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Butter Roasted Chicken – The Only Roast Chicken Recipe You’ll Ever Need Again.

This butter roasted chicken will change the way you roast chickens forever! This is the best roast chicken recipe out there, your family will love it! 
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I have been looking all my cooking life for THE Roast Chicken Recipe, and I’m pretty sure I’ve found it. This recipe is for all of you busy moms on the go , a roast chicken that your family will love is mere minutes of prep away and is so simple! Stop right now and print, bookmark, pin or otherwise save this recipe. Write it on a recipe card. I don’t care how, but you NEED to save this recipe from now on. I honestly don’t think I will ever make roast chicken (or turkey, for that matter, just you wait until Thanksgiving!) any other way. This post has been updated from 2015.

 Chopped Roast Chicken in a white square plate on a dining table

Roasted Chicken Using Butter and Herbs

This is basically a gorgeous, large, and in charge roast chicken that was cooked using ONE CUP of butter. I’ll pass the smelling salts out now to those of you who just fainted. That’s right folks…one whole cup of butter. Let that sink in for a moment because as soon as it really hits you, you are going to realize that there is just no way this recipe isn’t anything other than freaking fantastic. What truly makes this fantastic is that it is so incredibly easy to make, you guys. The ingredients are so simple for the chicken and then when you add in my laziness, I came up with the perfect roast chicken meal.

raw chicken covered in herb butter before roasting on top of vegetables in roaster

It was Easter and we were barely home from our three months in Arizona. I was very happy to be home in my kitchen, don’t get me wrong, but we had only three weeks to clean all of our laundry, organize care of the house, the animals, and the garden, and clean the entire yard. Cooking was actually a priority, believe it or not, because I knew that I wouldn’t be touching a stove for a couple of months. I had to get some recipes done that I could post while I was here in Europe. However, I’m not one for complex recipes that take all day, I’m not sure if you’ve noticed that. I wanted to fiddle around with some devilled eggs instead of a chicken all day long.

roast chicken on a platter on dinner table

Tips & Tricks For Roast Chicken

The trick to this roasted chicken recipe is that it combines almost all of the tricks of the roasting chicken trade into one recipe.

  • Placing cut lemons inside for moisture helps immensely. This is a moist, juicy chicken!
  • The butter and herbs are essential for taste and crispy skin. Not only that, the butter and herbs trickle down into the vegetables, making everything flavored and buttery.
  • Another secret that chefs use is oil to make sure that the skin crisps up. You don’t need a lot of it, but it helps!
  • Having the vegetables roasted at the same time for optimal taste and ease is a lifesaver for busy moms on the go!
Close up of a whole roast chicken on a white plate

The chicken bakes up so perfectly delicious and crispy that I’ve found my go-to chicken recipe for a solid roast chicken. The herb butter melts into those vegetables and cooks right in, saturating them from the inside out with flavor. The chicken isn’t dry in the slightest with all the moisture used. It’s so amazing that I wish I was writing a chicken cookbook right now. In fact, if I write a savory cookbook next, this is going to be in it, without a doubt. It’s that darn good.

More Recipes for Cooking a Whole Chicken:

  1. Lemon Cilantro Roast Chicken
  2. Spatchcocked Baked Honey Mustard Chicken
  3. Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken
  4. Healthier BBQ Honey Sesame Chicken
  5. How to Make Rotisserie Chicken in Your Crockpot

Chicken recipes using chicken legs, thighs and breast pieces:

  1. Camp Cook’s Parmesan Chicken
  2. Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Thighs
  3. Oven Baked Fried Chicken
  4. Oven Baked Chicken Legs

Make sure to use a nice large chicken for the best taste, around 5-7 lbs is a great size (I picked mine up at Acme Meat Market here in Edmonton). I really hope that you guys give this one a whirl!

Love,

Karlynn

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Butter Roasted Chicken

This butter roasted chicken will change the way you roast chickens forever! This is the best roast chicken recipe out there, your family will love it! 
5 from 12 votes
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
2 hours
Course
Dinner
Cuisine
North American
Servings
6 servings
Calories
402
Author
Karlynn Johnston

Ingredients
 

  • one large chicken around 5-6 lbs
  • 1 cup of salted butter room temp
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons poultry seasoning
  • one lemon
  • one small onion for inside the chicken cavity
  • 3 large potatoes washed and sliced into large chunks
  • 4 large carrots washed and sliced into large chunks
  • 1 large white onion peeled and quartered – cook with the vegetables

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 °F.
  • Pat dry the chicken.
  • Combine the butter with the oil and poultry seasoning until completely mixed. Rub onto the outside of the entire chicken completely, until coated.
  • Slice the lemon in half and place inside the cavity of the chicken, along with any leftover butter mixture.
  • Place into a large roaster on a baking rack. Add your desired vegetables around the edges.
  • Roast chicken uncovered in the preheated oven until browned and the juices run clear, about 2 hours. At the one hour point, give the vegetables a stir to coat with the melted butter mix and juices.
  • The chicken is done when an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh, not touching bone, reads at least 175 ° F. ( for meat texture, 175 is best)
  • Remove from oven and tent with foil, letting it rest for 10 minutes minimum.
  • Remove, carve and serve along with the vegetables.

Recipe Notes

Nutritional values will vary according to brands of ingredients uses, values are only an estimate.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 5-6, Calories: 402kcal, Carbohydrates: 19g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 35g, Saturated Fat: 20g, Cholesterol: 81mg, Sodium: 310mg, Potassium: 615mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 7780IU, Vitamin C: 16.1mg, Calcium: 73mg, Iron: 4.1mg

All calories and info are based on a third party calculator and are only an estimate. Actual nutritional info will vary with brands used, your measuring methods, portion sizes and more.

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This crispy skinned, flavourful chicken is going to be your family's favourite new roast chicken recipe! Family dinner together is fast and easy! #chicken #recipe #roast #butter #dinner #supper

Karlynn Johnston

I’m a busy mom of two, wife & cookbook author who loves creating fast, fresh meals for my little family on the Canadian prairies. Karlynn Facts: I'm allergic to broccoli. I've never met a cocktail that I didn't like. I would rather burn down my house than clean it. Most of all, I love helping YOU get dinner ready because there's nothing more important than connecting with our loved ones around the dinner table!

Learn more about me

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Reader Interactions

Comments & Recipe Tips Share a tip or comment!

  1. Ryan says

    Hi Karlynn, I’m curious if you’ve cooked this gorgeous looking roast chicken in your air fryer? If you have, would you please post your instructions? Having so many different cooking gadgets I no longer can find my oven. This one I’d like to make in my 8 quart Ninja SmartLid.
    In case no one has told you today, I have never had a failed recipe of yours and I appreciate your recipes.

  2. Elizabeth says

    I was going to make this tomorrow but don’t have a roasting rack. Can I use my Dutch oven, or just a cookie sheet?

  3. Sarah says

    Hi there! I might be blind but I can’t seem to find the part about the herbs being mixed with the butter? What herbs do we use and how much?

    • Donna says

      I think she might mean the poultry seasoning for herbs.

  4. Erin says

    Turned out great! I added some additional chicken and orange miso broth to the roaster during the 2nd hour and it really took the meal to the next level.5 stars

  5. Pat Gora says

    I have been using the butter method on my turkeys for the last 60 years. Never had a failure. The turkey always comes out beautifully browned and delicious! I have shared my recipe with all my friends and they all agree..

  6. Jeanne says

    Can I cook this in a bag since I don’t have a roaster????? Need an answer soon!!

    • Karlynn Johnston says

      Absolutely just follow the cooking times on the cooking bag!

  7. Sherry says

    How do we make gravy from the juices? Anyone done it?

  8. Camrey Robert says

    looking like a different recipe. This weekend this will be my main. Last weekend i ordered a full grilled chicken from the Tandoori EH and they really amazed me with the taste and the quality.

  9. Paul says

    Forgot the fresh herbs; Rosemary, Sage, Garlic, Oregano. Couple springs of fresh Rosemary on the potatoes and life is wonderful.

    The Gravy suggestion above was spot on.

    • Matthew Brian Ferrell says

      Men roast chickens too. You only mentioned busy mom’s, expand your perception of who may be cooking. Looking forward to trying out.

      • Amanda says

        I wouldn’t take offense, Matthew. It’s likely that she was just thinking from her perspective as a busy Mom and not purposefully excluding all of the wonderful male cooks out there!

        That said, I’m a squeamish gal that freaking hates rubbing butter on raw chicken. My husband found this recipe and made it knowing I would NEVER smear a cup of butter on anything. In spite of the heart attack I nearly had when he told me about the butter, it was delicious!5 stars

      • Chris says

        Matthew, I’m sure you can relate to what she means: a busy day taking care of a family needs an easy, solid win when it’s time to feed everyone. You know how it is!

  10. Virginia says

    Can’t wait to try this today. You say not to cover chicken does that mean I leave the cover off the roaster?

  11. Claire Louise Gillibrand-Mellor says

    Gorgeous recipe i used it on Chicken Breasts too and they were delicious, i used fresh oranges in the cavity and served with a citrus dress and nacho crumb salad.5 stars

  12. Rick Griffith says

    On a scale of 1-10, I give it a 4. Not bad, but nothing to write home about, needs more flavor, Just another roast chicken recipe.
    Nice hype to get attention though- “only roast chicken recipe you’ll ever need”. I’ll keep lookin’

  13. Gina Casteel says

    Going to make this for dinner. Would it cook the same amount of time in my electric roaster?

  14. Agen Piala says

    This was the perfect roast chicken! Thanks for the great recipe, and the cup of butter somehow is perfect with all those vegetables. A keeper! 5 stars

    • Chris says

      Made this yesterday. Turned out just like the picture shows. I did use only 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning. Moist and tender, easy to put together. I’d post a picture but can’t find how to do it.5 stars

  15. Jayna says

    I just found your page….. SO happy and excited to try your recipes. Wishing you had a savory cookbook….

  16. lil says

    Karlynn
    This was superb I love roast chicken it is my favorite way roasting5 stars

  17. Abby says

    It asks for small and large onion are you doing something different with the small onion? I can’t wait to try this????

    • Karlynn Johnston says

      Yes! Chop up the large one and add to the veggies!

  18. Sanji33 says

    Making this in a few hours, have a roasting pan but I do not have a baking rack. Can I use something else?

  19. Nicolle Fizzard says

    Nailed it chica!!! Amazing. A defo repeat.

    5 stars

  20. Tanya Schauer Hein says

    Looks good. My Grama used to melt butter and use a syringe to inject it into the breast meat of turkeys or large chickens, as well as stuff some under the skin. Herbs and seasonings went on top. Phenomenal.

    5 stars

  21. Christie Nicholson says

    I always do my turkey like this. Add some of the butter mixture under the skin for even more delishousness 🙂

    5 stars

  22. Susan Fortune says

    Do you think using a small turkey would work as well

    • The Kitchen Magpie says

      That’s my job!! Now get cooking lol!

  23. Andrea Daniar says

    Ok. I literally saw your post this morning, and I just made it for dinner tonight!
    Delish! The roasted veggies are so flavourful. I even used the chicken drippings for a gravy- very decadent! I’m trying not to think about how much butter my family consumed this evening!

    5 stars

    • thekitchenmagpie says

      Oooh my, a butter gravy!!!!! YUM! I’m glad that you liked it, smart idea for the gravy. It’s a good, decadent weekend meal, for sure!

      5 stars

  24. TracyBane says

    Making this now, and i see you list one small onion, then a few lines later one large onion.  I wonder if the small one goes in the cavity with the lemon?  I am planning to throw in a sprig of rosemary, since it is growing on my back porch!  But let me know about that small onion!

    • thekitchenmagpie says



      _u*********@li******.com











      " profile_url="https://www.livefyre.com/profile/98050868/" ns="true">TracyBane Yes, it does go in the cavity!

  25. Ida Pence Waterous says

    That sounds SOOO good, cuz come on, BUTTER.

  26. div says

    we dont get poultry seasoning here…anyway to make it?

    • TracyBane says

      @div Combine sage, thyme, marjoram, rosemary, nutmeg, and black pepper

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