Quick & Easy Barefoot Contessa Roast Chicken Recipe

Barefoot Contessa’s roast chicken transforms an ordinary poultry dish into a culinary masterpiece that promises comfort and incredible flavor.

Professional chefs know this classic preparation requires precision and care.

Fundamental techniques elevate simple ingredients into something magical.

A well-prepared roast chicken speaks volumes about cooking skill and passion.

Good seasoning creates deep, robust flavors that dance across your palate.

Strategic methods ensure juicy meat with crispy, golden skin that looks restaurant-worthy.

Each carefully selected ingredient contributes to an unforgettable dining experience: prepare to savor every delectable bite.

Why Contessa Roast Chicken Is So Beloved

• Create Flavor-Packed Perfection: This roast chicken delivers explosive taste through strategic seasoning with fresh thyme, lemon, garlic, and generous salt and pepper, ensuring every bite bursts with incredible depth and complexity.
• Master Simple Gourmet Technique: The recipe transforms basic ingredients into restaurant-quality meal using classic roasting method that looks impressive but requires minimal culinary skills, making sophisticated cooking accessible for home chefs of all levels.
• Embrace Comfort and Elegance: Roasting whole chicken brings nostalgic warmth while presenting a stunning centerpiece that feels both rustic and refined, perfect for intimate family dinners or elegant weekend gatherings with minimal preparation stress.
• Maximize Delicious Efficiency: One pan creates multiple delectable components – succulent roasted chicken, caramelized onions, and rich homemade gravy – delivering maximum flavor with minimal cleanup and around two hours of total cooking time.

Crucial Components for Contessa Roast Chicken

• Whole Chicken: Fresh bird with clean cavity, preferably organic for best flavor and texture.

• Thyme, Lemon Halves, Garlic: Classic herb and citrus combination that infuses chicken with bright, herbal notes and keeps the meat moist during roasting.

• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential for enhancing the chicken's natural flavors and creating a delicious exterior.
• Butter: Provides rich flavor and helps create golden, crispy skin.
• Chicken Fat: Adds depth to the gravy and helps create a smooth, rich texture.

• Chicken Stock: Provides base liquid for creating a flavorful pan sauce.
• Flour: Helps thicken the gravy and create a smooth consistency.
• Onions: Adds sweetness and contributes to the depth of the pan sauce.

• Kitchen String: Helps truss the chicken for even cooking.
• Aluminum Foil: Keeps chicken warm and prevents excessive browning.
• Large Roasting Pan: Provides space for chicken and allows even heat circulation.

Straightforward Method for Contessa Roast Chicken

Step 1: Warm Up The Oven

Crank your oven to a sizzling 425°F (220°C). Grab your whole chicken and remove the giblets. Rinse thoroughly under cool water, then pat completely dry with paper towels.

Step 2: Create A Flavor Explosion

• Fresh thyme sprigs
• 2 lemon halves
• 3-4 garlic cloves

Step 3: Dress The Chicken

• Tying legs together using kitchen twine
• Tucking wing tips underneath the body

Step 4: Roasting Magic

• Juices run clear when cutting between leg and thigh
• Internal temperature reaches 165°F

Step 5: Gravy Greatness

• Adding chicken stock to roasting pan
• Reducing on high heat
• Mixing reserved chicken fat with flour
• Whisking into pan drippings
• Boiling for 3-4 minutes
• Straining
• Seasoning to taste

Step 6: Serve With Flair

Carve the chicken and serve immediately with warm, rich gravy. Enjoy your culinary masterpiece!

Top Tips for a Perfect Contessa Roast Chicken

• Customize Herb Blend: Mix different fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, and sage to create a unique flavor profile that transforms your roast chicken.
• Elevate Butter Application: Gently massage softened butter under the skin to infuse deeper flavor and create an incredibly moist, rich texture.
• Leverage Onion Foundation: Create a flavorful base by layering sliced onions underneath the chicken, which caramelizes and adds depth to the entire dish.
• Master Even Cooking: Let the chicken rest at room temperature for 30 minutes before roasting to guarantee consistent heat distribution and tender meat.
• Secure Perfect Shape: Use kitchen twine to truss the chicken, helping it maintain an ideal shape and ensuring more uniform cooking throughout.

Safekeeping Contessa Roast Chicken

• Vacuum Seal Technique: Lock in freshness by using a vacuum sealer for your roast chicken. Extract all air from the packaging to prevent moisture and bacteria growth, extending storage life up to a week. This method preserves flavor and texture better than traditional wrapping.
• Portioning Strategy: Slice chicken into individual serving sizes before refrigerating. Wrap each portion separately in plastic wrap or place in small sealed containers. Smaller portions cool faster, reduce contamination risks, and make reheating and meal planning more convenient.
• Moisture Prevention: Place a paper towel inside the storage container to absorb excess moisture. This simple trick prevents soggy chicken and maintains the crispy skin's texture. Choose containers with tight-fitting lids to create a protective barrier against potential bacteria and odor transfer.

Flavorful Variations on Contessa Roast Chicken

• Herb Garden Infusion: Replace thyme with a mix of fresh rosemary, sage, and parsley for a multi-herb flavor profile that adds complexity to the roasted chicken.
• Mediterranean Makeover: Stuff the chicken with oregano, lemon zest, and whole garlic cloves. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with za'atar seasoning before roasting for a Greek-inspired version.
• Spicy Smoky Sensation: Rub the chicken with a blend of smoked paprika, cumin, and cayenne pepper. Add chopped jalapeños inside the cavity for an extra kick of heat and depth of flavor.
• Wine Country Variation: Replace some of the chicken stock with dry white wine when making the gravy. Add chopped fresh tarragon to the cavity for a rich, aromatic French-style roast chicken.

Summation of Contessa Roast Chicken

Golden-brown roasted chicken emerges as pure culinary poetry from Barefoot Contessa’s kitchen.

Classic French techniques elevate this simple protein into an extraordinary meal.

Ina Garten’s signature approach transforms basic ingredients into something magical.

Home cooks can master restaurant-quality results with strategic seasoning and precise roasting methods.

Mediterranean influences shine through lemon and thyme aromatics nestled inside tender meat.

Rustic yet elegant, this chicken recipe promises delicious memories guaranteed to impress dinner guests – so gather friends, slice generously, drizzle gravy, savor each bite, snap a photo, share your culinary triumph, and spark conversation about this memorable meal.

Barefoot Contessa Roast Chicken Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 24 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Ina Garten’s roast chicken delivers simple elegance with classic French technique. Herb-infused and perfectly seasoned, this golden bird promises comfort and sophistication you can savor in every tender, juicy bite.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein:

• 1 whole chicken (about 4–5 pounds)

Herbs and Aromatics:

• 1 bunch of thyme
• 1 lemon, halved
• 1 head of garlic, halved
• 1 large onion, sliced

Seasoning and Liquid Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) of butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) of flour
• 2 cups (480 milliliters) of chicken stock
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Carefully position the oven rack to the middle position and heat to 425°F (220°C). Remove internal organs from the chicken cavity, thoroughly rinse under cold water, and meticulously dry using paper towels.
2. Season the chicken’s interior with a generous sprinkle of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Fill the cavity with fresh thyme sprigs, halved lemon, and crushed garlic cloves.
3. Melt unsalted butter and delicately brush the entire chicken exterior, ensuring complete coverage. Dust the skin with additional salt and cracked pepper for enhanced flavor profile.
4. Secure the chicken’s legs using kitchen twine, creating a compact shape. Fold wing tips underneath the body to prevent excessive browning and ensure even cooking.
5. Transfer the prepared chicken to a spacious roasting pan. Distribute thinly sliced yellow onions around the bird to create a flavorful base and aromatic foundation.
6. Roast the chicken for approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and meat juices appear completely clear when pierced between leg and thigh.
7. Carefully remove chicken from oven and loosely tent with aluminum foil, allowing meat to rest and redistribute internal juices for 10-15 minutes.
8. Create pan gravy by deglazing roasting pan with rich chicken stock. Whisk reserved chicken fat with all-purpose flour to create a smooth roux, then incorporate into pan liquid.
9. Simmer gravy until thickened, approximately 3-4 minutes. Strain through fine-mesh sieve and season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
10. Carve chicken into elegant serving pieces and accompany with warm, velvety gravy.

Notes

• Select a premium, fresh chicken to guarantee exceptional flavor and succulent meat.
• Thoroughly dry the bird with paper towels to ensure perfectly crispy, golden-brown skin.
• Use kitchen twine to truss the chicken, promoting even cooking and an elegant presentation.
• Stuff the cavity with fragrant herbs and citrus to infuse deep, complex flavors throughout the meat.
• Generously brush melted butter over the skin for a rich, luxurious golden exterior.
• Check internal temperature with a meat thermometer to nail the perfect 165°F without drying out the meat.
• Let the roasted chicken rest, allowing juices to redistribute and maximize tenderness and flavor.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Roasting
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 400
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 500 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 8 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 40 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg