Best Whole Lemon Roasted Chicken Recipes

WHOLE LEMON ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Thinly slice one lemon and set aside; then peel and juice the other lemon. In a small sauce pot, over low heat, add the butter and when melted, add in the lemon peel and 2 sprigs of thyme and cook until fragrant, about 1 to 2 minute Add in the lemon juice and lightly season with salt.
• Remove neck and giblets from chicken. Rinse the chicken under cold water then pat dry with paper towel. Using a syringe, inject half the butter into several spots of the chicken then brush the remaining butter over the chicken. Generously season inside and out with salt and pepper. Evenly sprinkle the garlic powder over the top then place the remaining thyme sprigs and lemon slices on top of the chicken in a single layer.
• Carefully place the chicken breast side up on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Place the chicken in the oven and roast uncovered for 20 min per pound or until juices run clear and a kitchen meat thermometer inserted in the inner thigh registers at least 180°F. (About 2 hours).
• Remove the chicken from the oven and let stand a few min before carving.

PAN ROASTED CHICKEN WITH LEMON AND WHOLE GRAIN MUSTARD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450*F.
• Prepare the chicken by gently easing your fingertips between the skin and the meat at the neck opening, to loosen the skin all over the breast, taking care not to tear the skin.
• Insert the parsley sprig, basil or rosemary under the skin.
• Season the chicken generously on both sides with salt and pepper.
• Heat an oven-proof skillet large enough to hold the chicken over high heat.
• Add the olive oil and swirl it in the skillet.
• As soon as you begin to see slight wisps of smoke, carefully place the chicken skin side down in the skillet.
• Sear the chicken, undisturbed, while reducing the heat little by little to medium, until it's skin has turned golden brown and crisp, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Carefully turn the chicken skin side up.
• Put the skillet with the chicken into the preheated oven and cook until the chicken is deep golden brown and the juices run clear when the thickest part of the thigh meat is pierced with a thin skewer, 10 to 15 minutes more, depending on it's size.
• When the chicken is done, remove it from the skillet with tongs and transfer it to a cutting board.
• Pour off all but a thin glaze of fat from the skillet.
• Return the skillet to high heat, add the chicken stock and the lemon juice, stirring and scraping with a wooden spoon to deglaze the pan.
• Boil the liquid down until it has reduced by half it's volume, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Turn down the heat and add the mustard, stirring briskly with a wire whisk.
• Add the butter a piece at a time to make a creamy sauce, making sure each piece has been incorporated completely before adding the next.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper and stir in half of the parsley or basil.
• To serve, spoon the sauce into the centers of two to four heated plates.
• With a large sharp knife, cut the chicken into two halves or four equal pieces.
• Place the chicken on the plates, sprinkle with the remaining parsley or basil and serve.

WHOLE ROASTED ITALIAN LEMON-HERB CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a small bowl combine the Italian seasoning with seasoned salt, black pepper, mustard powder and garlic powder.
• Mix 2 tablespoons olive oil with 2 tablespoons melted butter and the juice of 2 whole lemons (you may save the lemon skins and add to the cavity of the chicken if desired or discard).
• Wash the chicken thoroughly under cold water then pat dry.
• Place the chicken onto a rack that is fitted into a greased baking pan.
• Rub about 1 tablespoon or a little more of olive oil over the dry chicken.
• Sprinkle the inside cavity of the chicken with about 1 teaspoon seasoning mix.
• Place the lemon halves and onion inside the cavity (along with the lemon skins if desired).
• Tie the legs together with cotton butcher's string.
• Rub the outside of the chicken with the remaining spice mix (at this point you may cover the chicken with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours).
• Drizzle the olive oil/lemon juice mixture over the top of the chicken.
• Bake uncovered in a preheated 350 degree F oven to about 2 hours or until cooked thoroughly, basting several times with the pan juices.

OVEN ROASTED WHOLE LEMON-PEPPER CHICKEN AND VEGGIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Thoroughly wash chicken in cold water, especially cavity, pat dry.
• Using kitchen shears, remove backbone and ribs to "butterfly" chicken.
• Gently separate, but do not remove, skin over chicken breast, legs and thighs.
• Wash and cut potatoes (skin on), carrots, and onion into coarse cubes.
• Spray a 13 by 9 inch baking dish with non-stick spray.
• Spread vegetables in bottom of dish, drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil, sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoons garlic salt and 1/2 teaspoons coarse ground black pepper.
• Place chicken on top of vegetables.
• Combine 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1 teaspoons lemon pepper, and 1/2 teaspoons garlic salt with a whisk.
• Gently lift chicken skin and drizzle olive oil and lemon juice mixture under the skin.
• Pour any remaining oil mixture over skin.
• Tent dish with aluminum foil. Place in preheated oven for 40 minutes, remove foil, and roast for 30-45 minutes longer, until chicken juices run clear.

SKILLET-ROASTED WHOLE CHICKEN WITH LEMON AND POTATOES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425°F.
• Cut potatoes into halves, or into quarters if larger; place cut side down in 10-inch cast iron skillet. Sprinkle potatoes with dash salt. Layer about 5 lemon slices over top.
• Pat chicken dry with paper towels; remove any giblets. Stuff cavity of chicken with any remaining lemon slices. In small bowl, stir together sage, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, the pepper and olive oil. Rub sage-garlic mixture beneath breast skin of chicken and all over outside of chicken skin. Place chicken on bed of potatoes and lemon.
• Roast about 1 hour 30 minutes or until instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh reads 165°F. Let chicken rest about 15 minutes before carving.

PAN-ROASTED CHICKEN WITH LEMON AND WHOLE-GRAIN MUSTARD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Meanwhile, prepare the chicken. From the neck opening, gently ease your fingertips between the skin and the meat to loosen the skin all over the breast, taking care not to tear the skin. Insert the parsley sprig, basil leaves, or rosemary sprig under the skin. Season the chicken generously on all sides with salt and pepper. Heat an ovenproof skillet large enough to hold the chicken over high heat. Add the olive oil and swirl it in the skillet. As soon as you begin to see slight wisps of smoke, carefully place the chicken skin side down in the skillet. Sear the chicken, undisturbed, while reducing the heat little by little to medium, until its skin has turned golden brown and crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. With tongs, carefully turn the chicken skin side up. Put the skillet with the chicken into the preheated oven and cook until the chicken is deep golden brown and the juices run clear when the thickest part of the thigh meat is pierced with a thin skewer, 10 to 15 minutes more depending on its size. When the chicken is done, remove it from the skillet with tongs and transfer it to a cutting board. Pour off all but a thin glaze of fat from the skillet. Return the skillet to high heat, add the chicken stock and the lemon juice, stir and scrape with a wooden spoon to deglaze the pan deposits, and boil the liquid until it has reduced by half its volume, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn down the heat, add the mustard, and, stirring briskly with a wire whisk, add the remaining butter a piece at a time, to make a creamy sauce. Make sure each piece has been incorporated completely before adding the next. Season the sauce to taste with salt and pepper and stir in half of the parsley or basil. To serve, spoon the sauce into the centers of two to four heated serving plates. With a large, sharp knife, cut the chicken into two halves or four equal pieces. Place the chicken on the plates, sprinkle with the remaining parsley or basil, and serve.

ROASTED WHOLE CHICKEN WITH LEMON VEGGIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees with oven rack at lowest level.
• Remove giblets from chicken and discard. Rinse chicken inside and out. Pat dry with paper towels. Place chicken in large roasting pan, 12″ x 18″.
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, rosemary, oregano, garlic powder and black pepper. Set aside.
• Rinse baby carrots. Wash celery and cut into 2 inch chunks. Wash yellow potatoes and slice in half lengthwise (No need to peel! Love those yellow spuds!) Clean onion and cut into 1″ chunks. Place veggies in lemon marinade and toss to coat.
• Arrange veggies around the chicken. Baste chicken with remaining marinade.
• Bake at 375 for 90 minutes, turning veggies halfway through. Test chicken with meat thermometer at thickest part. Temperature should be 180 degrees for well done.
• Serve with tossed green salad.
• Serves 4.

ROASTED WHOLE CHICKEN WITH LEMON VEGGIES

Steps:

• 1. Heat oven to 375 degrees with oven rack at lowest level. Remove giblets from chicken and discard. Rinse chicken inside and out. Pat dry with paper towels. Place chicken in large roasting pan, 12″ x 18″. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, rosemary, oregano, garlic powder and black pepper. Set aside. Rinse baby carrots. Wash celery and cut into 2 inch chunks. Wash yellow potatoes and slice in half lengthwise (No need to peel! Love those yellow spuds!) Clean onion and cut into 1″ chunks. Place veggies in lemon marinade and toss to coat. Arrange veggies around the chicken. Baste chicken with remaining marinade. Bake at 375 for 90 minutes, turning veggies halfway through. Test chicken with meat thermometer at thickest part. Temperature should be 180 degrees for well done. Serve with tossed green salad. Serves 4
• 2. http://www.cleanfreshcuisine.com/?p=5200