Buffet Roast Chicken Recipes

Steps:

• 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 butter 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, and fennel in a 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.

Steps:

• In a bowl, cream together butter, half the tarragon and all the lemon rind; set aside.
• Wipe chicken inside and out and pat dry. Sprinkle cavity lightly with remaining tarragon and salt and pepper to taste.
• Working from the neck of the chicken, gently but firmly slide hand between skin and flesh to separate, careful not to tear the skin.
• Using hands, evenly spread creamed mixture in the space between the skin and the breast meat. Pull skin back in place. Truss legs and wings with string. Brush with melted buter.
• Place onion, carrot and celery in bottom of roasting pan. Set chicken on top and pour in stock. Cover loosly with foil and roast in 400F oven about 1 1/4 hours or until tender; baste with pan juices every 20 minutes.
• With each basting turn to another side, first breast down, then on one sider, then the other.
• Finish cooking with breast up and remove foil during last 10 minutes of cooking (chicken should be well browned).
• Remove from pan and let cool. Refrigerate before carving. Serve slightly chilled or at room temperature.