Ingredients
Herb Butter:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon freshly chopped thyme leaves
- 1 teaspoon freshly chopped sage leaves
- 1 teaspoon freshly chopped rosemary leaves
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 medium onion, peeled and sliced 1/2-inch thick
- 1 (5-pound) roasting chicken, rinsed, dried and giblets removed
- 2 lemon slices
- 1 sprig fresh thyme, chopped
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary, chopped
- 1 sprig fresh sage, chopped
- 3 large cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
- Herb Butter
- 1/4 cup white wine
- 1 cup chicken broth
Directions
For the herb butter:
In a small bowl, add the butter, chopped thyme, rosemary, and sage. Season with salt and pepper and mix together with a wooden spoon. Reserve.
Preheat oven to 475 degrees F.
Lay onion slices down the center of a large cast iron skillet to create 2 rows that are touching.
Season the cavity of the chicken with salt and pepper, add lemon slices, thyme, rosemary, sage and garlic cloves.
Using your hands, gently separate the skin from the meat of the breast. Evenly spread the herb butter on the meat underneath the skin. Take the remaining butter and gently rub the skin. Wash hands and season the skin with salt and pepper. Tie drumsticks together using twine. Place the chicken on the onion slices.
Transfer the pan to the preheated oven and roast until the skin is golden brown and crisp, about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Use an instant-read thermometer to make sure the thighs have reached 165 degrees F.
Remove the chicken from the oven. Transfer to a cutting board, tent with foil and let rest.
Spoon off as much fat from the pan as possible. Place the pan over high heat and add white wine. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up all the browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Add chicken broth and let reduce to about half, about 4 to 5 minutes. Strain out the onions. Add the gravy back to the pan and keep warm.
Cut the twine from the drumsticks and carve. Pour the gravy into a serving bowl and serve with the chicken.
Photo: Gina's Perfect Roast Chicken with Gravy Recipe

















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By Tameren
Charlotte, NC
on April 01, 2013
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As the name says "perfect roast chicken" and it certainly is perfect. I actually went and bought a lodge logic cast iron skillet from Cracker Barrel (bonus, my daughter and I ate there as well. I've never had or used a cast iron skillet and was excited to try it. This roast chicken was so delicious, really a gourmet tasting dish. I made it for Easter dinner and it was a hit. I forgot white wine and was fairly tired from cooking all day so I skipped making gravy and just used the dripping from the pan to pour over the chicken. Those drippings were incredibly good! Thanks Neelys! This is going into a regular rotation. I mean inexpensive and so delicious! How can you beat that?
By daisy06
Tucson, AZ
on January 08, 2013
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Delicious, moist and tasty "gravy", but chicken wasn't quite done near bone so next time think I will preheat the skillet, add the onions and bake for a little longer. I did add some cornstarch/liquid to thicken the sauce a bit. Think I'll try the soup with the leftovers as others have mentioned. Would definitely make again. thanks for a tasty recipe.
By txnurselaw
Dallas, Texas
on October 23, 2012
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Love this recipe! It's my new go-to roast chicken recipe. I also lowered the oven temp. I served this with roasted potatoes and roasted asparagus--the "roasted" theme was too good for me to pass up!
Read all 57 reviews