Garlic Herb Butter Roasted Chicken (Gluten Free)

My husband looooves rotisserie chickens.  Whenever we are out being busy all day and get famished…without time to go home and make something healthy, but don’t want to completely blow a healthy streak…we will go to Wal*Mart, buy a whole rotisserie chicken, sit down at the Dunkin Donuts inside and have a little feast 😉  However, even still there are some mystery ingredients…the ones that are half a mile long and you just stare at them wondering “how the heck do I even pronounce that?!”  Some of you may be smarter than I, and know exactly what all those words mean in the ingredient list.  But for me I just stare at them and wonder “is that some sort of chemical?”  And if you have followed me for very long, you know how I feel about the whole “Natural Flavors” thing.  Grr.  Anyways.  All that to say…getting a rotisserie chickens instead of McDonald’s and Taco Bell is probably a better choice.  But I just took that better choice to a whole new level.

That’s right.

I just made a roasted chicken that my husband declared “better than a rotisserie chicken.”  I kinda think that’s a big deal, because of how much he loves his Wal*Mart chickens 😉  Tender and juicy, but with such great flavor and a little crisp from the roasted skin and herbs on top!  Is your tummy grumbling yet?  Mine is…it’s almost dinner time dang it!  I will stop the torture.  Let’s get down to business!

 

Here’s what you need:

• 1 Whole chicken, I believe mine was in the 6-7 lb range
• 2 Sprigs Rosemary
• 3 Sprigs Thyme
• 1 Stick Butter
• 1 1/2 Tbsp Minced Garlic (I used the stuff in a jar cause I had it on hand, but fresh would work too)
• 1 Lemon
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• Mrs. Dash Original (If you are gluten free and concerned about Mrs. Dash, read this blog to know where it’s a risk or not.  There is no gluten in the product.)

 

And here’s how you do it:

1. Look at the chicken and take not of the cooking time and temp on the package.  Preheat your oven to said temperature.
2. Unwrap your chicken, rinse, and make sure there are no surprises inside.
3. Strip the leaves off of your rosemary and thyme, and finely mince.
4. Put the butter in a small bowl with the garlic, and plop in the microwave for about 45 seconds, just until the butter is melted.
5. Remove garlic butter from the microwave and stir, then add in the herbs and stir again.  Alternately, you can keep out the herbs and add in later in cooking.  When you add them in the beginning, they get crisp and dark and not only infuse the bird with flavor but make a sort of delightful crunch, which is a nice texture for the meat.  However, if you don’t like the thought of dark, crunchy herbs you can save them out until later so they don’t get as cooked 🙂
6. Pour your garlic herb butter over and in the bird.  Pick it up and make sure some garlic butter gets rubbed in on every surface.  Now wash those hands!
7. Sprinkle all surfaces with salt, pepper, and Mrs. Dash.
8. Cut the lemon in half, squeeze the juice over your chicken, then shove those lemon halves up inside it!
9. Slide inside your preheated oven and cook for recommended amount of time.

Now you are ready to eat it!!  But here’s the exciting thing about this!!  I was surprised at how cheap whole chickens are (why has no one told me this?!), and….with this one bird…I fed three people with this as the main dish…then had enough to make avocado chicken salad for two people for lunch a couple days later (recipe coming soon!), and still had enough to add to a salad for another lunch!!  Whaaaaat?  Now that’s thrifty right there!!!

 

Here’s my picture steps :O)

 

Preheat oven to temperature indicated on package.  Strip the rosemary and thyme leaves from their stems.

 

 

Chop finely.

Put the butter and garlic in a bowl and melt in the microwave, then whisk in the herbs!

Pour mixture over and in the chicken.  Make sure there is some on all surfaces.  I gave mine a rub for good measure.  Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and Mrs. Dash.  Cut the lemon in half, squeeze the juice over the chicken, and shove the halves inside.  Plop in your preheated oven and roast for recommended amount of time.

Take it out and get ready to serve!  Look at how yummy that baby looks!!! Aaaaah yum!

 

Have your super strong husband cut it up (if you’re a weenie arm like me), and serve with a yummy veggie!

 

I love that color!  Ohhhh yeah baby!!  Sooooooooooo delicious!

 

I hope you enjoy this!!  What is your current favorite whole chicken recipe?