This easy and delicious Perfect Roast Chicken recipe from Barefoot Contessa is perfect for a quick, flavour-packed meal. Marinated in fresh lemon, thyme, and olive oil, this juicy chicken is grilled to perfection, offering a tender, smoky taste. It’s a simple, nutritious option that’s easily adaptable with ingredients you have on hand!
Ingredients Needed
- 180ml freshly squeezed lemon juice (4 lemons)
- 180ml good olive oil
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves (or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme)
- 900g boneless chicken breasts, halved and skin removed
How To Make Whole Perfect Roast Chicken
- Prepare the Marinade: Whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, and thyme in a bowl until well combined.
- Marinate the Chicken: Pour the marinade over the chicken breasts in a nonreactive bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight to allow the flavours to develop.
- Grill the Chicken: Heat a charcoal grill to a medium-high temperature. Grill the chicken breasts for about 10 minutes on each side, until they are cooked through and golden brown.
- Slice and Skewer: Once cooked, allow the chicken to cool slightly before slicing it diagonally into 1.5cm thick pieces. Skewer the slices onto wooden sticks for easy serving.
Recipe Tips
- Marinate for longer: The longer you marinate the chicken, the more flavour it will absorb. Overnight is best.
- Grill at the right temperature: Make sure your grill is hot enough to cook the chicken evenly and give it a nice sear.
- Don’t overcook the chicken: Chicken breasts cook quickly. Check at 10 minutes per side to avoid dryness.
- Use fresh thyme for better flavour: Fresh thyme gives a richer taste than dried thyme, so use it if you can.
- Let it rest before slicing: After grilling, let the chicken cool for a few minutes to keep it juicy.
How To Store & Reheat Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Store leftover whole perfect roast chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freeze: To freeze, wrap leftover whole perfect roast chicken tightly in plastic wrap or foil and place it in a freezer bag. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating. - Reheating: To reheat leftover whole perfect roast chicken, preheat the oven to 350°F and heat for 10-15 minutes, or microwave for 1-2 minutes on medium, or warm in a pan over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 200g)
- Calories: 349 kcal
- Total Fat: 21.6g
- Saturated Fat: 6.5g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
- Sodium: 100mg
- Potassium: 500mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 0g
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Sugars: 0g
- Protein: 35g
Try More Recipes:
Barefoot Contessa Whole Perfect Roast Chicken
Description
This easy and delicious Perfect Roast Chicken recipe from Barefoot Contessa is perfect for a quick, flavour-packed meal. Marinated in fresh lemon, thyme, and olive oil, this juicy chicken is grilled to perfection, offering a tender, smoky taste. It’s a simple, nutritious option that’s easily adaptable with ingredients you have on hand!
Ingredients
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: Whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, and thyme in a bowl until well combined.
- Marinate the Chicken: Pour the marinade over the chicken breasts in a nonreactive bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight to allow the flavours to develop.
- Grill the Chicken: Heat a charcoal grill to a medium-high temperature. Grill the chicken breasts for about 10 minutes on each side, until they are cooked through and golden brown.
- Slice and Skewer: Once cooked, allow the chicken to cool slightly before slicing it diagonally into 1.5cm thick pieces. Skewer the slices onto wooden sticks for easy serving.
Notes
- Marinate for longer: The longer you marinate the chicken, the more flavour it will absorb. Overnight is best.
- Grill at the right temperature: Make sure your grill is hot enough to cook the chicken evenly and give it a nice sear.
- Don’t overcook the chicken: Chicken breasts cook quickly. Check at 10 minutes per side to avoid dryness.
- Use fresh thyme for better flavour: Fresh thyme gives a richer taste than dried thyme, so use it if you can.
- Let it rest before slicing: After grilling, let the chicken cool for a few minutes to keep it juicy.
Barefoot Contessa Whole Perfect Roast Chicken