Roast Chicken French-Style (Poulet Roti)
Roast chicken, or poulet roti as the French call it, is a staple in my home. With some roasted vegetables and a big loaf of French bread, it’s probably one of my favorite meals to make and eat.
Poulet Roti
I thought it appropriate to update my recipe for poulet roti as I’ve slightly modified it since the last time I shared the recipe here. My tweaks have made the recipe more straightforward and even more fuss-free.
The first time I made roast chicken, I used Julia Child’s recipe. The poulet roti ended up tasting great, but it was a lot of work constantly basting the chicken as it baked in the oven.
Du Beurre
While brushing the chicken with butter is key to getting a chicken with crisp, golden skin, I’ve found that a simple brush of butter in the beginning is just as effective as continually basting it.
You could also use olive oil if you really wanted, but the skin won’t be as crisp (or tasty!) as using butter. It is the French way, after all.
French Herbs
I love stuffing my poulet roti with French herbs like rosemary, thyme, and sage. These fresh herbs add great flavor and aroma to the chicken. Sometimes I’ll chop up the herbs real fine and sprinkle them all over the top of the chicken.
It doesn’t look as picturesque when I chop up the herbs and sprinkle them on top, but I find the herbs’ flavors shine through much better. It’s really your preference.
In addition, I utilize garlic and lemon to also provide the chicken with delicious flavor.
The Best Sides
My favorite way to serve this poulet roti is with roasted vegetables. I love the organic rainbow carrots they sell at my local farm stand, and often pick them up just for recipes like this. They are so delicious with just a drizzle of olive oil, sea salt, and freshly ground pepper.
You can also serve this roast chicken with potatoes, French bread, and/or salad. I love creating a simple frisée, endive, and radicchio salad that I dress with olive oil, sea salt, and lemon juice. It’s a refreshing compliment to the warm, comforting roast chicken.
Just before serving the poulet roti, I spoon the leftover juices in the pan over the chicken. The final touch makes this meal absolutely tantalizing. This is definitely a classic recipe that you’ll cherish for years to come.
Poulet Roti (Roast Chicken French-Style)
Classic roast chicken made with fresh herbs, butter, garlic, and lemon.
Ingredients
- 3.5 lb whole chicken, , skin on
- 2 sprigs of thyme
- 1 sprig of rosemary
- 1 sprig of sage
- 1 large clove garlic
- 1 lemon, vertically cut into quarters
- 1 1/2 tsp table salt (divided)
- freshly ground pepper
- olive oil (or melted unsalted butter)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. If you're going to add the herbs on top: remove the leaves from the thyme, rosemary and sage. Use a sharp knife to mince these herbs into fine pieces. Use your knife to mince the garlic clove as well before combining the minced garlic and minced herbs together. Temporarily set aside next to your cut up lemon quarters. If you're using whole herbs, simple preheat your oven and skip the rest of this step.
- Rinse and remove any giblets from the inside of the chicken. Thoroughly pat dry the chicken using paper towels.
- Drizzle olive oil over (or melted butter) over the chicken, using your hand to rub the oil all over the surface of the chicken (including its wings and legs). Flip the chicken over and repeat on the backside.
- Sprinkle 3/4 salt tsp all over the breast side of the chicken, including its wings and legs. Then sprinkle 1/4 tsp salt into the inside cavity of the chicken, before flipping the chicken over and sprinkling another 1/2 tsp of salt all over the backside of the chicken.
- Grind some fresh ground pepper over the backside of the chicken, then flip it over and grind some pepper over the breast side.
- Gently stuff the inside cavity of the chicken with the lemon quarters. If using minced herbs, cover the breast side (including legs and wings) of the chicken with the herb/garlic mixture. If using whole herbs, simply place the herbs and garlic clove in the inside cavity of the chicken as well. If you're stuffing the chicken with herbs, you can use twine to tie the chicken legs together to keep the cavity shut (optional).
- Grab a 9" by 11" baking dish and slightly grease the bottom of the dish with some oil or butter. Place the chicken into the dish (breast-side facing up), and place in the oven to bake.
- Bake the chicken for 1 hour and 30 minutes at 375°F or until a food thermometer reads 165°F when inserted in the thigh area and breast area. Loosely cover the chicken with a sheet of foil and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 4 ServingsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 475
I just want to dive right in Beeta! That chicken is beautiful – so gorgeously golden. It looked like it stepped out of a cooking magazine!
Aw, thank you so much, Jess! You are too sweet! XO
Your blog is more beautiful than ever, Beeta! I love this post. Roast organic chicken with all the trimmings (don’t hold back on the roast potatoes!) is the ultimate comfort dinner. xx
Thank you, Louise! I so appreciate all your kind words <3 And yes, roast potatoes are fantastic!! <3
Mother knows best. (And so does daughter!) This is wonderful!
Lol, thanks Adam!! 🙂
Thanks for sharing this beautifully written and photographed recipe! Chicken is and always has been a favorite meal for me. As a young boy growing up on a farm where my mom butchered our own hens and served them nearly every Sunday after church, it became a bona fide family standard in our home. As your recipe illustrates, chicken can be prepared simply and in an uncomplicated fashion. When done well, as with the herbs and gravy in your rendition, there is just nothing better; beautifully done, once again!
Thanks so much, Dan! That is so cool that you grew up on a farm! I’m sure you had awesome chicken <3
Roast chicken certainly has the power to make you feel at home. I think it goes well throughout the various seasons as well. In the summer you can eat it out on the back porch, like I would do with your recipe (!!!!), and then in the winter, it fills the kitchen with warm aromas and flavors. Also, the gravy looks very good. I’d love to drizzle it over veggies as well. 🙂
Thanks so much, Amanda! You’re right; it goes well with every season! I’m thinking it would be great with some of those bruschetta chips you whipped up as well! 😉
Saw this on Instagram – so gorgeous! Please tell me it’s easy – I’m always so intimidated to roast the whole bird!
Jessica, I promise this bird is so easy to make because you really pack in all the flavor beforehand. If you’re worried about the bird cooking properly, I recommend letting the chicken slightly warm so that it’s almost room temperature before you stick it in the oven. Sometimes roasting a chicken straight out of the fridge can take longer and cause certain parts (usually the thick parts) of the meat to take longer to cook. Let me know if you get a chance to try this recipe! Thanks so much for your kind words <3 XO
There is nothing more wonderful than a perfectly roasted chicken. Can’t wait to try your (and your Mom’s) recipe 🙂
Thanks so much, Karrie! I hope you enjoy the recipe! XO
Wow this chicken looks fantastic! You are right there is nothing like a roast chicken. It is so comforting. I love all of the herbs you put on the chicken and the sauce! Will be making this for sure!
Thanks so much, Kelley! I love cooking with herbs – makes everything so flavorful! I hope you get a chance to try the recipe. Much love XO