Lemon Thyme Roast Chicken. Whether unbrined or with the option of brining in lemon garlic, spices & thyme this is a super juicy and flavourful roast chicken recipe that makes the perfect Sunday dinner.\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n![\"Lemon](\"https:\/\/www.rockrecipes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/04\/DSC_0063-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLemon Thyme Roast Chicken<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\nUPDATE April 16, 2016 \u2013 today, I\u2019m updating this post with slight modifications to my brine recipe and a couple of extra tips.<\/span><\/p>\nFirst of all, this recipe will be plenty flavourful even if you skip the bringing process. Lots of people have written to me over the past few years to say just that. If you don\u2019t have time to brine, don\u2019t let that deter you from trying this recipe, it\u2019s still one of the best roast chickens you\u2019ll ever try. I would say if you are not brining, you\u2019ll probably get best results with a fresh and not a frozen chicken.<\/span><\/p>\nI don\u2019t use as much salt as many do in their brines but I\u2019ve modified the amount to provide a bit more seasoning to the meat. Also the amount of brine in this recipe is really sufficient for 2 chickens or a turkey. If making only 1 chicken you can easily make only half of the brine. <\/span><\/p>\nTop tips for a perfect chicken:<\/span><\/h3>\nAnother tip is to use a large enough container, don\u2019t crowd your chickens or turkey into too small a container and decide not to use all the brine you\u2019ve made. I have a large food grade plastic bringing bucket but lately I\u2019ve been using a camping cooler (even a styrofoam disposable one will do). I use a bag of ice still in the bag, added to the cooler to keep everything nice and cold for 24 hours.<\/span><\/p>\nOne thing I didn\u2019t mentioning the original post was that when I carve the chicken or turkey onto a platter, I cut the hot lemon in half and squeeze the juice over the pieces before serving for an extra punch of bright lemon flavour.<\/span><\/p>\nOn this occasion we also served the chicken with one of my kids favourites, Smash Roasted Potatoes<\/a><\/strong> <\/span>which are pictured in the background with some simple steamed broccoli as side dishes for this satisfying comfort food meal.<\/span><\/p>\nFrom April 21 2009:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\nLemon Thyme Roast Chicken<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\nThis simple brined roast chicken was Sunday supper for us this week. It is definitely the most flavourful roast chicken I have ever eaten. Our whole family loves this roast chicken and if leftovers are planned I have to make two of them for sure.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nBoiling the lemon for the cavity is a great technique that I saw on one of Jamie Oliver\u2019s shows a while back, because it gives the lemon a head start in infusing the meat with flavour; it works really, really well.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Lemon](\"https:\/\/www.rockrecipes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/DSC_0015-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLemon Thyme Roast Chicken<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\nLike this Lemon Thyme Roast Chicken recipe?<\/span><\/h3>\nYou\u2019ll find hundreds of other great ideas in our Quick & Easy Dinners Category<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>and even more in our Chicken Recipes Category<\/strong><\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIt\u2019s easy to keep up with the latest home style cooking & baking ideas from Rock Recipes. Be sure to follow Rock Recipes Facebook Page<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/b>and follow us on Instagram<\/b><\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b>Plus you\u2019ll see daily recipe suggestions from decadent desserts to quick delicious weekday meals too.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nYou can also sign up for our FREE newsletter<\/strong><\/a><\/span> to know immediately when we add new recipes are added. You\u2019ll get weekly suggestions for great family friendly meals and desserts too!<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Lemon](\"https:\/\/www.rockrecipes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/04\/Lemon-Thyme-Roast-Chicken-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLemon Thyme Roast Chicken<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\nThis recipe is also one of our TOP 50 Best Lemon Recipes! Be sure to check out the whole collection of sweet and savoury recipes HERE<\/a><\/strong>:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n![\"Best](\"https:\/\/www.rockrecipes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Best-Lemon-Recipes-image-collage-with-title-text-for-Pinterest.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nBest Lemon Recipes<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\tPrep Time: <\/em>
\n\t\t\t20 minutes<\/span> <\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\tCook Time: <\/em>
\n\t\t\t1 hour<\/span> 30 minutes<\/span> <\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\tTotal Time: <\/em>
\n\t\t\t1 hour<\/span> 50 minutes<\/span> <\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nLemon Thyme Roast Chicken – brined in lemon, spices & thyme. A super juicy and flavourful roast chicken recipe that makes the perfect Sunday dinner.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\nIngredients<\/h3>\n\n- \n\t\t\t\t\t\t3 tbsp peppercorns\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
- \n\t\t\t\t\t\t4 tbsp dry thyme\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
- \n\t\t\t\t\t\t4 tbsp anise seeds or 4 whole star anise\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
- \n\t\t\t\t\t\t1 tsp whole cloves\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
- \n\t\t\t\t\t\t1 cup boiling water\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
- \n\t\t\t\t\t\t6 litres water\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
- \n\t\t\t\t\t\tJuice of 1 whole lemon + peel\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
- \n\t\t\t\t\t\t4 cloves chopped garlic\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
- \n\t\t\t\t\t\t1 chopped onion\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
- \n\t\t\t\t\t\tFew sprigs fresh thyme if you have them\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
- \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00be cup brown sugar (Here you can experiment with flavours by using equal amounts of other sugars like honey, maple, molasses or brown sugar.)\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
- \n\t\t\t\t\t\t1 cup kosher salt\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
- \n\t\t\t\t\t\tA 3 to 4 pound chicken (you can brine 2 chickens at once; see notes)\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
- \n\t\t\t\t\t\t2 tbsp olive oil\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
- \n\t\t\t\t\t\tSeason the skin with some chopped fresh thyme, dried can be substituted\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
- \n\t\t\t\t\t\t2 tbsp olive oil\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
- \n\t\t\t\t\t\t1 small whole lemon\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
- \n\t\t\t\t\t\tAbout 6 sprigs fresh thyme\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
- \n\t\t\t\t\t\t4 cloves peeled garlic\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n\n
Instructions<\/h3>\n\n- In a small bowl combine the peppercorns, thyme, anise, cloves and boiling water.<\/li>\n
- Set aside to steep for a few minutes while you prepare the rest of the brine.<\/li>\n
- In a large bowl combine the 6 litres water, lemon juice and peel, garlic, onion, sugar, salt and fresh thyme if you have it plus the herbs that have previously steeped.<\/li>\n
- Stir until the sugar and salt are dissolved, then submerge the chicken\/s entirely in the brine. Cover and refrigerate for several hours or preferably overnight.<\/li>\n
- Pull the chicken from the brine and pat the skin dry with paper towels. Rub the entire surface of the chicken with the olive oil.<\/li>\n
- Season the skin with a little chopped fresh thyme.<\/li>\n
- Boil 1 lemon for about 10 minutes.<\/li>\n
- Stab the lemon about a dozen times with a fork and stuff it into the cavity of the bird along with the thyme and garlic cloves.<\/li>\n
- Roast uncovered on a rack in a preheated 375 degree F oven until a meat thermometer reaches 185 degrees when inserted into the thickest part of the breast meat ( approximate 1 \u00bd hours or longer depending on the actual weight of the chicken).<\/li>\n
- Allow the chicken to rest for 10 – 15 minutes before carving. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice onto the carved chicken pieces before serving.<\/li>\n<\/ol><\/div>\n\n
Notes<\/h3>\n\n\n- This recipe had incorrectly said to season the chicken with salt before going in the oven. That line has been removed because bringing a chicken completely seasons the meat.<\/li>\n
- Also, the brine amount is sufficient for 2 chickens if the container is the right size. The container should be big enough to be able to hold the chickens plus the brining liquid and have the chickens completely submerged.<\/li>\n
- The same brine works well for turkey too.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
Recommended Products<\/h3>\n
Rock Recipes a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Our product recommendations are almost exclusively for those we currently use or have used in the past.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\nNutrition Information<\/span><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\nYield<\/h4>\n
4<\/span><\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\nServing Size<\/h4>\n
1\/4 chicken<\/span><\/p>\n
Amount Per Serving<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n\t\tCalories<\/span> 837<\/span>Total Fat<\/span> 28g<\/span>Saturated Fat<\/span> 6g<\/span>Trans Fat<\/span> 0g<\/span>Unsaturated Fat<\/span> 19g<\/span>Cholesterol<\/span> 289mg<\/span>Sodium<\/span> 961mg<\/span>Carbohydrates<\/span> 59g<\/span>Fiber<\/span> 6g<\/span>Sugar<\/span> 43g<\/span>Protein<\/span> 109g<\/span>\t<\/p>\nThe nutritional information provided is automatically calculated by third party software and is meant as a guideline only. Exact accuracy is not guaranteed. For recipes where all ingredients may not be used entirely, such as those with coatings on meats, or with sauces or dressings for example, calorie & nutritional values per serving will likely be somewhat lower than indicated.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t
\n<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nLemon Thyme Roast Chicken<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n UPDATE April 16, 2016 \u2013 today, I\u2019m updating this post with slight modifications to my brine recipe and a couple of extra tips.<\/span><\/p>\n First of all, this recipe will be plenty flavourful even if you skip the bringing process. Lots of people have written to me over the past few years to say just that. If you don\u2019t have time to brine, don\u2019t let that deter you from trying this recipe, it\u2019s still one of the best roast chickens you\u2019ll ever try. I would say if you are not brining, you\u2019ll probably get best results with a fresh and not a frozen chicken.<\/span><\/p>\n I don\u2019t use as much salt as many do in their brines but I\u2019ve modified the amount to provide a bit more seasoning to the meat. Also the amount of brine in this recipe is really sufficient for 2 chickens or a turkey. If making only 1 chicken you can easily make only half of the brine. <\/span><\/p>\n Another tip is to use a large enough container, don\u2019t crowd your chickens or turkey into too small a container and decide not to use all the brine you\u2019ve made. I have a large food grade plastic bringing bucket but lately I\u2019ve been using a camping cooler (even a styrofoam disposable one will do). I use a bag of ice still in the bag, added to the cooler to keep everything nice and cold for 24 hours.<\/span><\/p>\n One thing I didn\u2019t mentioning the original post was that when I carve the chicken or turkey onto a platter, I cut the hot lemon in half and squeeze the juice over the pieces before serving for an extra punch of bright lemon flavour.<\/span><\/p>\n On this occasion we also served the chicken with one of my kids favourites, Smash Roasted Potatoes<\/a><\/strong> <\/span>which are pictured in the background with some simple steamed broccoli as side dishes for this satisfying comfort food meal.<\/span><\/p>\n From April 21 2009:<\/span><\/p>\n Lemon Thyme Roast Chicken<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n This simple brined roast chicken was Sunday supper for us this week. It is definitely the most flavourful roast chicken I have ever eaten. Our whole family loves this roast chicken and if leftovers are planned I have to make two of them for sure.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Boiling the lemon for the cavity is a great technique that I saw on one of Jamie Oliver\u2019s shows a while back, because it gives the lemon a head start in infusing the meat with flavour; it works really, really well.<\/span><\/p>\n Lemon Thyme Roast Chicken<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n You\u2019ll find hundreds of other great ideas in our Quick & Easy Dinners Category<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>and even more in our Chicken Recipes Category<\/strong><\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to keep up with the latest home style cooking & baking ideas from Rock Recipes. Be sure to follow Rock Recipes Facebook Page<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/b>and follow us on Instagram<\/b><\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b>Plus you\u2019ll see daily recipe suggestions from decadent desserts to quick delicious weekday meals too.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n You can also sign up for our FREE newsletter<\/strong><\/a><\/span> to know immediately when we add new recipes are added. You\u2019ll get weekly suggestions for great family friendly meals and desserts too!<\/span><\/p>\n Lemon Thyme Roast Chicken<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n This recipe is also one of our TOP 50 Best Lemon Recipes! Be sure to check out the whole collection of sweet and savoury recipes HERE<\/a><\/strong>:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Best Lemon Recipes<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n\t\t\tPrep Time: <\/em> \n\t\t\tCook Time: <\/em> \n\t\t\tTotal Time: <\/em> Lemon Thyme Roast Chicken – brined in lemon, spices & thyme. A super juicy and flavourful roast chicken recipe that makes the perfect Sunday dinner.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Rock Recipes a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Our product recommendations are almost exclusively for those we currently use or have used in the past.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n 4<\/span><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n 1\/4 chicken<\/span><\/p>\n Amount Per Serving<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \t\tCalories<\/span> 837<\/span>Total Fat<\/span> 28g<\/span>Saturated Fat<\/span> 6g<\/span>Trans Fat<\/span> 0g<\/span>Unsaturated Fat<\/span> 19g<\/span>Cholesterol<\/span> 289mg<\/span>Sodium<\/span> 961mg<\/span>Carbohydrates<\/span> 59g<\/span>Fiber<\/span> 6g<\/span>Sugar<\/span> 43g<\/span>Protein<\/span> 109g<\/span>\t<\/p>\n The nutritional information provided is automatically calculated by third party software and is meant as a guideline only. Exact accuracy is not guaranteed. For recipes where all ingredients may not be used entirely, such as those with coatings on meats, or with sauces or dressings for example, calorie & nutritional values per serving will likely be somewhat lower than indicated.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\nTop tips for a perfect chicken:<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n<\/p>\nLike this Lemon Thyme Roast Chicken recipe?<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t20 minutes<\/span> <\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t1 hour<\/span> 30 minutes<\/span> <\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t1 hour<\/span> 50 minutes<\/span> <\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\nIngredients<\/h3>\n
\n
Instructions<\/h3>\n
\n
Notes<\/h3>\n
\n
Recommended Products<\/h3>\n
Nutrition Information<\/span><\/h4>\n
Yield<\/h4>\n
Serving Size<\/h4>\n
\n<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.rockrecipes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ROCK-RECIPES-COOKIE-COOKBOOK-FOR-SITE-HEADER.png\"\/)
![](\"https:\/\/www.rockrecipes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/ROCK-RECIPES-COOKIE-COOKBOOK-FOR-SITE-HEADER.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n