high heat. Add wine to pan; simmer until most of wine evaporates, scraping up any browned bits, about 5 minutes. Add broth. Simmer until sauce is reduced to 1 1/2 cups, stirring often, about 6 minutes. Strain into 2-cup glass measuring cup; discard solids. Spoon fat from top of sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve chicken with pan sauce.

MARK BITTMAN'S ROAST CHICKEN PARTS WITH BUTTER OR OLIVE OIL (PLU

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Put the oil or butter in a roasting pan and put the pan in the oven for a couple of minutes, until the oil is hot or the butter melts. Add the chicken and turn it couple of times in the fat, leaving it skin side up. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and return the pan to the oven.
• After the chicken has cooked for 15 minutes, toss about 1/4 of the herb or herb mixture over it and turn the pieces. Sprinkle on another quarter of the herb and roast for another 10 minutes.
• Turn the chicken over (now skin side up again), add another quarter of the herb, and cook until the chicken is done (you'll see clear juices if you make a small cut in the meat near the bone) a total of 30-40 minutes at most. Garnish with the remaining herb and skim excess fat from the pan juices if necessary; serve, with some of the juices spooned over it.
• Variations:
• Add several cloves of garlic (20 wouldn't be too many).
• Add a cup or so of chopped onion, shallot, or leek.
• Add a cup or so of sliced fresh mushrooms, after the first 15 minutes of roasting.
• Add 2-3 lemons (oranges and limes are good, too). When the chicken is done, squeeze the hot lemon juice over it.
• Use Compound Butter, Flavored Oil, or a Vinaigrette from the beginning of the cooking or as a basting sauce during the cooking.
• Stir in a dollop of grainy French-style mustard when the chicken is done.
• Add a couple handfuls of cherry tomatoes and some black olives after turning the chicken skin side up again.
• Stir in a cup of any salsa in the last 10 minutes of cooking or spoon on top of the cooked chicken before serving.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH HOT-SAUCE BUTTER

Steps:

• Wearing gloves, halve and seed chiles. Purée chiles, pepper, zest, 2 tablespoons liqueur, 1 tablespoon salt, and garlic in a blender. Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let ferment at room temperature for 12 hours.
• Purée chile mixture in a blender with vinegar, remaining 2 tablespoons liqueur, and remaining 1 tablespoon salt until smooth. Set a fine-mesh strainer over a small saucepan. Strain mixture, pressing on solids. Heat hot sauce over medium heat. Stir cornstarch and 2 teaspoons water in a small bowl until smooth. Whisk cornstarch mixture into hot sauce. Simmer, whisking constantly, until thickened, about 2 minutes. Whisk in 3 tablespoons butter. Season to taste with salt. Keep warm.
• Preheat oven to 450°. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken, skin side down, until golden, about 5 minutes. Turn chicken and cook 6 minutes. Remove breasts from pan and transfer to a plate. Place skillet in oven and roast legs for 12 minutes. Return breasts to skillet; roast until legs and breasts are cooked through, about 10 minutes longer. Serve with hot-sauce butter.

MISO-BUTTER ROAST CHICKEN WITH ACORN SQUASH PANZANELLA

Steps:

• Chicken and panzanella:
• Pat chicken dry with paper towels, season all over with 2 tsp. salt, and tie legs together with kitchen twine. Let sit at room temperature 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, halve squash and scoop out seeds. Run a vegetable peeler along ridges of squash halves to remove skin. Cut each half into ½"-thick wedges; arrange on a rimmed baking sheet.
• Combine sage, rosemary, and 6 Tbsp. melted butter in a large bowl; pour half of mixture over squash on baking sheet. Sprinkle squash with allspice, red pepper flakes, and ½ tsp. salt and season with black pepper; toss to coat.
• Add bread, apples, oil, and ¼ tsp. salt to remaining herb butter in bowl; season with black pepper and toss to combine. Set aside.
• Place onion and vinegar in a small bowl; season with salt and toss to coat. Let sit, tossing occasionally, until ready to serve.
• Place a rack in middle and lower third of oven; preheat to 425°F. Mix miso and 3 Tbsp. room-temperature butter in a small bowl until smooth. Pat chicken dry with paper towels, then rub or brush all over with miso butter. Place chicken in a large cast-iron skillet and roast on middle rack until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of breast registers 155°F, 50-60 minutes. (Temperature will climb to 165°F while chicken rests.) Let chicken rest in skillet at least 5 minutes, then transfer to a plate; reserve skillet.
• Meanwhile, roast squash on lower rack until mostly tender, about 25 minutes. Remove from oven and scatter reserved bread mixture over, spreading into as even a layer as you can manage. Return to oven and roast until bread is golden brown and crisp and apples are tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven, drain pickled onions, and toss to combine. Transfer to a serving dish.
• Gravy and assembly:
• Using your fingers, mash flour and butter in a small bowl to combine.
• Set reserved skillet with chicken drippings over medium heat. You should have about ¼ cup, but a little over or under is all good. (If you have significantly more, drain off and set excess aside.) Add wine and cook, stirring often and scraping up any browned bits with a wooden spoon, until bits are loosened and wine is reduced by about half (you should be able to smell the wine), about 2 minutes. Add butter mixture; cook, stirring often, until a smooth paste forms, about 2 minutes. Add broth and any reserved drippings and cook, stirring constantly, until combined and thickened, 6-8 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in miso. Taste and season with salt and black pepper.
• Serve chicken with gravy and squash panzanella alongside.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH GARLIC-HERB BUTTER

Steps:

• The day before roasting, combine butter in a bowl with zest of one lemon (reserving the lemon), garlic, chives, and thyme. Season with salt and pepper and mix to combine. Dry the chicken with paper towels and place on a roasting pan fitted with a rack. Season chicken with salt and pepper, inside and out. Using your fingers, gently release the skin from the breast on either side of the breast bone. Place a heaping tablespoon of the compound butter under the skin on each side and smooth down to coat each breast. Do the same at the other end, where the thigh joins the open cavity. Distribute the remaining butter on each side under the leg skin. Place chicken in the refrigerator, uncovered, to allow the skin to dry.
• The next day, preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Roughly chop the celery, onion, and carrot and place inside the chicken cavity, along with leftover herb stems and half the zested lemon. Cut the baguette to approximately the length of the chicken and place, open-faced, on a rimmed baking sheet. Lay the chicken on top of it. Pour water or chicken stock in the pan so the bread doesn't burn. Bake, 10-12 minutes.
• After 10 minutes, chicken will begin to brown. Add more water or stock to the pan if the bread looks too dark. Reduce oven temp to 400 F and continue cooking, 35-55 minutes, depending on chicken size. (Final internal temperature should be 165 degrees F at the thickest part of the thigh.)
• Test the chicken for doneness by sticking a knife into the thickest part of the thigh-the juices should run clear (i.e., not pink). When done, remove from oven and let the chicken rest 5 minutes before carving. To carve, first remove the wings. Next, cut the skin close to the leg, then cut from the back and follow the bone along the joint and remove the leg. Remove the breasts by cutting down the middle, following the bone (save the rest of the chicken carcass for stock). Cut the baguette into four pieces and serve with the cut chicken on top.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH LEMON AND TARRAGON BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500°F.
• Stir together butter, zest, tarragon, salt, and pepper.
• Pat chicken dry and arrange, skin sides up, in a shallow roasting pan (1 inch deep). Loosen skin on chicken by gently working your fingers between skin and meat, keeping skin attached on 1 side and being careful not to tear skin. Rub butter mixture evenly under skin of each piece of chicken, then rub top of chicken with butter remaining on your hands. Season with salt and pepper.
• Bake chicken in middle of oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted 2 inches into fleshy part of chicken (do not touch bone) registers 170°F, about 30 minutes.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH LEMON AND BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450˚F.
• Rub the bird inside and out with salt and crushed peppercorns. Stuff a 1/2-tablespoon knob of butter under the skin of each side of the breast, and under the skin of each thigh. Stuff the thyme, bay leaf, and lemon wedges into the chicken's cavity.
• Use the tip of a paring knife to poke a small hole in the skin just below each of the chicken's legs, and tuck each leg carefully into that hole. (You may also truss the chicken with butcher's twine if you know how, but this is much simpler.)
• Place the chicken in a flame-proof roasting pan and roast for 30 to 40 minutes, rotating the pan, moving it to different parts of the oven to account for hot spots, and basting the bird two or three times with a bulb-top baster or long-handled metal spoon. Reduce the oven's heat to 300˚F and continue to roast, basting frequently, for another 30 to 40 minutes or until the bird is done: When you poke the fat part of the thigh with the paring knife, the juices should run clear.
• Remove the bird from the oven, let it rest 15 minutes, then remove the breasts and legs from the carcass, reserving everything. Use a ladle to skim off and discard as much surface fat from the pan juices as possible. Place the roasting pan on the stovetop over high heat and stir in the wine and lemon juice, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to dislodge and dissolve the browned bits. Bring this mixture to a boil and cook until it is reduced by half. Stir in the stock with the wooden spoon, bring to a boil, and reduce again by half. Remove from the heat and strain this sauce through a sieve into a medium, heavy-bottom saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, a tablespoon at a time, until the sauce is thick and glossy. Fold in the parsley and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as necessary.
• Serve the chicken-half of the breast plus a drumstick or a thigh per person-with the sauce ladled over, and any remaining sauce in a sauceboat on the table.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH WILD MUSHROOMS & GARLIC BUTTER

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Mix together the garlic, butter, lemon zest and juice, and half the thyme. Season well.
• Gently separate the skin from the chicken breast by easing your fingers between the two, then push as much butter mixture under the skin as possible. Rub whatever is left into the creases between the thighs and the breast.
• Heat the oil in a large casserole dish that will fit the chicken. Add the onions, mushrooms and bay leaves, cook over a medium heat for a few mins.
• Rub the chicken with the remaining thyme leaves and some salt and pepper. Pour the wine and 20ml warm water into the cavity of the chicken and place in the dish. Cook in the oven for 1 hr 40 mins; it will brown and steam at the same time and the juices will rehydrate the mushrooms.
• Remove from the oven and drain any liquid from inside the chicken back into the dish. Place the chicken on a board to rest. Meanwhile, bring the juices to the boil, season to taste and stir in the chopped parsley. Serve the chicken with the mushrooms, onions and pan juices.

QUICK ROAST CHICKEN & HOMEMADE OVEN CHIPS WITH KIEV BUTTER

Steps:

• First, make the kiev butter. Beat the garlic, parsley and lemon juice into the butter along with some seasoning. Place the butter on a piece of cling film, roll into a log, then chill in the fridge until needed. Make the chicken salt by mixing all the ingredients together in a small bowl, then set aside. The butter and salt can be made up to two days ahead.
• For the chips, cut the potatoes into thick finger-sized wedges and put in a pan of cold water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 5 mins until just cooked. Carefully drain, place on a tray and allow to cool.
• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. If you have one, sit the chicken on a trivet or wire rack set over a small roasting tin. If you don't have either, then just put your chicken in the roasting tin. Trim two slices of the chilled butter, gently lift the skin away from the breast of the chicken, and push the butter underneath on both sides. Season the chicken all over with a third of the flavoured salt.
• Put the chicken in the oven and roast for 20 mins, then remove and turn it over so that it is breast-side down. Return to the oven for a further 20 mins. Remove it from the oven and turn breast-side-up, then cook for a final 20 mins until crispy and golden.
• Meanwhile, put the oil in a baking tray and place in the bottom of the oven. Toss the cooled chips in a third of the salt, then carefully place in the hot oil, turning them until completely coated. Roast for 45 mins, turning occasionally.
• Remove the chicken from the oven and leave to rest for 5 mins. Cut the chicken into portions and place on a platter with slices of the butter melting over each portion. Serve with the chips and the remaining chicken salt.
• First, make the kiev butter. Beat the garlic, parsley and lemon juice into the butter along with some seasoning. Place the butter on a piece of cling film, roll into a log, then chill in the fridge until needed. Make the chicken salt by mixing all the ingredients together in a small bowl, then set aside. The butter and salt can be made up to two days ahead.
• For the chips, cut the potatoes into thick finger-sized wedges and put in a pan of cold water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 5 mins until just cooked. Carefully drain, place on a tray and allow to cool.
• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. If you have one, sit the chicken on a trivet or wire rack set over a small roasting tin. If you don't have either, then just put your chicken in the roasting tin. Trim two slices of the chilled butter, gently lift the skin away from the breast of the chicken, and push the butter underneath on both sides. Season the chicken all over with a third of the flavoured salt.
• Put the chicken in the oven and roast for 20 mins, then remove and turn it over so that it is breast-side down. Return to the oven for a further 20 mins. Remove it from the oven and turn breast-side-up, then cook for a final 20 mins until crispy and golden.
• Meanwhile, put the oil in a baking tray and place in the bottom of the oven. Toss the cooled chips in a third of the salt, then carefully place in the hot oil, turning them until completely coated. Roast for 45 mins, turning occasionally.
• Remove the chicken from the oven and leave to rest for 5 mins. Cut the chicken into portions and place on a platter with slices of the butter melting over each portion. Serve with the chips and the remaining chicken salt.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH RHUBARB BUTTER AND ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• Bring rhubarb, orange juice, honey, and ginger to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until rhubarb is soft but not falling apart, about 5 minutes. Drain over a small bowl. Reserve cooking liquid and rhubarb separately; let cool.
• Mix rhubarb and butter in a small bowl until smooth; season with salt and pepper. Set aside 1 tablespoon rhubarb butter for vegetables.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Place chicken, skin side up, on a rimmed baking sheet. Gently slide your fingers underneath skin to loosen and rub flesh all over with remaining rhubarb butter (try not to tear skin). Drizzle chicken with 1 tablespoon oil and some of the reserved rhubarb cooking liquid, scatter thyme over, and season with salt and pepper.
• Roast chicken until skin is browned and crisp and meat is cooked through (juices will run clear and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh should register 165°F), 40-50 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare grill for mediumhigh heat (or heat a grill pan over medium-high). Toss asparagus in a large bowl with remaining 1 tablespoon oil; season with salt and pepper. Grill asparagus and lemons (cut side down), turning asparagus often, until stalks are just tender, 2-3 minutes. Let lemon halves cool.
• Toss asparagus with reserved rhubarb butter. Serve chicken and asparagus with any pan juices drizzled over with grilled lemons for squeezing over.

ONE-PAN ROAST BUTTER CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Put the lemon halves in the chicken cavity. Stir all the ingredients for the curry butter together and season with salt and lots of pepper. Use your fingers to stuff the curry butter under the skin and smear it all over the meat.
• Place the chicken in a flameproof roasting tin, on a trivet, if you have one. Roast for 20 mins, then turn the oven down to 180C/160C/gas 4. Continue to roast for 40 mins, or until the chicken is cooked through. Remove the chicken from the tin and leave to rest while you make the sauce.
• If your roasting tin is flameproof, place it directly on the heat, if not, scrape all the buttery goodness from the tin into a saucepan and set over a low heat to make the sauce. Gently sweat the garlic and ginger in the curry butter. Scatter in the cardamom, cloves and fennel seeds and cook for 2 mins, then add the ground spices and cook for another 2 mins. Pour in the passata and gently reduce by half before adding the cream and reducing by a third. To finish the sauce, pour in the resting juices, season and add a squeeze of the roasted lemon from the cavity of the chicken. Carve the chicken and serve with the sauce.

ROAST CHICKEN IN A BUTTER CRUST

Steps:

• Make the crust: In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine flour, salt and sugar and mix briefly to combine. Add butter pieces and mix until butter breaks into smaller pieces and is evenly mixed with flour. Add 1/2 cup cold water and mix until dough begins to come together in one lump.
• Turn off mixer, remove paddle and attach dough hook. Knead at low speed until a smooth mass forms, about 2 minutes. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead by hand: push dough away from you with the heel of your hand, fold it over toward you, give it a quarter-turn, then repeat until dough feels elastic and moist. If dough feels sticky, knead in flour as you go, 1 tablespoon at a time. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 30 minutes or up to 2 days.
• Make the chicken: Cut off wing tips and discard (or save for stock). Pat bird dry and sprinkle inside and out with salt and pepper. Refrigerate, loosely covered, while you make the stuffing (or longer, up to 2 days).
• Heat oil or butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add vegetables, herbs and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring, at a gentle sizzle until vegetables are tender, about 8 minutes. Reduce heat as necessary to prevent browning. Set aside to cool.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees.
• Stuff chicken with the vegetables. To secure stuffing and keep the bird in a compact shape, cross legs at the "ankles" and tie together with twine.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out into a rough circle that's large enough to enclose the chicken. Place stuffed chicken, breast side down, in the center. Wrap dough up and around the bird, encompassing it completely. Overlap the edges and pinch them closed to make a seam. Turn wrapped bird over and place seam side down on a baking sheet.
• Whisk egg white with 1 tablespoon water and brush all over dough. Sprinkle very lightly with salt. Bake until crust is golden brown and meat is cooked through (165 degrees; it is O.K. to puncture the crust with the thermometer), 1 to 1 1/2 hours depending on size.
• Let cool 1 to 2 hours before serving. The meat will remain hot and the juices will be absorbed into the meat and the stuffing.
• To serve, use your hands to break off the top of the crust and place on the baking sheet. The breasts will be on top: peel off skin, discard, and carve the breast meat off the bone. Continue carving, without turning bird over. The juices will soak into the crust and pool on the baking sheet: this is exactly what you want. Cut the twine and use a spoon to remove stuffing and divide on serving plates. Add chicken and pieces of crust to each plate. Tilt pan and spoon up juices to pour over meat and vegetables. Serve immediately.

SLOW COOKER MISO-BUTTER ROAST CHICKEN AND POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat an empty 5- to 8-quart slow cooker on HIGH for 10 to 15 minutes while you're getting everything ready. Combine the butter and 1/2 cup of the miso in a medium bowl and mash them together to make a uniform mixture. Put the potatoes into the bottom of the slow cooker and add a small dollop of the miso butter; stir to coat. Season the potatoes lightly with salt. Pat the chicken dry and rub the remaining butter all over the chicken, and especially under the skin of the breasts directly on the breast meat: To do this, gently loosen the skin and separate it from the breast meat by sliding your fingers under the skin, then tuck some butter in there. Set the chicken on top of the potatoes.
• Cover the slow cooker and reduce the heat to LOW. Cook for 5 to 6 hours (the larger the slow cooker, the shorter the cook time), until the chicken breast registers 160°F internal temperature on an instant-read or probe thermometer when you check the top of the breast. Also check that the thickest part of the thigh and the juice in the cavity register at least 165°F. Cooking the chicken much beyond these temperatures will result in dry meat, so this is a case when pulling out the thermometer really makes a difference.
• Turn off and uncover the slow cooker and let the chicken rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the broiler on high and position a rack 6 inches from the heat source (if that's how your broiler works). Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. In a small bowl mix together the honey and remaining 1/4 cup miso.
• Using tongs slung through the cavity of the chicken and your hands to support it, carefully transfer the chicken from the slow cooker to a cutting board, leaving the drippings behind. Remove the potatoes from the slow cooker with a slotted spoon and put them on the prepared baking sheet. Carve the chicken and put the pieces on the baking sheet skin side up. Drizzle the chicken all over with the miso-honey mixture, then broil the potatoes and chicken until the chicken skin is caramelized and crisp, dark golden brown, about 5 minutes. (Don't walk away; the skin will burn quickly because of the sugar in the honey.)
• Put the chicken pieces and potatoes on a serving platter (or leave them on the baking sheet and serve them straight from that) and drizzle a little juice from the slow cooker over the whole thing. Top with chives and serve with lemon wedges.

ROAST CHICKEN BREASTS WITH CHINESE BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Black Bean Sauce: Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Peel and cut shallot into ¼-inch slices. Add to a medium saucepan with 1 tablespoon oil. Sauté over low heat until shallot softens and becomes translucent, 2-3 minutes. Add white and Shaoxing wines, bring to a simmer, and reduce the liquids by about half, 6-8 minutes. Add fermented black beans, garlic cloves, and chicken stock. Bring to a simmer and reduce the liquid by about half, 20-25 minutes. Meanwhile, start the Potato-Parsnip Mash.
• Potato-Parsnip Mash: Peel and dice the potatoes and parsnip into uniform 1-inch cubes. Place in a large saucepan. Add water and a few pinches of salt, then bring to a boil over high heat, 6-8 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, gently heat the heavy cream over low heat, then set aside.
• Chicken: Heat an ovenproof nonstick skillet over high heat. Season chicken breasts liberally with salt and pepper on both sides. Add 1 tablespoon oil to the pan and swirl around to coat the bottom. When oil is smoking, add breasts skin side down; cook until skin is golden brown, 2-3 minutes. Then flip the breasts so they're skin side up and place skillet in the oven until chicken cooks through, 8-10 minutes.
• Check potatoes and parsnips for doneness by removing one of each from the water with tongs; they should feel soft when gently squeezed. Drain well and place back into the pot; add the butter. Mash the potatoes and parsnips until they are coarsely crushed and coated with melted butter. Add about ¾ of the warmed cream and continue mashing until creamy; add more cream as needed. Season to taste with salt. Set aside.
• When the Black Bean Sauce has reduced to about half, strain it into a bowl. Reserve the garlic cloves and discard the rest of the solids. Place the garlic cloves and the sauce into a blender and purée, starting on low speed; if the sauce is very hot, remove the cap or stopper on top of the blender so steam can escape. Turn the speed to high until completely puréed, about 1 minute. Pour back into the saucepan and keep warm over low heat. (Makes 1 quart. Black Bean Sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated for 2-3 days, or frozen for up to 3 months.)
• After chicken has been in the oven for 8-10 minutes, check for doneness. It should feel firm to the touch or register 160 F at its center. (Note: Safe internal temperature for cooked chicken is 165 F; however, chicken will continue cooking once it's out of the oven.) Remove chicken to a plate to rest. Chinese Butter Sauce: Place the skillet with drippings over low heat and add about 1 cup of Black Bean Sauce. Turn the heat to high and use a wooden spoon to scrape up the fond (the roasted bits stuck on the bottom of the pan). When the sauce has simmered and slightly reduced, taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Add 1 pat of butter; swirl the pan to melt and emulsify. Repeat with remaining 2 pats of butter; the sauce should be velvety smooth.
• Assembly: Place a large spoonful of Potato-Parsnip Mash on a plate. Nestle a chicken breast on top, and spoon plenty of Chinese Butter Sauce around the sides. (Avoid pouring sauce directly on the chicken skin, so it can remain crisp.) Finely slice the light green part of the scallion on a bias and scatter over chicken. Serve immediately.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH ROSEMARY-ORANGE BUTTER

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 400°F Mince 1 shallot; mix with butter, rosemary and peel in small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Pat chicken dry. Using fingers, loosen skin from chicken breasts, legs and thighs. Sprinkle chicken cavity with salt and pepper. Spread half of rosemary-orange butter under chicken skin. Tie chicken legs together to hold shape. Spread remaining butter over chicken. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper.
• Place a rack in large roasting pan. Add reserved chicken neck and heart to pan, then onion, carrots and celery. Chop 2 shallots; add to pan. Place chicken, breast side up, on rack in pan. Roast chicken until meat thermometer inserted into innermost part of thigh registers 180°F, stirring vegetables in pan occasionally, about 1 hour 40 minutes. Transfer chicken to platter. Tent with foil while making sauce (do not clean pan).
• Place same roasting pan over medium-high heat. Add wine to pan; simmer until most of wine evaporates, scraping up any browned bits, about 5 minutes. Add broth. Simmer until sauce is reduced to 1 1/2 cups, stirring often, about 6 minutes. Strain into 2-cup glass measuring cup; discard solids. Spoon fat from top of sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve chicken with pan sauce.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH ARTICHOKES AND GREMOLATA BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F. Mix butter, chopped parsley, lemon peel, and pressed garlic in small bowl to blend. Season butter mixture with salt and pepper.
• Place chicken on heavy large rimmed baking sheet; pat dry with paper towels. Gently slide hand under chicken breast skin to loosen from meat. Spread 2 tablespoons seasoned butter under skin and 1 tablespoon over chicken; sprinkle skin with salt and pepper. Transfer to oven; roast chicken 45 minutes.
• Arrange artichokes around chicken; baste with drippings. Continue roasting until thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 180°F, about 25 minutes longer. Transfer artichokes to edge of platter. Tilt chicken over baking sheet, allowing juices to empty onto sheet. Place chicken on platter. Brush 1 tablespoon seasoned butter over chicken. Pour pan juices into sauceboat; mix in remaining seasoned butter and lemon juice. Serve chicken and roasted artichokes with pan juices.

BUTTER ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place chicken in an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Combine the remaining ingredients in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and pour over chicken. , Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 1-1/2 hours or until juices run clear, basting occasionally.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH HERB BUTTER, ONIONS AND GARLIC

Steps:

• Mix butter, chopped herbs, fennel seeds and 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt in bowl; blend well.
• (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before continuing.) Position rack in bottom third of oven; preheat to 400.
• Sprinkle main cavity of chicken with salt and pepper; fill with herb sprigs.
• starting at neck end, slide fingers under skin of breast and upper part of legs, loosening skin.
• Spread 3 tablespoons herb butter under skin on breast and upper leg meat.
• Place chicken on rack in large roasting pan; tie legs together loosley to hold shape.
• Scatter onions around chicken.
• Brush chicken and onions with 2 tablespoons herb butter; sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Roast chicken 30 minutes.
• Remove pan from the oven.
• Scatter garlic cloves around chicken.
• Brush chicken, onions and garlic with 1 tablespoon herb butter.
• Roast chicken and vegtables 30 minutes.
• Reserve 1 tablespoon herb butter for sauce; brush remainder on chicken and vegtables.
• Continue to roast until chicken is golden and thermometer into thickest part of thigh registers 180 F, about 30 minutes longer.
• Insert wooden spoon into main cavity; tilt chicken so that juices drain into pan.
• Transfer chicken to platter surround with the onions and garlic.
• Tent with foil.
• Set roasting pan over medium-high heat.
• Add broth and wine; bring to simmer, scraping up browned bits.
• Pour pan juices into large glass measuring cup.
• Spoon off fat; discard fat.
• Pour juices into medium saucepan.
• Stir to smooth paste.
• Bring pan juices to simmer; whisk in paste.
• Simmer sauce until slightly thickened, whisking occasionally about 4 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve chicken with sauce.