This method of roasting a chicken makes the best, crispy skin! I also love using my cast iron pan because it transfers from the stove to the oven so easily.
Yes. Another roasted chicken. After the Roasted Chicken & Potatoes with Garlic, Lemon & Rosemary, and experiments with brining, there’s only one thing that I haven’t done yet — photograph step-by-step whole chicken prep. I either need to grow another set of arms to hold my camera or have my husband help me.
I’d rather have another set of arms (for other reasons as well), but I may recruit Hubs. He’s not a bad photographer. He’s actually taken a class.
So what makes this roasted chicken recipe special? The technique, I think. The whole cooking process takes place in an oven-safe skillet. A little on the stove, but mostly in the oven. Plus it’s fast… like 45 minutes.
And the skin gets nice and crispy. I’m so not a chicken skin eater, but I almost ate it this time.
It’s also adapted from the Zuni Cafe Cookbook
Our little family gets by just eating half of a roasted chicken and the rest is saved for another night. (That won’t last long, though. It seems our little ones are pretty carnivorous.)
I wrote a big ol’ post all about how to roast a chicken! Click over to see my How To Roast a Chicken (the Easy Way!) tutorial!
If you make one of my recipes, be sure to post it on social media and tag me at @perrysplate or #perrysplate so I can send you some love!
Zuni Cafe Roasted Chicken
This method of roasting a chicken makes the best, crispy skin! I also love using my cast iron pan because it transfers from the stove to the oven so easily.
Ingredients
- 1 chicken, 2¾- to 3½ pounds
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme, marjoram, rosemary or sage, about ½ inch long
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ¾ to 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Prep the chicken: 1 to 3 days before serving remove and discard the lump of fat inside the chicken. Rinse the chicken and pat very dry inside and out.
- Approaching from the edge of the cavity, slide a finger under the skin of each of the breasts, making 2 little pockets. Use the tip of your finger to gently loosen a pocket of skin on the outside of the thickest section of each thigh. Using your finger, shove an herb sprig into each of the 4 pockets.
- Season the chicken liberally all over with salt and pepper. Sprinkle a little of the salt just inside the cavity, on the backbone, but don’t otherwise worry about seasoning the inside. Twist and tuck the wing tips behind the shoulders. Cover loosely and refrigerate.
- Prepare Oven and Pan: 45 minutes to 1 hour before serving Preheat the oven to 475°F.
- Choose a shallow flameproof roasting pan or dish barely larger than the chicken, or use a 10-inch skillet with an all-metal handle. Preheat the pan over medium heat.
- Wipe the chicken dry and set it breast side up in the pan. It should sizzle. Place the chicken in the pan in the center of the oven and listen and watch for it to start browning within 20 minutes. If it doesn’t, raise the temperature progressively until it does. The skin should blister, but if the chicken begins to char, or the fat is smoking, reduce temperature by 25 degrees.
- After about 30 minutes, turn the bird over. Roast for another 10 to 20 minutes, depending on size. Flip the chicken back over to recrisp the breast skin, another 5 to 10 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the oven and turn off the heat. Lift the chicken from the roasting pan and set on a plate.
- Carefully pour the clear fat from the roasting pan, leaving the lean drippings behind. Add about a tablespoon of water to the hot pan and swirl it. Slash the stretched skin between the thighs and breasts of the chicken, then tilt the bird and plate over the roasting pan to drain the juice into the drippings. You can let it rest, covered, while you finish your side dishes.
- Allow to rest for at least 10-15 minutes, even if you have no other preparations to do. Cut the chicken into pieces, spread on the warm platter.
This post may contain affiliate links. Any purchases made by using these links won’t cost you any extra and helps keep my content free. These links may be Amazon links as I am part of the Amazon Associate Program.
Natalie
Saturday 17th of September 2011
Jasmine - Thanks for letting me know!! I'm so glad you liked it.
Jasmine Atiyeh
Friday 16th of September 2011
I made this today and it was delicious!!!
Natalie
Saturday 3rd of September 2011
Aggie - Wow, you were a lucky one! Umm... wanna gimme a call the next time you go to SF? :) It's only a 4-hour drive for me!
Aggie
Friday 2nd of September 2011
I was lucky to have one meal at Zuni last year, the only time I was in San Fran and it was just for the day. A friend of mine from college (we actually worked together at a sports bar) works there as a chef and the daytime menu writer...I was smitten by the restaurant. We were about to get on a flight so we kept our meal simple...ceasar salad and a bowl of polenta...he brought us out some dishes to sample which was so cool. the food was so simple and homey and out of this world. I have the cookbook but for whatever reason haven't tried anything out of it yet!!
Jolene - EverydayFoodie
Wednesday 31st of August 2011
I love the smell of a chicken roasting, and sometimes make them simply for the smell :-) They taste pretty fantastic too!
I never know what to do with the leftovers though, so I always either just make soup, or sandwiches. I like these other ideas.