Easy Salt Roasted Chicken Recipe - Chef John's Method

Ingredients

• 1 (3 1/2) pound whole chicken at room temperature
• 3 tablespoons kosher salt, or as needed
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 0.33 cup chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon water, or as needed
• 2 tablespoons cold butter, cut into four pieces
• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) for optimal roasting.
2. Thoroughly dry the chicken's exterior with paper towels. Tuck the wing tips underneath, place in a large oven-safe skillet, and optionally snip off the tail using scissors.
3. Liberally sprinkle kosher salt inside the chicken cavity and all over its back and sides. Secure the legs together with kitchen twine. Generously coat the breasts with salt, ensuring they're well-covered. Clean any excess salt from the skillet.
4. Roast the chicken in the preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thigh (avoiding the bone) registers 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Transfer to a serving platter and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
5. Using tongs and a paper towel, carefully remove about 90 percent of the chicken fat from the skillet, leaving the flavorful browned bits behind. Place the skillet over medium-high heat and add fresh thyme leaves. Sauté until the thyme wilts, about 1 to 2 minutes. Pour in lemon juice, chicken broth, and water, scraping the bottom of the pan to dissolve the browned bits. Simmer until the sauce reduces by approximately half, about 1 to 2 minutes.
6. Lower the heat to low, add cold butter, and stir gently until the butter starts to melt. Incorporate any accumulated juices from the rested chicken into the sauce. Continue stirring until the butter is fully incorporated and the sauce slightly thickens, about 1 minute. Remove from heat, season to taste with salt, black pepper, and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Spoon the delicious sauce over the roasted chicken and serve immediately.

Nutrition

• Calories: 554 kcal
• Fat Content: 36 g
• Fiber Content: 0 g
• Sugar Content: 0 g
• Sodium Content: 4604 mg
• Protein Content: 54 g
• Cholesterol Content: 185 mg
• Carbohydrate Content: 1 g
• Saturated Fat Content: 12 g
• Unsaturated Fat Content: 0 g