Herb Roasted Chicken Recipes

Including herbs in all your meals is a great idea, not only for the flavors they add to your food but also for the health benefits they provide. The herb chamomile helps settle an upset stomach and aids sleep. Many people also use it for local application to the skin. For centuries garlic has held a special place for the benefits it provides. It was fed to soldiers before they went into war, and used in popular fiction to repel vampires! In reality, garlic does have many great properties, from boosting the immune system to thinning the blood and lowering cholesterol.

The herbs parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme are even part of the ballad Scarborough Fair made famous by Simon and Garfunkel. Thyme helps the body fight disease and soothes a sore throat, in addition to its mild antiseptic properties. The herb rosemary has multiple health benefits, from improving blood circulation, assisting the liver in eliminating toxins from the body, reducing joint pain and headaches, and to easing cold symptoms. Sage is used to calms the nerves, also assists in digestion, and relieves congestion in the lungs. Though we all know this herb as a breath freshener, mint aids stomach and digestive problems.

These are two ways to prepare the classic herb roasted chicken.

Herb Roasted Chicken With Butter

Ingredients

• 4 tsp fresh rosemary leaves or 2 tsp fresh tarragon leaves or 2 tbsp snipped fresh dill or chervil, or to taste
• 4 chicken breast halves or 8 thighs or drumsticks, or any combination
• 1 lemon, cut into quarters
• 8 pats of butter, for a total of 2 or 3 tbsp
• Salt and pepper

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 500 F. Slide in a pat or two of butter and a portion of herbs under the chicken skin according to the size of the chicken pieces. Rub the skin with salt and pepper. In a large roasting pan, position the pieces of chicken, breast side up.

Keep checking the chicken while roasting, and after 15 minutes turn the pan from front to back to ensure that all the pieces get evenly cooked. The complete roasting time is about 30 minutes in all, and an indication that the chicken is done is when most of the pieces are nicely browned. You can ensure that the chicken does not get too dry by cutting a piece to check if the juices are running clear. If you find it drying up, take the pan out of the oven. Serve the herb roasted chicken hot, with lemon wedges.

Roast Chicken with Fresh Herbs

Ingredients

• 1 (4-lb) chicken
• 1 cup chicken broth or canned low-sodium broth
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 rib celery, chopped
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 medium carrot, chopped
• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh tarragon
• lemon
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
• tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh oregano
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh marjoram

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 400 F. Rinse the chicken inside and out with cold water and use kitchen towels to dry. Crush the cloves of garlic with a pinch of salt into a paste. In a small bowl, add the oil, tarragon, basil, thyme, marjoram, oregano, and pepper to the garlic paste. Loosen the chicken skin and rub the herb paste into the chicken, under the skin. Massage the remaining herb paste in the body cavity and place the lemon-half in the cavity.

Using a roasting pan large enough to accommodate the chicken, place the chicken on a rack in it, skin side up. Position the rack with the chicken in the center of the oven. Distribute the onion, carrot, and celery in the pan. Roast the chicken for 45 minutes, by which time it should have browned.

Take the tray out of the oven and remove the chicken from it. Pour the pan juices into a container and discard the vegetables. After about five minutes, if there is any fat floating on the surface of the juices, scoop it off. Heat the pan on high heat on the stove. When the pan is hot, pour the juices into it, followed by the broth. Constantly stir this gravy while bringing it to boil. Pour the gravy into a sauce boat and serve the carved herb roasted chicken along with it.

When you make herb roasted chicken, you can adapt it to your taste by including the herbs you enjoy more. Additionally, you could make a glaze sauce or a side serving of mashed potatoes and vegetables.