Follow these simple steps to create the most succulent and flavorful Garlic Butter Roasted Chicken you’ve ever tasted.

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken

Begin by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). While the oven is heating, prepare your chicken. Remove the chicken from its packaging and pat it thoroughly dry with paper towels, both inside and out. This is a crucial step for achieving crispy skin. Moisture is the enemy of crispiness, so ensure the chicken is completely dry. If you have time, you can even leave the chicken uncovered in the refrigerator for an hour or two to further dry out the skin. This will result in even crispier skin once roasted.

Step 2: Make the Garlic Butter

Now, let’s create the star of the show – the garlic butter. In a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl, melt the unsalted butter. If using a saucepan, melt the butter over low heat to prevent it from browning. Alternatively, microwave the butter in short intervals until just melted. Be careful not to overheat it. Once melted, add the minced garlic, chopped fresh parsley, and chopped fresh thyme to the melted butter. Stir well to combine all the ingredients. The aroma at this point is already intoxicating!

Step 3: Zest and Juice the Lemon

Next, zest the lemon using a microplane or fine grater, being careful to only zest the yellow part of the peel and avoid the bitter white pith. Add the lemon zest to the garlic butter mixture. Then, juice the lemon and add the lemon juice to the garlic butter as well. The lemon zest and juice will add brightness and acidity to the rich butter sauce. Stir everything together to ensure the lemon zest and juice are evenly distributed.

Step 4: Season the Chicken

Season the chicken generously inside and out with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Don’t be shy with the seasoning! Proper seasoning is key to bringing out the flavors of the chicken and garlic butter. Make sure to season the cavity of the chicken as well. You can even lift the skin gently and season underneath for even more flavor penetration.

Step 5: Apply the Garlic Butter

Now comes the fun part – applying the garlic butter! Using your hands or a pastry brush, generously brush the garlic butter mixture all over the chicken, ensuring every nook and cranny is coated. Lift the skin of the chicken gently and spread some of the garlic butter underneath the skin as well, especially over the breast meat. This will keep the breast meat moist and flavorful during roasting. If you have any leftover garlic butter, set it aside for basting later.

Step 6: Prepare Vegetables (Optional)

If you’re adding vegetables, now is the time to prepare them. Cut potatoes and carrots into roughly equal-sized chunks. Quarter or halve onions, depending on their size. Toss the vegetables with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper. You can also add a bit of the garlic butter to the vegetables for extra flavor if desired. Spread the vegetables in the bottom of a roasting pan.

Step 7: Roast the Chicken

Place the chicken on top of the vegetables (if using) in the roasting pan. If you are not using vegetables, simply place the chicken directly in the roasting pan. Roast in the preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the thigh, without touching the bone. The roasting time will depend on the size of your chicken and your oven.

Step 8: Baste and Continue Roasting

About halfway through the roasting time, around 45 minutes in, baste the chicken with the reserved garlic butter (if you have any left) or with the pan juices. Basting helps to keep the chicken moist and adds extra flavor to the skin. Continue roasting until the chicken is cooked through and the skin is golden brown and crispy. If the skin is browning too quickly, you can loosely tent the chicken with foil for the remaining roasting time.

Step 9: Rest the Chicken

Once the chicken is cooked through, remove it from the oven and let it rest for at least 10-15 minutes before carving. Resting is crucial as it allows the juices to redistribute throughout the chicken, resulting in a more tender and flavorful bird. Cover the chicken loosely with foil while it rests to keep it warm.

Step 10: Carve and Serve

After resting, carve the chicken and serve immediately. Spoon any pan juices and roasted vegetables over the chicken when serving. Enjoy your incredibly delicious and flavorful Garlic Butter Roasted Chicken!