Comfort Food Roast Chicken for Dinner

Sometimes life is just too complicated, too busy and too connected. Those are the moments when you crave comfort food, family-style dining and meals with friends. This roast chicken is cooked with saffron, rosemary and lemon. I served it with roasted potatoes and peas for a simple Sunday dinner. And the best part? There may be leftovers for another meal!

Chicken Roasted with Saffron, Rosemary, and Lemon

Really, nothing could be easier to make than a roast chicken. There is very little preparation required, and plenty of time to make your sides while the chicken is roasting. Plus, the bonus is your kitchen will smell delicious.

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Course Main Dish

Cuisine French

Servings 4 people

Ingredients

  

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• 2-3 lbs (1-1.3 kg) Yukon Gold potatoes or other waxy potatoes
• extra virgin olive oil
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 3.5-4 lb (1.5-2 kg) chicken preferably organic
• 1 tsp saffron threads
• 1 tbsp fresh rosemary finely chopped
• 1/2 Organic Lemon very thinly sliced, seeds removed

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 500°F (260˚C).
• Line a roasting pan with aluminum foil, then line the bottom with parchment.
• Cut potatoes into 1-inch chunks and place them in a large bowl.
• Drizzle with olive oil (2-3 tablespoons) and season with salt and pepper. Toss them well to coat, spread them in the roasting pan, and place the roasting pan in the oven. Set the timer for 10 minutes.
• While the potatoes start to roast, wash and dry the chicken. Using a dull (not serrated) knife or metal spatula, carefully separate the chicken skin from the breast meat, trying not to tear the skin.
• Season under the skin with salt, pepper, saffron and rosemary, dividing the herbs evenly between the two breasts.
• Carefully slide some lemon slices under the skin, as well. Sometimes this is easier if the disks of lemon are cut in two.
• Put any remaining lemon slices and rosemary sprigs in the cavity.
• Truss the bird, if you like - I generally don’t. Remember, it’s a simple Sunday supper.
• Once the potatoes have roasted 10 minutes, remove the roasting pan from the oven, stir the potatoes, and add a little more oil if needed. Move the potatoes to the sides a bit to make room for the chicken.
• Set the chicken in the middle and drizzle with a bit of olive oil, rubbing it into the skin.
• Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
• Roast for 10 minutes at 500°F (260˚C), then reduce heat to 350°F (180˚C) and continue to roast for about an hour, or until juices run clear when the skin is pierced, and the legs feel loose when jiggled. NOTE: It’s good to stir the potatoes once or twice during this hour.
• Place chicken on a cutting board and tent with foil to keep warm.
• *Let it rest for 10 minutes (if you can wait that long).
• Turn off the oven, stir potatoes, and place back in the oven to keep warm.
• Carve the chicken and arrange on a warmed platter.
• Add the potatoes and some peas, and you are ready to enjoy your Sunday supper.

Keyword Chicken, Rosemary, Saffron

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Other Chicken Dinners

There is nothing better than the tantalizing aroma of roast chicken, well except for chocolate cake. As for savoury dishes, roast chicken is a winner for a family, it requires very little supervision, there are often leftovers for sandwiches and bones for soup or stock. Roast Chicken Provencal-style with lemons from Menton from Let’s Explore.

Flambéed Chicken a Main Course with a Spark. This recipe can easily be increased if you have a larger group. We used asparagus, as it was in season. The dish would be equally good with mushrooms. Serve with rice, or potatoes and a green salad.

This dish is another go-to comfort food meal and it never fails to impress our Cocoa & Lavender guests. Mom’s Dijon Chicken a Dinner Classic in Under 30-Minutes.

This recipe for mushroom-herb-stuffed chicken breast with polenta and potato purée. combines some of the classic French flavours – chicken, wild mushrooms, cream and potato in a tasty main dish.

David Scott Allen

David Scott Allen is the author, photographer, and cook behind Cocoa & Lavender, a weekly food blog based in Tucson, Arizona. Passionate about travel, he especially enjoys eating traditional foods and learning local customs, whether in the United States or around the globe.

David's first trip to France took place when he was 14, and he returned as often as possible thereafter. However, it wasn't until his 50th birthday that he finally made it south to Provence. The beauty, history, charm, warmth, cuisine, and - of course - the rosé wines captured his heart. He shares his Provençal recipes here on Perfectly Provence, and his food and wine pairings monthly on the Provence WineZine.

David is a firm believer that sharing a meal with friends around the table is one of life's greatest pleasures. And if it happens to be in Provence, all the better!