Juicy Greek Roast Chicken with Garlic and Herb Butter

This simple, juicy roast chicken, with a crispy skin to boot, embodies all the familiar flavours of Greece. Infused with the classic combination of oregano and fresh, zesty lemon, it brings the essence of the sunny Mediterranean right to your table.

📝 Ingredients

• 1 large, whole chicken (circa 1.9kg/4.5lb)
• 1 large onion, quartered (no need to peel, just remove the dry outermost layer of skin)
• 1 whole garlic head, halved horizontally
• 1 lemon, halved
• small handful of thyme or rosemary sprigs
• large pinch of coarse sea salt (or to taste)
• freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
• 110 grams ( 1 x US stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 4 teaspoons garlic paste (or chopped, fresh garlic)
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped (or rosemary, or their dried counterparts)
• 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Take the chicken out of the fridge approximately 30 minutes before you begin to allow it to come up to room temperature.
2. 2Make a note of the weight of the chicken. You will need this to calculate the cooking time.
3. 3To make the compound butter for the stuffing, add the softened butter, garlic paste (or chopped garlic), dried oregano, chopped thyme, coarse sea salt and black pepper to a bowl.
4. 4Using a fork, squash and mix all the ingredients together until thoroughly combined. Set aside.
5. 5In a large roasting dish, arrange the quartered onions and halved garlic heads to create a 'bed' for the chicken. See note 1
6. 6Preheat the oven to 220C/430F.
7. 7Remove the chicken from its packaging and place it on a layer of kitchen paper. Gently pat the entire bird bone dry with another piece of paper towel.This step is crucial to ensure a crispy skin.
8. 8To make it easier to put the butter under the skin, loosen the skin from the bird first. Use a big spoon or spatula to gently slide between the flesh and the skin, separating it as you work your way around the top half of its body. Just be careful not to tear the skin in the process.
9. 9Do the same for the legs. You should be able to find an entry point near the loose skin around the cavity entrance of the chicken.See note 2
10. 10Set aside approximately a quarter of the compound butter. This reserved portion will be used for the outside of the chicken.
11. 11From the remaining butter, pinch off about two teaspoons worth of compound butter with your fingers.
12. 12Gently push the dollop of butter underneath the skin, moving it up towards the top of the chicken breasts. Follow with more dollops of butter until you've placed a few across the largest surface area of the chicken.
13. 13Press down on the outside surface of the skin to gently massage the butter underneath, flattening and spreading it out slightly.
14. 14Follow the same process for the chicken legs, pushing the butter in and then gently massaging it from the outside to spread it out more.
15. 15Briefly microwave the butter you set aside earlier until it becomes a bit runnier. Evenly pour it over the outside of the chicken.
16. 16Use your hands to spread the butter around the chicken's body, thighs and legs (Ignore the underside of the chicken).
17. 17Slice the lemon in half and stuff one half inside the chicken's cavity.
18. 18Follow the lemon with a few sprigs of thyme or rosemary, pushing them up into the cavity.
19. 19Optional: Truss the chicken's legs together with a piece of butcher's string. See note 3
20. 20Take a generous pinch of coarse sea salt and sprinkle it across the chicken. We've found that a three-finger-and-thumb pinch is just the right amount.
21. 21Transfer the chicken onto its onion and garlic trivet. Feel free to add more fresh herbs below the chicken if you wish.
22. 22With the remaining half of the lemon, squeeze a small amount of juice across the chicken, followed by freshly ground black pepper.See note 4
23. 23Cook the chicken for 10 minutes at 220C/430F then turn the heat down to 180C/356F. Then, cook it for 20 minutes per every pound (450g) of chicken. Check that the juices from the chicken are running clear before removing it from the oven. See note 5
24. 24Allow the chicken to rest for 15 minutes before slicing. Do not cover the chicken at this point because any steam trapped inside foil will soften the crispy skin.