Rosemary Roasted Chicken (Overnight Citrus Marinade) with Roasted Potatoes
This rosemary roasted chicken recipe is absolutely one of the easiest ways to prepare the tastiest chicken and potatoes with a minimal of fuss!
Today, the UK continues to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee with a bank holiday. I celebrated with a rosemary roasted chicken!
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Roast dinners are part of the British culture and something they do really well. I love roasts, partly because they are so easy, yet delicious, so I’m sharing my favorite roast chicken recipe, however, it isn’t very British, I’m afraid, with lots of rosemary and citrus.
I hope you can see on the pictures how wonderfully juicy this chicken is, because if there’s one thing I cannot stand, is overcooked, dry chicken. It’s so moist and delicious, gravy is truly unnecessary. Rosemary roasted chicken is perfect for a meal that you want to prepare ahead of time which you can just throw in the oven afterwards.
Toss in some partially cooked potatoes in the roasting pan, and a green vegetable as a side, and you have a meal fit for a Queen! (sorry, couldn’t resist!)
Another way to roast potatoes.
Note: start this the day/evening before you want to serve it.
It’s so easy to prep, but if you only want to a few pieces of chicken for two, check out my similar air fryer chicken thighs recipe, or my oven roasted chicken drumsticks recipe.
And now for the main event: rosemary roasted chicken!
Rosemary Roasted Chicken
original recipe by Christina Conte serves 6 people with a 5 lb chicken
FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW
- one roasting chicken, preferably organic (size doesn’t matter, use the size you need)
- 2 or 3 tangerines
- 1 or 2 oranges
- 2 or 3 lemons
- 1 lime
- 1/2 grapefruit
- sprig of fresh rosemary
- 5 or 6 cloves or garlic
- about 3/4 cup (6 oz) white wine
- 2 tsp salt
- black pepper
Note: citrus can be any combination you prefer; for example add more lemon and skip the grapefruit.
Prepare the Chicken to Marinate
Wash the chicken, removing giblets, and any feathers, fat etc. Place in a large glass bowl and squeeze all the citrus juices on to the chicken.
Add the wine.
Pull the rosemary off the stem and scatter in and on the chicken, then sprinkle the salt inside and outside, also.
Slice the garlic and place it on top and inside the chicken, along with some freshly ground black pepper. This ensures the rosemary roasted chicken is flavored inside and out.
Cover with plastic wrap and let marinate overnight, at least 12 hours. I turn the chicken over once during this time.
When you’re ready to cook the birdie, place it in a roasting pan. I trussed (cut a hole in each side of the skin opposite each leg, and pulled the legs through, but it usually opens up while cooking; use string if you want to be sure to keep it tied up properly) the chicken, but it’s not necessary. (Do not add the marinade liquid to the pan.)
Roast the Marinated Chicken
Preheat the oven to 375º F (191ºC)
Prepare the Potatoes
Once the chicken is in the oven. Boil some potatoes in salted water until just partially cooked, drain the water and, with the lid on, shake the pot to “rough up” the potatoes. Add them to the roasting pan, next to the chicken. Taste a little of the potato to see if it needs additional salt, and if so, sprinkle some on.
Continue to roast until the chicken is done (about 2o minutes per lb.).
During the last few minutes of roasting, you can increase the oven temperature a little if you want more browning or crispiness. A thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the bird, between the breast, thigh and leg should read 165ºF or 74ºC when the chicken is ready. By now, it should be golden brown.
Let the chicken cool for about 10 minutes, covered loosely with a tent of aluminum foil, before slicing, to allow the juices to reabsorb into the meat.
Serve the Rosemary roasted Chicken
Juicy, juicy, juicy! I hope you try this rosemary roasted chicken recipe and enjoy it as much as my family and I do! Let me know if you try it in the comments below.
More chicken recipes here.
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I have to share this gorgeous citrus salad recipe with you from my pal, Cynthia, from What a Girl Eats.
Rosemary Roasted Chicken (Overnight Citrus Marinade) with Roasted Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1 roasting chicken preferably organic
- 2 tangerines or 3
- 1 oranges or 2
- 2 lemons medium
- ½ grapefruit
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- 6 cloves garlic fresh, not in a jar
- ¾ cup white wine dry
- 2 tsp salt
- ⅛ tsp black pepper freshly ground
- 6 medium potatoes organic, if possible
Instructions
- Wash the chicken, removing giblets, and any feathers, fat etc. Place in a large glass bowl and squeeze all the citrus juices on to the chicken. Add the wine.
- Pull the rosemary off the stem and scatter in and on the chicken, then sprinkle the salt inside and outside, also.
- Slice the garlic and place it on top and inside the chicken, along with some freshly ground black pepper. Cover with plastic wrap and let marinate overnight, at least 12 hours. I turn the chicken over once during this time.
- When you're ready to cook the birdie, place it in a roasting pan, I trussed (cut a hole in each side of the skin opposite each leg, and pulled the legs through, but it usually opens up while cooking; use string if you want to be sure to keep it tied up properly) the chicken, but it's not necessary (do not add the marinade.)
- Preheat the oven to 375º F (191ºC)
- Once the chicken is in the oven. Boil some potatoes in salted water until just partially cooked, drain the water and, with the lid on, shake the pot to "rough up" the potatoes. Add them to the roasting pan, next to the chicken. Taste a little of the potato to see if it needs additional salt, and if so, sprinkle some on. Continue to cook, until the chicken is done.
- You can increase the oven temp by a bit if you want more browning or crispiness, the last few minutes (thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the bird, between the breast, thigh and leg should read 165ºF or 74ºC.) The chicken should be golden brown.
- Let the chicken cool for about 10 minutes, covered loosely with a tent of aluminum foil, before slicing, to allow the juices to reabsorb into the meat.
Notes
- Citrus can be any combination or solely lemons, lemon/lime; lime mix and match any you like-I like this combination.
- Nutrition info is for a 3 lb chicken and about 6 medium potatoes.
Nutrition
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I made this wonderful chicken recipe tonight. it is absolutely the most moist chicken I’ve ever had!!
You are a gem, Sue! Thank you so much for your lovely comments and review; I so appreciate them! Glad you loved the roast chicken!
I do mine breast side down as gravity pulls the juices to towards the breast then flip near the end to brown the skin using a little higher temperature. works really well with turkey too. Martha Stewart approved lol she uses props to hold it steady could be potatoes etc.
I did this with a turkey once, but get nice results without flipping so I just don’t bother. Should do it with the chicken, though, as it’s much easier to turn than a huge turkey! THanks :)
Wondering if I could use chicken cut up in pieces in place of a whole chicken?
Of course, Nancy! I do this all the time.
Thank you. I can always “trust” your recipes. This will be our Christmas dinner with trifle for dessert.
I’m delighted, Nancy! Let me know how they turn out! Merry Christmas!
The chicken was a hit…great flavor, tender, juicy, and browned skin. So glad I saw it on your post. I appreciate your response to my question
Wonderful, Nancy! THank you so much!