Oven Roasted Chicken

1 (5 to 6 pound) roasting chicken
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 large bunch fresh thyme, plus 20 sprigs
1 lemon, halved
1 head garlic, cut in half crosswise
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter, melted
1 large yellow onion, thickly sliced - quartered
4 carrots cut into 2-inch chunks
Olive oil



Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Remove the chicken giblets. Rinse the chicken inside and out.
Remove any excess fat and leftover pin feathers and pat the outside dry.
Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the chicken.
Stuff the cavity with the bunch of thyme, both halves of lemon, and all the garlic.
Brush the outside of the chicken with the olive oil and sprinkle again with salt and pepper.
Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the chicken.
Place the onions & carrots, roasting pan. Toss with salt, pepper, 20 sprigs of thyme, and olive oil.
Spread around the bottom of the roasting pan and place the chicken on top.
Roast the chicken for 1 1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear when you cut between a leg and thigh. Remove the chicken and vegetables to a platter and cover with aluminum foil for about 20 minutes.

Slice the chicken onto a platter and serve it with the vegetables.

Who knew this was so easy? 

 I carved the chicken & made more chicken stock for the Chicken Tortilla Soup.
The chicken salad sandwiches were excellent.
One chicken can easily generate 8+ high protein servings.
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/perfect-roast-chicken-recipe.html?oc=linkback