This classic roast chicken turns out perfect every single time. Stuffed with lots of fresh lemon, rosemary, thyme, sage and seasoned with just salt and pepper. It’s classic flavors at it’s best.
There is nothing more classic than roasted chicken. I used to be scared of roasting whole chickens but I like to think I have now become a master. Plus, it’s beyond easy and makes a nice big meal.
{Also try my Meyer Lemon Mayonnaise Roasted Chicken and my Blood Orange Thyme Roasted Chicken}
You can stuff your bird with almost anything but I prefer lemon, fresh rosemary, fresh thyme, fresh sage and lots of salt and pepper. The sprinkling of kosher salt on the skin gives you a nice burst of saltiness that the final chicken will need after cooking.
The best part about roasting a whole chicken is the skin. So get that stuff nice and crispy! Then devour it all. Don’t be a pansy and throw it out. As my grandfather would say “eat the skin…it will put hair on your chest.”
How can you argue with logic like that?

Classic Roast Chicken
This classic roast chicken turns out perfect every single time. Stuffed with lots of fresh lemon, rosemary, thyme, sage and seasoned with just kosher salt and pepper. It's classic flavors at it's best.
Yield: 5 pound roast chicken
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Ingredients:
- 5 pound whole chicken
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- 3 lemons, halved and quartered
- Fresh sage
- Fresh rosemary
- Fresh thyme
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
Source: Nutmeg Nanny
Directions:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees
Remove giblets from chicken and rinse chicken cavity with cold water. Pat chicken dry and add to Dutch oven.
Liberally sprinkle the inside of the chicken cavity with kosher salt and pepper. Stuff with the majority of the lemon and fresh herbs.
Sprinkle the outside of the bird liberally with kosher salt and pepper and add remaining lemon and herbs around the chicken. Pour white wine into the bottom of the pan and add to oven.
Cook for 25 minutes at 450 degrees and lower temperature to 375 degrees. Cook for approximately an hour until a meat thermometer register 165 degrees when tested into the middle of the thigh meat.
Now the most important step. Let the chicken rest for 15 minutes before you carve. Then enjoy!
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Meyer Lemon Mayonnaise Roasted Chicken | Nutmeg Nanny
Friday 4th of April 2014
[…] Roasted chicken is one of my favorite meals to make. It’s super simple and not nearly as intimidating as it might seem. Normally I keep my chicken pretty basic but this time around I decided to change things up a bit. I know it might sound weird to use mayonnaise to slather up your chicken but I swear it turn out delicious. And no, it doesn’t taste like a giant chicken covered in mayonnaise once it’s done cooking. I’m not really sure how it works out but it just does. And it’s amazing. […]
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JulieD
Thursday 1st of November 2012
Love this!! Lemon in roast chicken or turkey is a must for me!
Toni
Friday 5th of October 2012
I've made this several times using your recipe and it turns out wonderful every time! Making it again right now and wanted to say thank you for sharing!