Ingredients:
- 1 (3-4 pound) whole chicken, patted dry
- 1 lemon, sliced
- 4 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 4 cloves garlic, smashed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 pound baby potatoes, halved or quartered if large
- 1 pound carrots, peeled and chopped into 1-inch pieces
- 1 large onion, quartered
- 1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and cut into chunks
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Pat the chicken dry. Loosen the skin over the breast and legs. (Optional) Prepare Herb Butter and carefully slide it under the skin of the chicken breast.
- Stuff the cavity of the chicken with lemon slices, rosemary, thyme, and garlic. Season the outside generously with salt and pepper.
- Toss the potatoes, carrots, onion, and bell pepper with olive oil, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
- Spread the vegetables evenly in the roasting pan.
- Place the chicken on top of the vegetables in the roasting pan.
- Roast for 50-60 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the juices run clear when pierced in the thickest part of the thigh (internal temperature reaches 165°F/74°C). Baste the chicken with pan juices halfway through cooking.
- Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before carving and serving.