Roasted Lemon Chicken, Julia Child Style

5 from 5 votes

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Roasted Lemon Chicken , Julia Child Style – If we see a good looking chicken recipe, chances are we are going to try it. If it’s one that can be made in an old-fashion cast iron skillet, chances are even better that we will make it. If it happens to be the favorite roast chicken of one of the most famous cooking personalities of all time, consider it a done deal.

A roasted chicken with rosemary

What is this?

A close up of a roast chicken

If you know anything about the Guys from Platter Talk, you know that we like our chicken. It’s one of our favorite meals and it’s almost always a sure hit with our gaggle of six boys. This Roasted Lemon Chicken proved to be no exception.  The late Julie Child calls for a savory blend in her favorite roast chicken. We only had some fresh rosemary on hand but we weren’t disappointed by the outcome. The dish won particular accolades from our family crowd, for the lemon and savory flavoring of the accompanying carrots.  And then there was the aroma that filled our tiny lake cottage as this classic bird roasted. It was otherworldly, much like the lady behind the recipe.

A bowl of mashed potatoes

Parsley-Garlic Mashed Potatoes make for the perfect side dish to any chicken dinner.

If you’re a chicken lover, this roasted lemon chicken is a guaranteed hit. Among our many chicken recipes, we have a couple of other favorites that we have made. Namely, Thomas Keller’s Favorite Simple Roast Chicken, and our very own Rosemary Lemon Chicken.

A close up of a roast chicken
Thomas Keller’s Favorite Simple Roast Chicken
chicken drumsticks on a plate.
Rosemary Lemon Chicken

With today’s post, we are delighted to add Julia Child’s Lemon Herb Roast Chicken Recipe to the mix.  Be sure and give this one a try and as always, let us know your thoughts.  -Dan

a chicken thigh with carrots on a plate

Roasted Lemon Chicken, Julia Child Style

5 from 5 votes
Recipe by Julia Child
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 1 hour 5 minutes
Total: 1 hour 15 minutes
Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients 

  • 2 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/3 cup finely diced carrots
  • 1/3 cup finely diced onion
  • 1/3 cup finely diced celery
  • 1 teaspoon thyme, savory or mixed herbs, or 2 fresh thyme or savory sprigs
  • One 3 1/2- to 4-pound chicken
  • Salt
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • Parsley stems
  • Celery leaves
  • Six 1/8-inch-thick lemon slices
  • 1/2 cup sliced onion
  • 1/2 cup sliced carrots
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 3/4 cup chicken stock or broth

Instructions 

  • At 1Preheat the oven to 425°. Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a skillet. Add the diced carrots, onion and celery and cook over moderate heat until softened. Stir in the herbs.
  • Wash the chicken rapidly inside and out with hot water and pat thoroughly dry. For easier carving, cut out and discard the wishbone. Pull the neck skin up over the breast and secure it to the back with a toothpick. Salt and pepper the cavity and spoon in the cooked vegetables, a handful of parsley stems and celery leaves and the lemon slices. Massage the chicken all over with 1 tablespoon of the butter, then truss it. Alternatively, tie the ends of the drumsticks together and tuck the wings under the body.
  • Choose a flameproof roasting pan that is about 1 inch larger than the chicken. Salt the chicken all over and set it breast up on a rack in the pan. (Thoroughly wash all surfaces and utensils that have been in contact with the raw chicken.)
  • Roast the chicken in the oven for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, as follows:
  • At 15 minutes Brush the chicken with the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of butter. Scatter the sliced onion and carrot all around. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°.
  • At 45 minutes Brush the lemon juice over the chicken. If necessary, add 1/2 cup of water to the vegetables to prevent burning.
  • At 60 minutes Baste with the pan juices. Test for doneness: The drumsticks should move easily in their sockets; their flesh should feel somewhat soft. If not, continue roasting, basting and testing every 7 to 8 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer registers 165°.
  • Spear the chicken through the shoulders; lift to drain; if the last of the juices run clear yellow, the chicken is done. Let rest on a carving board for 15 minutes; discard the string.
  • Spoon all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the juices in the pan. Add the stock and boil until lightly syrupy, 5 minutes. Strain; you will have just enough to bathe each serving with a fragrant spoonful.

Nutrition

Calories: 311kcal, Carbohydrates: 7g, Protein: 22g, Fat: 22g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 95mg, Sodium: 190mg, Potassium: 379mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 3331IU, Vitamin C: 16mg, Calcium: 32mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Entree
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @plattertalk or tag #plattertalk!

A roast chicken with carrots


Meet the Platter Talk Guys

Dan & Scott split their time between Wisconsin and Southwest Florida and are dads to six boys. Good food runs through their veins, and they love showing others how to cook easy recipes.

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27 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    You can’t go wrong with a Julia Child recipe! This roast chicken looks absolutely moist and delicious! Now, you just made me so hungry! 🙂

  2. 5 stars
    Dan, you have completely blown me away with this roast chicken! Talk about tantalizing our taste buds! And I love how you spelled out the instructions so succinctly so that every home cook could feel confident enough to reproduce Julia’s beautiful chicken in their own kitchen. Thank you my friend!