1.22.2009

Roasted Lemon Chicken with Croutons

I know, I know.  Why am I still here?  But this baby has decided to take his/her sweet time, so I am still plugging away.  It's nice to have a little more time to get some things done, but I am ready to get on with the show!

A few nights ago I had a craving for this dish.  It is super-easy to make, and has such a "wow" factor, that I had to share.  Plus it makes your house smell amazing.  Of course, it's another one from my favorite girl, Ina Garten, i.e. the Barefoot Contessa.

I have made this for guests many times, and everyone goes crazy for it!  The reason?  See those bread cubes underneath the chicken?  My husband and I almost get into a sword fight (more of a fork fight, actually) over those.  Every time.  After you roast the chicken and toast the bread cubes, you put the chicken on top of the bread and carve it.  The bread soaks up all the juices, along with some yummy onions that have been caramelizing with the chicken in the oven.  It is absolute heaven!

This is seriously one of our favorite all-time meals.  Now that I am writing about it, I want to go back and make it again right now!  I hope you give it a try!

Lemon Chicken with Croutons
Serves 3-4

Ingredients
1 (4 to 5-pound) roasting chicken
1 large yellow onion, sliced
Good olive oil
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 lemons, quartered
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
6 cups (3/4-inch) bread cubes (1 baguette from the bakery section of your grocery store)

Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.  Take the giblets out of the chicken and wash it inside and out.  Remove any excess fat and leftover pinfeathers.  Toss the onion with a little olive oil in a small roasting pan.  Place the chicken on top and sprinkle the inside of the cavity with salt and pepper.  Place the lemons inside the chicken.  Pat the outside of the chicken dry with paper towels, brush it with the melted butter, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the chicken.

Roast for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear when you cut between the leg and the thigh.  Cover with foil and allow to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes.  (The onions may burn, but the flavor is good.)

Meanwhile, heat a large saute pan with 2 tablespoons of olive oil until very hot.  Lower the heat to medium-low and saute the bread cubes, tossing frequently, until nicely browned, 8 to 10 minutes.  Add more olive oil, as needed, and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.  Place the croutons on a serving platter.  Place the whole chicken on top of the croutons and slice it, letting all the pan juices and onions distribute over the croutons.  Sprinkle with salt and serve warm.

Be prepared to fight everyone off for the croutons.  Just saying.

Oh, and another side note.  Once, my husband mistook one of the roasted lemons for a crouton.  It was not good.  He wants me to warn you so you don't make the same mistake!  :)


52 comments:

angie {the arthur clan} said...

I just made a lemon/garlic chicken recipe and my family loved it! It's not easy to get all four kids to like that same dish. I can't wait to try this one out on them now.

Hang in there ~ baby will be here soon! :)

~Angie
co-founder of I ♥ Faces

Stacey said...

That sounds delicious and easy to make! Yummy.

Shell in your Pocket said...

Oh...that sounds very yummy..I will try this for sure! I love all chicken dishes..I am surprised that one of my family members hasn't laid an "egg" yet b/c we eat so much chicken!

-sandy toe

Christy said...

Carrie,

You haven't failed me yet with your recipes! This is going on the menu for next week. I've just started buying whole chickens because they are so easy to make. I usually just end up roasting them with some seasonings. Not only do they make an easy and inexpensive dinner, but the chicken is really good in soups and for chicken salad. Thanks for the recipe:)

duchess said...

I love the way she roasts a chicken. That's the only way I do it now. We actually had roasted chicken last night too but it was the precut kind so I just used the "good" olive oil, salt & pepper. Hubby kept saying how good it was.
Ina's a genius.

Darlene said...

That sounds wonderful and really easy....thanks for the recipe!

Carolina Mama said...

Oh this sounds divine. I will try a whole chicken with this - usually I am a little afraid of them. Can you tell I lived in Boulder too long! :)

Can't wait to see the baby either. :)

April said...

Oh, man...is my mouth ever watering now! Sounds easy to make and super delicious! I know my family would give it two thumbs up! Thanks so much! ♥

Jboo said...

Oh my -- that sounds and looks so yummy!!! You are amazing to do all this with baby due at any moment! Waiting for baby news!!

Janet

Betsy said...

What an amazing dish. Perfect for entertaining...I am thinking that this sounds fantastic for Saturday night when we are hosting the in-laws. YUMMY! Maybe today is that day for that little baby....hang in there.

Christi @ Writing the Waves said...

I've never tried any of her recipes! I always assumed that they would take more time and effort than I had available! Maybe I will have to put this on my menu plan for next week...hubby loves new and yummy additions to the "regular"! :)

Windy said...

sounds awesome - I will have to try that!

julie & joe said...

Sounds yummy! I have a chicken in the freezer that I need to do something with...maybe next week...little guy is sick.

Wendy said...

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Cupcake Dessert said...

that looks and sounds so yummy!! can't wait to try it!!

jennykate77 said...

This sounds amazing!!! I love roasted chicken...and croutons...I'm there! Thanks for the yummy recipe. I can't believe you're still hanging around. I thought we'd be hearing about some baby action! I'm glad you've had time to get everything done. Hope you have a great day!

Desiree said...

Thanks for sharing the recipe!

Looks yummy :-)

-Desiree

frillsfluffandtrucks said...

Okay, I have to admit, I've never cooked a whole chicken. Of course 3 of the 4 of us only eat the white meat anyhow, so it probably would be wasted on us.

~ Sarah

Lisa said...

Yummy! My stomache is growling as I read your post! I'm going to have to try that one, thanks!!!

Unknown said...

I will definitely try that, which cookbook is it in? I think I have all of them except her most recent.
BTW, my selfish self is glad that you're still here to write great stuff, but I know that you're anxious to meet that precious baby!

Shannon said...

I usually make the Williams-Sonoma roast chicken recipe from an old issue of Cooking Light- but this looks a little simpler in terms of less ingredients. And I'm into simpler right now! Thanks for sharing- I'll definitely give it a try. I tried the salted caramel hot cocoa recently and loved the topping. Have you tried the London Fog Tazo tea Latte? It's definitely different.

So exciting for you to have a new one on the way. . . I so have baby fever lately! My husband kindly reminds me that that ship has sailed ( : Grandchildren will have to be my next babies- and I'm not rushing that!

Our Complete Family said...

Sounds yummy and looks fantastic!
Pat your baby belly and say hi to the little one that isn't quite ready to make a grand entrance just yet!

Inspired Kara said...

Oh Ina. You never disappoint.

I've been thinking about making a VERY similar recipe that is refered to as "engagement chicken" I'm secretly hoping it would work!

~Kara

Marci @All Things Wonderful said...

This looks awesome! Yum!
Hang in there...Hope the baby comes soon. Can't wait to see the pictures!

Gordostyle said...

OMG, that looks awesome!

Smiles,
Jen

Joanna said...

Yummy! I love lemon with chicken.

Ally's Corner said...

This looks really good, thanks for sharing the recipe will be giving it a try.

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

That looks divine!!

I think you cannot go wrong with any of Ina's recipes.....I have yet to find one I disliked!!

Hope that baby comes soon...hang in there:)

Lisa

Twice as Nice said...

I have found so many great recipes through blogging. I will be trying this one. It looks so good.

Thanks for your prayers and concern for our friend. It means SO MUCH to us!

Jodee said...

Looks delicious!

Ruby Red Slippers said...

That sounds soo good! (I will pass it on to my husband to make it for us!)
Hopefully baby will arrive soon...they don't stay in forever!

Jodi said...

This recipe looks super delicious! I love your comment about your husband and you fighting over the croutons! Reminds me of Thanksgiving Day growing up and my sister and I would "fight" over my mom's stuffing! There was never enough!

Ms. Tee said...

I've never cooked a whole chicken before, but I'm definitely gonna have to try now! :) Keep hanging in there, that sweet little baby might be here real soon!

The Donahue's said...

This dish looks so yummmy!! I am SO not a cook, and Contessa's recipies always look really time consuming and difficult. (I like 4 ingredient recipies that take less than 20 mins to cook..haha) But since you say its really good, maybe I will try it.

Unknown said...

Oh, I love the Barefoot Contessa! That sounds soooo yummy.

Christy said...

Carrie,

Two things...

I have been thinking about this silly chicken recipe all day long:) It sounds so yummy!

Thank you for your comment on my post today. I loved what you said and since finding out about this new blog, I have had many thoughts about it. I love the name (I wish I would have thought of it for my blog actually!) and everything that it represents. How neat that you had just been talking about it this morning. I am really anxious for February 2nd when it is officially up and running.

Anyway... just wanted to respond to what you had to say. Have a great evening!

Liz Harrell said...

Sounds DELISH. Good luck to you! :)

Jo said...

Sounds delicious ~ perfect for a cold New England night!

Jo

Sarah said...

Seriously, when are you going to come and cook for me?

I'm so glad you are feeling well but can't wait to hear some baby news!

Sunny said...

Sounds yummy. Chicken + Lemon = yummalicious!

Anonymous said...

sounds like this might be a new family favorite at our house! thanks so much. can't wait to hear some baby updates:)
~nicole

michele said...

Yum! Thanks for the recipe! Your friend Aimee's window totally inspired me! I ended up doing fabric... thanks for the great picture, idea and inspiration!

Kari said...

Thank you for sharing - will definitely try it! Oh yeah, and I will happily come to your Dr. Jodi Mindell parade here; that is so cool she wrote you back! I'm a big fan too :o)

AndreaLeigh said...

yum! i can't wait to try that.

Laurel @ Ducks in a Row said...

We make roasted chicken at least once a month, but those croutons are something worth trying. Sounds delicious. Hang in there - no one is pregnant forever, although it might feel like it.

Mamajil said...

What a great recipe I think I will have to try it soon!! I hope the baby comes soon I know how hard those last days are!! Hugs,prayers and good wishes for a easy delivery!!

The Stewarts said...

Hey fellow Coloradoian! (hmmm, is that a word? now that I write it?

I've enjoyed reading your blog and can't wait to try the chicken.

Wishing you the best with your new bundle of joy. I've been following your blog for a couple of weeks now and was surprised that your bundle isn't here yet. Hang in there! :)

Unknown said...

Yummy! I will try to make it for supper tomorrow night! Thanks for sharing! I hope you have a good day and nothing hurts!

Stacey said...

Sounds easy and YUMMY!! I'll be trying it either tomorrow night or Saturday night. I'll let 'cha know!!!
THANKS for sharing!!

sweetfunkyvintage said...

I make a version of this all the time - also an Ina recipe - the difference is stuffing a few sprigs of rosemary in the cavity with the lemon, and garlic too!
yum!
Congrats on your new arrival!
missy

STILLMAGNOLIA said...

Yummy recipe. I am going to make it this week. Thanks for sharing. From one Queen Bee....to another.

Unknown said...

I saw this on my Google Reader and made it, then forgot where I originally saw it...all I can say is YUMMY recipe and thanks for sharing!! I'll be sure to link to it from my blog :D