How to Make Simple Roasted Chicken or Guinea Fowl
Let’s Eat the World · Main Course · Poultry · Provencal Recipes · TasteEverybody has memories of lazy days when the smell of roasting chicken filled the home, and you couldn’t wait for supper. While there are countless chicken recipes to try, sometimes it’s so refreshing to find one that actually holds up to its name with a culinary trip down memory lane. Our Simple Roast Chicken or Guinea Fowl does just that. Literally and simply, a 15 minutes prep, and you’re on the way to a comforting satiating and delicious dinner.
Cook’n With Class has been teaching recipes and kitchen tips, like this roast chicken, since 2007. Their cooking classes are for food lovers and anyone who wants to learn more about classic French cuisine at their Paris and Uzes schools.

Roasted Chicken or Guinea Fowl
This quick and easy roast chicken or guinea fowl dinner will give you the taste of a day-long slow roast in around 1 hour. The garlic, lemon and rosemary season and tenderize the bird from the inside out, and add tremendous flavour with minimal effort. Serve with mashed potatoes, French fries, salad, green beans or other sides that you like. Don’t forget to eat the garlic cloves, they are good for you and taste great!
Ingredients
- 1 medium Chicken or Guinea Fowl about 1 kilo or 2 lbs.
- 4 oz butter
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
- 1 branch fresh rosemary
- 1 lemon organic
- 12 garlic cloves
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Start with all the ingredients at room temperature. The butter should be soft.
- Cut the lemon into 6 pieces.
- Stuff your chicken or guinea fowl with the unpeeled garlic cloves, the lemon wedges, and the rosemary.
- With a brush, butter your chicken everywhere, rub with salt and pepper.
- Add the oil into the baking dish and place your chicken on top.
- Bake the chicken for 45 minutes at 190ºC (380ºF)
- Let it rest after the cooking time for 10 minutes before carving.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Other Chicken Recipes
Roast Chicken with Rosé Cranberry Sauce
While the chicken is roasting, enjoy some cocktail and nibbles with your guests. Make sure to leave enough time to rest the bird after it comes out of the oven. Make the cranberry sauce in advance; it goes well with chicken.
Check out this recipe
Chicken Fricassé à la Provencal
You can serve this dish with couscous, potatoes, or plain rice. It's great with a little bit of spice to heat your mouth. Traditionally, we use Piment d'Espelette in France, but any good chilli pepper sauce will work.
Check out this recipe
Chicken Tagine with Green Olives and Preserved Lemon
Adapted from a recipe by Tyler Florence.
Check out this recipe
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.
Check out this recipe
Coconut Curry Chicken Soup
This recipe was adapted from a similar version on the culinary blog "Pinch Me, I'm Eating" (https://www.pinchmeimeating.com/). Enjoy the flavour combination of curry, coconut and lime in this Thai-inspired soup. The recipe serves 4 people as a main course.
Check out this recipe
Legal
All rights reserved. Perfectly Provence articles and other content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten (including translations into other languages) or redistributed without written permission. For usage information, please contact us.
Syndication InformationAffiliate Information
As an Amazon Associate, this website earns from qualifying purchases. Some recipes, posts and pages may have affiliate links. If you purchase via these links, we receive a small commission that does not impact your price. Thank you in advance for supporting our work to maintain Perfectly Provence.
Previous Post
Crime Novels Set in Aix-en-ProvenceRelated Provence Articles
Roast Chicken with a Mediterranean Twist
December 17, 2021
Once again, I am playing with a recipe from The NY Times. They had a roast chicken recipe that I liked… well, sort of. Honestly, it sounded like a mess on a plate, and I really like to present things with great eye appeal and great flavour. Well, that and I wanted to twist it …
How to Make the Easiest Roast Chicken in Mustard Sauce
February 24, 2023
This recipe for Roast Chicken in a Mustard Sauce is quite honestly the definition of simple French cooking, there are only three (3) ingredients, and it takes under a minute to prepare the marinade. The idea for the recipe comes from the late Lydia Marshall’s book A Passion for My Provence: Home Cooking from the …
Picnic Fare Roast Chicken Recipe from Alice
August 10, 2022
Apparently, when Alice B. Toklas went on a picnic, she did not fool around. I say “apparently” because I can find no evidence that today’s recipe was either taken on a picnic by Toklas or is actually her recipe. I have an uncredited magazine clipping — most likely from the ’90s or early ’00s — …
My Simple Recipe for Roasted Farmhouse Chicken
February 12, 2025
Something about a succulent roasted farmhouse chicken pleases my whole family. Cooking chicken in a cocotte is a traditional French method. The French word cocotte denotes a covered casserole usually made from clay, but a Dutch oven works well for this recipe. Here is the original Simple French Cooking recipe and notes on French butter. …
No Comment