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The main dish, Chic bistro

Herb roasted chicken with baby potatoes

This herb roasted chicken with baby potatoes feeds 6 people and takes 25 minutes of active work, with the herb butter prepared and the chicken stuffed the same morning. It rates very easy and costs about €4.20 per person, and the key to success is letting the chicken rest ten minutes before carving so the juices stay in the meat.

A beautiful golden roasted chicken, stuffed with herbs and lemon, with melt in your mouth baby potatoes.

Herb roasted chicken with baby potatoes
For
6 people
Work
25 min
Total time
1 h 45
Prep
Prepared the same day
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€4.20
Calories per person
720 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach

Two free range chickens stuffed with lemon and thyme, with an herb butter slid under the skin that flavors the meat all the way through as it roasts. The skin turns golden and crisp, while the baby potatoes cook in the same pan and soak up the chicken juices, turning soft inside with slightly crisp skins.

This is the kind of bistro style dish you can serve without stress on a Sunday with family or for a slightly dressier dinner with friends. It works in any season, gets carved right at the table in front of your guests, and leaves you free to enjoy drinks with everyone while it roasts in the oven.

The schedule

What happens when, so you can be with your guests instead of in the kitchen.

  1. The day before Nothing to do
  2. The same day 2 steps
  3. Before the guests arrive 2 steps, 1 h 10
  4. When it's time to serve 1 step, 10 min

The same morning, make the herb butter and stuff the chickens, then keep them in the fridge. An hour before your guests arrive, take the chickens out to come to room temperature, arrange the oiled baby potatoes around them, and roast for about an hour ten. At serving time, let the chicken rest ten minutes under foil before carving at the table.

The ingredients

6 people

Butcher

  • Free range chickens 2

Fruits and vegetables

  • Lemons 2
  • Garlic 1
  • Thyme 6 sprigs
  • Parsley 1 bunch
  • Tarragon 1 bunch
  • Baby potatoes 1.5 kg

Dairy

  • Soft butter 100 g

Pantry

  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 2 tsp
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Allergens Lactose

The recipe, moment by moment

The same dayDuring the day, whenever you get a moment.

  1. Mix the soft butter with chopped parsley and tarragon, crushed garlic, salt and pepper.

    Add a little lemon zest to the butter, it tastes very fresh.

  2. Slide the herb butter under the skin of the chickens, stuff the cavities with cut lemon and thyme, and tie the legs.

    Gently lift the skin away with your fingers, being careful not to tear it.

Before the guests arriveThe last hour, right before the doorbell rings.

  1. Take the chickens out an hour before roasting to bring them to room temperature, and arrange the oiled baby potatoes around them in a roasting pan.

    Leave the skin on the potatoes, it turns crisp in the oven.

  2. Roast at 200 degrees for about an hour ten, basting with the juices, until the juices run clear when you pierce the thigh. 1 h 10

    Pierce the thigh, the juices should run clear with no pink.

When it's time to serveThe final touches, right in front of your guests.

  1. Let the chickens rest ten minutes under foil, carve them and serve with the potatoes, spooned with the pan juices. 10 min

    Resting redistributes the juices through the meat, never skip it.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick two smaller free range chickens rather than one large industrial bird, the meat stays firmer and the skin separates more easily for the butter.
  • Baste the chickens with their own juices every twenty minutes of roasting, the skin browns evenly and doesn't dry out.
  • If the skin browns too fast, loosely cover with foil for the last fifteen minutes without stopping the cooking.

The variations

  • Swap the tarragon for rosemary if you prefer a woodsier flavor, it holds up well through the long roast.
  • For a quicker version, use bone in chicken thighs instead of whole birds, and roast for about 45 minutes instead of an hour ten.
  • For kids, just serve the white meat with the potatoes, skipping the herb heavy juices if they're picky eaters.

What to serve it with

  • A sharply dressed green salad
  • A seasonal vegetable gratin
  • A dry white wine or light red

Storage

The chicken keeps 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. It freezes well once carved into portions, up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven at 160 degrees to keep the skin crisp rather than using a microwave.

Questions about this recipe

Can butter be swapped for olive oil to avoid lactose?

Yes, replace the soft butter with the same amount of olive oil mixed with the herbs. The texture under the skin will be slightly less rich but the flavor stays just as good.

How do you know the chicken is done without a thermometer?

Pierce the thigh at its thickest point, the juices that run out should be clear with no pink at all. If the juices still look pink, roast in ten minute increments until they run clear.

Can you roast one large chicken instead of two smaller free range birds?

Yes, but plan for a longer roasting time, around an hour and a half for a chicken over two kilos. Always check the juices at the thigh before taking it out of the oven.

How do you plate the chicken so it looks great at the table?

Carve it in the kitchen right before serving and arrange the pieces on a large platter with the baby potatoes around it. Spoon the strained pan juices over everything for a glossy finish.

Can an herb roasted chicken with baby potatoes be made ahead?

Yes, during the day. The recipe needs 25 min of work in total, split up like this, the same day, 2 steps, before the guests arrive, 2 steps, when it's time to serve, 1 step.

How long does it take to make an herb roasted chicken with baby potatoes?

Allow 1 h 45 in total, including resting and cooking time, of which 25 min is actual work. The recipe is rated "very easy".

How many calories are in an herb roasted chicken with baby potatoes?

About 720 kcal per person, for a recipe meant for 6 people. The calories are calculated by Kiloach, your kilo coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does an herb roasted chicken with baby potatoes cost?

About €4.20 per person, that's €25.20 for 6 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains lactose. Remember to ask your guests about their allergies before putting your menu together.

To round out your menu

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