Butter Roasted Chicken
This tender, juicy Butter Roasted Chicken is seasoned with fresh herbs and lemon, then basted with butter for a crispy golden brown skin. It’s easy to make with only four ingredients!
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I’ve roasted many chickens in my time. Many.
First, because it’s one of the most delicious meals you can serve your family. And you can change the seasonings to suit your family’s tastes.
And second, because it’s just so easy. Season the chicken, pop it in the oven, and come back later to serve dinner.
I had really never thought that there might be a better method for roasting a chicken until came across this butter basted chicken. Since I found this method, I now have a new favorite way to roast a chicken. Of course, I made a few tweaks and adapted the recipe to suit myself, but that’s what cooking is all about, isn’t it?
🛒 Ingredient Notes
- Whole Fresh Chicken – a smaller chicken is best for this recipe. Look for one that is around 4 pounds. I used to find 3-pound chickens, which I really like, but those are rare these days. Chickens today are bred to have so much breast meat that it makes the poor little things top-heavy and the smallest ones you can find are usually about 4 pounds. Although I have seen some labeled “organic” that are somewhat smaller.
- Fresh Herbs – my favorite combination is tarragon thyme, rosemary and sage.
- Lemon – One whole, fresh lemon.
- Butter, salt, and pepper.
You’ll find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the recipe at the bottom of this post.
🔪 How to Cook Butter Roasted Chicken
Prepare the Chicken for Roasting
Whatever size bird you choose, just take it out of its package, remove all the “gunk” from the inside (you know, the giblets and the stuff that makes you go ewwww) and dry the skin really well with a paper towel. Then salt and pepper the chicken liberally, both inside and outside.
Now take your fresh herbs and stick them…well, you know where they go…
And push those lemon wedges in there, too. At this point, you can truss your chicken if you want to. I like to do it so that it cooks more evenly, but you don’t have to!
Add the Butter
Now place the chicken on its left leg in a roasting pan or a large cast iron skillet. Put the butter all in one piece on top of the chicken.
🥄 How to Baste a Chicken
In my opinion, this is the ideal way to baste a chicken. It produces a golden brown chicken with crispy, buttery skin.
Step 1. Place the pan in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven, baste the skin all over with the accumulated pan juices and turn the chicken over on its right leg.
Step 2. Put it back in the oven and cook for 15 minutes. Remove the pan, baste the chicken and turn it breast side down.
Step 3. Put the pan back in the oven and cook for 15 minutes more. Remove the pan, baste the chicken and turn it breast side up.
Step 4. Cook for an additional 30 minutes or until the juices run clear at the thigh. Be sure to baste several more times during the final cooking. It makes the skin a beautiful golden brown and so crispy.
👉 PRO TIP: My best tip for roasting chicken is to use an instant read meat thermometer to check for doneness. Check the temperature in the thickest part of the thigh being careful not to allow the thermometer tip to touch a bone when reading. Chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165F.
Rest Before Serving
Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for at least 10 minutes before carving.
❓ Questions About Butter Roasted Chicken
If you don’t have the same herbs I used in the recipe, you can certainly substitute something else. Dill and basil are both very good. You can also use a different type of citrus. Try orange for a nice change.
Yes, of course. You can roast the chicken earlier in the day (or the day before) if you plan to serve it for dinner and gently reheat it covered with aluminum foil in a low oven (175-200 degrees) for about 20 minutes. Keep in mind that the skin won’t be as crispy when reheated.
To store any leftover chicken, wrap it tightly in plastic or foil. Like most leftover foods, roasted chicken can be kept for about three days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning increases. If you won’t use your leftovers within three days, freeze them instead of refrigerating.
🧾 More Popular Chicken Recipes
More Questions? I’m happy to help!
If you have more questions about the recipe, or if you’ve made it and would like to leave a comment, scroll down to leave your thoughts, questions, and/or rating!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
📖 Recipe
Butter Roasted Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken about 4 pounds
- Salt and pepper
- Fresh herbs – my favorite combination is tarragon thyme, rosemary and sage
- 1 lemon quartered
- ¼ cup butter (1/2 stick)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Remove the giblets from the chicken and dry it the skin well.
- Thoroughly salt and pepper the chicken both inside and out.
- Place the herbs and lemon wedges inside and truss if you wish.
- Place the chicken on its side in a roasting pan or a large cast iron skillet. Sit the butter on top.
- Place in the oven and cook for 15 minutes.
- Remove from oven, baste the skin all over and turn the chicken on its other side.
- Cook for 15 more minutes, remove from oven, baste the skin all over and turn the chicken breast side down.
- Cook for 15 minutes, remove from oven, baste the skin all over and turn the chicken on its back (breast side up).
- Return to the oven and cook an additional 30 minutes or until juices at the thigh run clear and the internal temperature reaches 165F. Be sure to baste several more times during the final 30 minutes of cooking.
- Remove from the oven and allow to rest for at least 10 minutes before carving.
Notes
- Use an instant read meat thermometer to check for doneness. Check the temperature in the thickest part of the thigh being careful not to allow the thermometer tip to touch a bone when reading. Chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165F.
- To store any leftover chicken, wrap it tightly in plastic or foil. Like most leftover foods, roasted chicken can be kept for about three days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning increases. If you won’t use your leftovers within three days, freeze them instead of refrigerating.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information is calculated by software based on the ingredients in each recipe. It is an estimate only and is provided for informational purposes. You should consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
— This post was originally published on August 16, 2011. It has been updated with new photos and additional information.
This was very good, but do you have any suggestions as to how to keep the chicken upright in the baking pan (I used a steamer basket, LOL!)? Also, mine didn’t come out as browned as your photo, so again I’d appreciate any suggestions. But my picky eater son complimented me on this!
Great to know you enjoyed the recipe, Elizabeth! As far as keeping the chicken upright, trussing will definitely help with that. It keeps the bird in a more compact shape and makes it easier to handle as well.
I made this for my family and I will be making this again! It was succulent, delicious and I ended up making the best chicken salad I have ever made with all the leftovers. Thank you for sharing this simple way of roasting a chicken because its been one of those dishes that has always scared me. No more fear because of your recipe!
Thanks Lana.
I’m so glad it turned out well for you!
You know, there are few things better than a well roasted, nicely seasoned chicken. Meets everyone’s expectations, and then some. Serve with some nice bread and a salad, and call it a feast!
Miss P
Yes, a nice roasted chicken is as good for a family meal as it is for company. Especially when it has a half a stick of butter basted all over it :-)
Hi! Just made this recipe for a friends bday tonight and it was an absolute hit! The bird was juicy and extremely flavorful! I actually really enjoyed the periodic basting…every spoonful of melted butter just heightened the anticipation to dig in to this succulent bird! Paired it with panzanella salad for a slightly lighter meal. Thank you!
I’m so glad that you enjoyed it, Carol! It’s one of my favorite ways to roast a whole chicken.
Made this tonight and have to say it was the best roast chicken I’ve ever made and possibly the best I’ve ever eaten!
So glad you enjoyed it!
This post just made my mouth water. Roasted chicken is one of the few things I miss in my vegetarian life. I’d make this one in a second. Gorgeous, Lana.
I have discovered grandma’s cast iron and now use it for everything. Saw this recipe and had to try it as a deviation to my usual roasted “beer can chicken”. However, I didn’t plan for turning a very hot chicken and tore the skin in a couple places using grabbers, etc. Any suggestions for a very amateur chef? After all, I was able to google “how to truss a chicken” and got that down in two seconds flat!
This looks like the perfect Sunday Supper!
Thanks for sharing via SU – definitely going to give this a try!
I think this must be the perfect roasted chicken, I must try it. I love that you cook it in a cast iron skillet, not to mention the butter!
It really is a fantastic method for roasting chicken if you don’t mind the basting every 15 minutes. It gives you plenty of time to get everything else read for dinner while it cooks.
Does that look good or what Lana? What a wonderful way to roast a chicken, and relatively fuss free! Love the way you wrote the post… really enjoyed it!
Thanks so much, Deeba! Haven’t seen you around much lately. Hope all’s well.
What a classic – everyone should have this recipe. Very nice!
Thanks, Ewa.
I recently been sauteing chicken breast in butter…so tender and juicy and flavorful. Like everyone here…..LOVE butter!! :)
Butter makes everything better!
Yum…. but then I would have to make gravy too.
You’ll have plenty of buttery pan juices to make your gravy, Lisa!
Lana,
I love roasted chicken, this look great!
I’m sure someone has already asked you but… Do you think I could get away with using a heavy-oven-safe skillet and get similar results??? I ask because I do not own a cast iron skillet, sad I know :(
-Laura
Sure! You could use any oven safe skillet or roasting pan. Whatever you have.
The title alone is so comforting. I love bathing my chicken in a bath of butter, mmm.
Oh my goodness, this looks heavenly. Butter-roasted chicken? My mouth is watering…
You had me at butter ;)
Love it!
well gosh darn it, here we go again, I just finalized my latest post on roasting a chicken in a skillet too, and stuffing with lemons, a little different take though… anyway, I think I will rearrange my lineup… this one sounds great Lana, like the butter addition, something I did not do…
Well, dang it, Drick. I didn’t mean to steal your thunder! You go right on and post your roast chicken!
My goodness that looks wonderful.
Lisa~~
Cook Lisa Cook
That is a gorgeous bird! I’ve used a variation of this recipe for awhile – I love the idea of putting the butter on top – no smooshing it aaround with your fingers!
It’s really the easiest method I’ve ever seen. And that butter just melts and runs all over the skin anyway so why not just stick it up on top!
I’m with Shelby. This looks great
Wish this was waiting for when I got home tonight. Looks delicious.
Wish I could bring a plate over to you, Shelby.
Three pound chicken are the perfect size, like you I miss them and buy them up when I see them. GREG
Me, too, Greg. You do have to look for them, but they’re still out there. Usually with the “organic” meats :-)
Love this method! Everything is better with a stick of butter on top!
Yes, Leslie, I can think of very few things that aren’t made better with a stick of butter :-)