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Home » Main Courses » Chicken & Turkey Main Courses » Simple Honey-Lemon Roasted Chicken

Simple Honey-Lemon Roasted Chicken

Jul 17, 2018 · by Valentina · 31 Comments

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This Simple Honey-Lemon Roasted Chicken is a great go-to chicken recipe that's delicious any time of the year. It's a comfort food that's full of fresh and rich flavors.Roasted chicken thigh-leg on lemon slices with fresh thyme.

The other day a friend asked if my recipes are "involved."

"Often," I said. "I like to make a day of it." 

I know some of you are thinking, "Um . . . a day!?"

Truth be told, like most of us, I don't always have a lot of time, or I'm not in the mood for complex. As it turns out, I'm also human. 😉 

Small yellow bowl filled with lemon butter.

This recipe is somewhere in between.

The recipe itself is quite simple -- hence the title -- and so is the cooking process. However, you need to stick near the kitchen while you're cooking.

How is it made?

This chicken cooks for around an hour, but the active work time is only about 30 minutes and anyone who tries it will want the recipe. It's that good.

Do you see that butter up there? That's a compound butter made with lemon, thyme, honey and garlic. It takes just a few minutes to whip up and it's what makes this recipe amazing. The chicken is basted with this -- inside and out -- before it's roasted.

Oh, and it makes for a fantastic lemon-garlic bread, too.

Whole roasted chicken, resing on foil.

The Best Method to Roast a Whole Chicken

This applies to this Simple Honey-Lemon Roasted Chicken recipe, and any time you roast a chicken.

  1. Once the chicken has been basted (according to whatever recipe you're using), truss it, place it breast side up in a greased roasting pan with at least a couple inches of space around it.
  2. Place the pan in a 500°F oven, and roast until the surface of the chicken is golden brown, about 20 minutes.
  3. Remove the chicken from the oven and reduce the heat to 350°F.
  4. Very carefully, using tongs, placing one part inside the cavity and one gently on the top of the breast side, flip the chicken over so it's breast side down.
  5. Now, with the back side up, baste the chicken.
  6. Continue to roast until internal temperature is 155°F -- this should take about 40 minutes for an approximately 4-pound chicken.
  7. During the roasting process, every 15 minutes or so, baste the chicken.
  8. Once you remove the chicken from the oven, crumple up a few sheets of foil and place it under the chicken, beneath the legs. This will let all of the juices flow into the breasts while it rests. Let it rest this way for 15 minutes.
  9. The final internal temperature should be about 165°F, as the chicken will continue to cook for several minutes outside of the oven. It should be nicely browned, the juices should run clear and the legs should move easily when it's done.

A pices of shredded chicken on slemon slices with fresh thyme sprig.

With only 30 minutes of prep time, this roasted chicken is incredibly flavorful and succulent -- and it would make a beautiful holiday dish, to boot!

Enjoy every last bite of your Simple Honey-Lemon Roasted Chicken Recipe!

More of my favorite roasted chicken recipes:

  • Apple Bacon Roasted Chicken
  • Blackberry Thyme Roasted Chicken
one piece of golden brown chicken on layer of thinly sliced lemons

Simple Honey-Lemon Roasted Chicken

Valentina K. Wein
This Simple Honey-Lemon Roasted Chicken is a go-to recipe that's delicious any time of the year. It's a comfort food that's full of fresh and rich flavors.
5 from 5 votes
Print
Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr
Resting Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 45 minutes mins
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 456 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1½ teaspoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, finely chopped (or ½ teaspoon dry thyme)
  • ½ teaspoon garlic, minced
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 (approximately 4 pound) whole chicken

Instructions
 

  • Set oven and make butter. Preheat the oven to 500°F.
    In a small bowl, mix the softened butter with the lemon zest, lemon juice, honey, thyme and garlic. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Prep the chicken and baking dish. Remove the insides of the chicken, and pat dry with paper towels. Spread about 2 tablespoons of the butter mixture on the bottom of a small roasting pan that's at least a couple of inches larger than the chicken, on all sides.
  • Baste and truss. Place the chicken in the pan, on top of the butter, breast side up. Rub 2 more tablespoons of the butter mixture under the skin. (This should include the breasts and legs.) Work your way under as much of the skin as possible -- if you're very gentle, it won't tear.
    Now truss the chicken with butcher's twine. (Here's How to Truss a Chicken.) (It's also okay to just tie the ends of the legs together if trussing it becomes tricky.) Rub the remaining blackberry-thyme butter mixture on top -- all over the skin of the chicken.
  • Roast. Place the pan in the preheated 500°F oven and roast until the surface of the chicken is golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove the chicken from the oven and reduce the heat to 350 F degrees.
  • Flip. Very carefully, using tongs, placing one part inside the cavity and one gently on the top of the breast side, flip the chicken over so it's breast side down. Coat the back of the chicken with the remaining butter mixture and then return the chicken to the oven.
  • Continue to roast. Once the oven has cooled to 350°F, continue to roast the chicken until internal temperature is 155°F -- this should take about an hour, but focus only on the temperature and not the time. (For an accurate reading of the temperature, place the thermometer deep into the flesh, away from bones.) During the roasting process, every 15 or so, use a spoon to baste the chicken with the butter and juices from the bottom of the pan.
    The final internal temperature will be about 165°F, as the chicken will continue to cook for several minutes outside of the oven. It should be nicely browned, the juices should run clear and the legs should move easily when it's done. (If you think it's getting too brown before the chicken is cooked, lightly cover it with foil in the oven.)
  • Let the chicken rest. Once you remove the chicken from the oven, crumple up a few sheets of foil and place it under the chicken, beneath the legs. This will let all of the juices flow into the breasts while it rests for about 15 minutes.

NOTES

Unsure about what season to taste means? Here's an explanation.
Calorie count is only an estimate.

NUTRITION

Calories: 456kcal
Keywords chicken for family dinner, good weeknight meal
Have you tried this recipe?I'd love to see it on Instagram! Tag me at @cookingontheweekends or leave a comment & rating below.

Cooking On The Weekends is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. 


More Chicken & Turkey Main Courses

  • Italian yellow-edged bowl full with chicken and rice soup with carrot slices.
    Hearty Chicken Vegetable and Rice Soup
  • Chicken sandwich cut in half on wrinkled parchment paper.
    Grilled Chicken Sandwich from Greg's Grill
  • Sliced chicken roulade filled with sun-dried tomato, basil and cheese.
    Chicken Roulade
  • Shredded Fall-Apart Dutch-Oven Chicken in a small square casserole dish on a red-checked cloth.
    Fall-Apart Dutch Oven Chicken

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Gerry @ Foodness Gracious

    December 24, 2012 at 4:06 am

    Delicious looking skin on that bird 🙂 Great way to feed a family and still be super tasty!

    Reply
    • valentina

      December 24, 2012 at 6:07 pm

      Thanks, Gerry! Happy Holidays to you and yours! 🙂

      Reply
  2. sippitysup

    December 25, 2012 at 10:39 pm

    Merry Christmas to you and your bird! GREG

    Reply
  3. Blanca

    January 09, 2013 at 4:21 pm

    Made this last night. So simple yet so AMAZING. My picky 14 year old loved it. I had to force her to try it because she thought it was going to be sweet but she was impressed. Thank you so much. (She's a tough one to please)

    Reply
    • valentina

      January 09, 2013 at 4:55 pm

      Thank YOU, Blanca! Love that your daughter like it, too! 🙂

      Reply
  4. DinnerTimeTV

    May 06, 2013 at 9:43 pm

    Looks great, can't wait! I love anything to do with honey, and my wife and kids love lemon, so this looks like a "can't miss" recipe!

    Reply
  5. David @ Spiced

    July 18, 2018 at 5:07 am

    Oh man, that compound butter! It looks (and sounds) delicious. And this roasted chicken has perfectly golden skin. You've nailed it, Valentina! I hear ya on 'involved' recipes. Truthfully, I like to have a mix of options in my recipe bag. Sometimes I want something silly easy and other times I don't mind trying my hand at something more involved. I guess it depends on my mood. But I do know that I will always be in the mood for a roasted chicken that looks this tasty! 🙂

    Reply
    • valentina

      July 19, 2018 at 7:34 am

      Thanks, David! Enjoy (on a day you're in the mood for the mix). 😉

      Reply
  6. David

    July 18, 2018 at 7:58 am

    This is a great method, but you know I’ll be replacing the garlic with shallots and I might just add some lavender! 😉

    Reply
    • valentina

      July 19, 2018 at 7:34 am

      But of course, my friend. 🙂 Adding lavender sound divine -- I love it with lemon particularly.

      Reply
  7. John / Kitchen Riffs

    July 18, 2018 at 8:54 am

    I often slip some compound butter under the skin of a chicken I'm roasting, too. Adds so much flavor, doesn't it? Good job with this -- thanks.

    Reply
    • valentina

      July 19, 2018 at 7:35 am

      Thanks, John. Yes, I think the butter should go anywhere possible. 🙂

      Reply
  8. Tisha

    July 18, 2018 at 9:27 pm

    5 stars
    So Simple yet so gorgeous! Love the Honey lemon!

    Reply
    • valentina

      July 19, 2018 at 7:36 am

      Thank you, Tisha. 🙂

      Reply
  9. Natalie

    July 18, 2018 at 11:12 pm

    5 stars
    Looks so delicious! I love roasted chicken! It's a great healthy idea for dinner or lunch!

    Reply
    • valentina

      July 19, 2018 at 7:36 am

      Thanks, Natalie. Or breakfast!? 😉

      Reply
  10. Savita

    July 18, 2018 at 11:17 pm

    5 stars
    Love savoury chicken recipes such as this. So much flavor and color is just gorgeous. Yumm!

    Reply
    • valentina

      July 19, 2018 at 7:37 am

      Thank you! Hope you give it a go. 🙂

      Reply
  11. Brian Jones

    July 18, 2018 at 11:18 pm

    5 stars
    What a lovely looking glaze on the chicken, superb flavours too! Love it!

    Reply
    • valentina

      July 19, 2018 at 7:37 am

      Thanks, Brian. Enjoy!

      Reply
  12. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry

    July 19, 2018 at 12:03 am

    Honey and lemon are two flavours that just work so well together, I love the sound of them on this chicken. Definitely need to try this!

    Reply
    • valentina

      July 19, 2018 at 7:38 am

      Thanks! Hope you do! 🙂

      Reply
  13. Christina | Christina's Cucina

    July 19, 2018 at 10:54 pm

    5 stars
    This is such a simple recipe, but oh, so tasty! I know because I make one that is a bit similar, and you just can't beat simple, honest to goodness ingredients!

    Your photos make me want to have this chicken right now and it's almost 11pm, Valentina! Thanks for the inspiration! Need to make this soon!

    Reply
    • valentina

      July 20, 2018 at 5:45 am

      Here's what I love, Christina: "honest to goodness ingredients!" Love! Thank you!

      Reply
  14. Healthy Kitchen 101

    July 23, 2018 at 12:24 am

    This is sort of classic roasted chicken, lemon and honey tastes for the chicken is the best!
    Yummy 😋
    - Natalie Ellis

    Reply
    • valentina

      July 24, 2018 at 8:10 pm

      Thank you, Natalie! 🙂

      Reply
  15. Nancy

    August 12, 2018 at 6:02 pm

    Do you think this would work in an air fryer? I've done a whole chicken in mine before but just used spices/salt/pepper and a quick hit with cooking spray.

    Reply
    • valentina

      August 13, 2018 at 10:22 pm

      Hi Nancy, I'm not sure about this. I have an air fryer, but have never used it for bone-in chicken. If you've done a whole chicken in one before, it sounds like you have more experience than me. I'd give it a go. Please let us know how it goes. 🙂

      Reply
  16. Betty

    June 12, 2019 at 2:48 pm

    Can this be adapted to chicken pieces instead of a whole chicken? How much time would it take?
    I haven't tried roasting pieces at a higher temp before.
    Thank you!

    Reply
    • valentina

      June 12, 2019 at 3:02 pm

      Hi Betty! Okay, if you wanted to use boneless chicken breasts, follow this recipe, only use the lemon-honey butter in place of the one listed and not salsa. The cooking time will be much less (about 10 minutes). If you still wanted to do bone-in, skin-on, the cooking time will be closer to 30 minutes. Hope this helps!

      Reply
    • valentina

      June 12, 2019 at 3:02 pm

      Hi Betty! Okay, if you wanted to use boneless chicken breasts, follow this recipe, only use the lemon-honey butter in place of the one listed and not salsa. The cooking time will be much less (about 10 minutes). If you still wanted to do bone-in, skin-on, the cooking time will be closer to 30 minutes. Hope this helps! 🙂 ~Valentina

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Valentina, certified chef, owner, recipe developer and photographer at Cooking on the Weekends. I'm also a mom of two boys and a Los Angeleno. I use seasonal whole foods to create unique and comforting recipes for casual entertaining.

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