roast chicken with lemon and rosemary roast potatoes

I've been a snob about by Italian family's Sunday chicken (served after spaghetti) for as long as I can remember. This chicken kicks that chicken's ass! Not in an illegal cock fighting way; in a delicious way! Thanks JO for getting drunk and inventing this. I'm getting drunk and mimicking you as I speak!

tried this last year on the 15th May...now cooking it again tis year 15th May for Daddys Birthday dinner.... he loves this recipe so much...I LOVE IT TOO... thanks Jamie..

so tasty i love all this ingredients thank u jamie

This recipe is amazing! I was skeptical.. But after trying it - it is amazing! The oven does all the work!

Greetings Jamie from New Zealand...<br /> <br /> Made this for dinner last nite with your pumpkin with smoked paprika recipe, and served with greens of beans and courgettes. Absolutely delish! and will never buy a roast chook from the supermarket again. <br /> <br /> Total hit with my family.... this will def be a regular in my house.<br /> <br /> Love your recipes.<br />

very very very delicious. just had a home dinner with mom, both amazed at taste!! thanx a lot Jamie!!! love all your recipies!!

Great recipe , but are J's intstructions re timings confusing ? I re-read it 10 times and it still didn't make sense. Am I going mad ? Anyone else confused over it ?<br /> Surely it's incredibly simple !!!!!!<br />

this was delish! i'm new to cooking and everyone raved about this chicken, my confidence was boosted through the roof! thank you!

Cheers from Egypt, I ve tried several recipes from your website and they all turn out to be amazing, but I have to say that this is the best! Than Jamie it's lovely and healthy

This was amazing... so simple but delicious. I changed it slightly - after rubbing chicken with pepper and salt I made a mix of mustard paste and bees honey and rubbed that over too. Served it with mango rice salad and it was well received.. Great recipe

I made this with sweet potato and the frozen potatoes I had on hand (all I had and didn't feel like going to the grocery) and it was AMAZING! Man, bacon just makes everything better, doesn't it? And the lemon in the chicken -insane.

Great. Next time after mixing the potatoes with the fat I would cook on a separate tray as after my chicken released more juice and the potatoes were swimming and soggy by the end.

I am the number ONE cook in my neighborhood after serving this excellent dish to the friends next door! Only the carcass was left! : )

Just seen this on Twitter and cooked for my girlfriend for Sunday dinner. Delicious, and simple. Makes chicken roast exciting, cheers Jamie. I'll have to get a book, what's it in?

Thanks Jamie!! Looks yummy!!! MUST try it!Greetings from Mauritius :)

cool

one of my fav JO recipes.. it is Heaven.. for me and the bird :)

I was wondering if you could use only a chicken breast instead of a whole chicken for the recipe?<br /> I wanted to cook something for the family. Something that the children would like.<br /> <br /> Greetings from Belgium

This is an awesome roast chicken recipe. It's simple, take little preparation time and tastes delish. Thank you.

I invented this recipe while I was drunk and you all lap it up!

Hi Jamie and members. I have seen this recipe so many times and have always wanted to try it,however I am not keen on using the whole chicken as I really dont like the skin of the chicken. Can I use chicken pieces instead and then just quarter the lemon? Would it work? any ideas.<br /> ps I just love love the way you cook

Cooking this right now, it has made my house smell amazing, thanks for a great recipe. I can't wait to get to sit down and eat this. <br /> <br /> Emma, atlanta Ga USA

I made this for dinner last night and I give it 5 out of 5 stars! It was so good. The meat was very flavorful and the potatos came out with a nice crust on the outside and were mealy on the inside. I used the bacon but instead of crumbling it over the potatos I crumbled it over the brocolli I made as our veggie dish. The kids and husband ate every bite with no complaints and asked for seconds of everything that was served. That's really saying something because it's hard to get those two to eat something new and they also hate veggies. Great roast chicken recipe that the whole family will like.

First time roast chicken... Easy and delightful... Thanks Jamie!

nice one jamie, i used some paprika and masala just for some color and more flavour

The Other Half gave this a whirl for our Bank Holiday dinner - tasted out of this world! I'll have to be careful now, he'll start thinking that he can actually cook ;)

OMG, How do you make it look soooooooooooooooo good? when i made it, it looked like bits of crispy stuff. u make me so jealous jamie!

Man, I'm a really good cook.

looks delicious!

tasted sublime the lemon flavored the meat delicious,crispy bacon&rosemary got the tatties absolutely superb,i added creme fraiche to the roasties also..

When Jamie says to "Toss the potatoes in the pan while still hot".. Can somebody tell me what pan is it? and will it be a hot pan or what? help!!

Hi James,

If you took a minute to READ the recipe again, you would find that the cooked lemon and the garlic would be needed to fill the chicken. So there you go, stop pointing the finger and take a good hard look at yourself (or what you have wrote) first.

Hey Jamie and viewers,

I'v cooked this once before, and took the receipe of this webpage and it's absolutly awesome. I cook this for my partner now once a week, because for some reason Sainsburys only has deals on 2.3 kg chicken which could feed 4, we use the rest of the chicken to make panines!

This reciepe is one the best, far better than Delia's which I must say is a load of old' crap! :)

Keep up the good work Jamie, you've inspired people to cook and cook and cook :)

Hi, can some one help me please?

Do I need to wrap the chicken with aluminum foil?

So, does this mean total cooking time is 1.5 hours?

Thanks.

I really enjoyed making this! Im 25 and don't cook often but thought i'd give mum a break for one sunday! Everyone loved it. I always seem to make a mess and get abit stressed while serving though! any tips jamie??

Made this last xmas - total hit!! Tastes sublime!!!Thanks Jaimie!

Made this last weekend was the best roast chicken ever! The seasoning of black pepper and sea salt in the morning made the chicken taste fantastic, the meat just fell of the bone fantastic juicy chicken! I've never made roast potatoes from sratch and I have to say they were the best roasts ever.

Absolutely fantastic!!! This is the first time I made a roast and it was finger lick'n good, thanks Jamie

i came across this recipe and thought i would give it ago, sounds pretty straightforward but i managed to mess it up!!! i put the potatoes on for 12mins but they were all mashed. As for the chicken it looked diseased (white as a ghost) and that was after 1hr 30. just to let you know i have never cooked anything before in my life and clearly i need a lot of help and practice. jamie if possible something a bit easier and a bit more colorful. thank you !!!! i'm still smiling ;-)

I dont have a lemon...:(, or tyme, or a chicken :P

looks very yummy

I used this recipe to make my first ever chicken roast and it turned out fantastic! I added vegetables to the potatoes in the pan (mushrooms, courgettes, tomatoes, onions, green beans) and they turned out fantastic and added some vitamin C to balance out the meal. Great recipe, Jamie!

it was superb yummy.... am a single/working mum, cook only simple dishes for my kids.. Try it over weekend !!!! And for once, my kids complimented my cooking and i was so proud and happy... Is really as easy as ABC !!! will be trying more recipes and cook more !!!!

James,

First time cooking for me, but I think that the reason you cook the potatoes first is that you cook them with the garlic and lemon which then needs to go into the chicken. I think it's just a saving on effort thing.

Stealth

Wicked, best chicken roast that i have had to date! :)

James,

Looking at it you leave the spuds to one side for 45mins.

Hi James

Do not be arrogant-this is a very clear recipe for people you can actually cook. See, lots of us could do it...so whay JO is to blame?

Im doing it now but it seems to me you have put it in the wrong order, you tell us to cook the potatoes but then they just get left on the side for 45 minutes while the chicken is cooking. Wouldnt it be better if you told us to start cooking the chicken first and while that is cooking get on with the potatoes? or am i doing it wrong and the potatoes go in with the chicken for the full 1hr 30?
Its not very clear Jamie, i expected better from you. (im getting ready for the backlash of Jamie arse lickers now telling me how dumb i am and how great you are)

Jamie, you are a STAR mate!! Thank you for your recipes and thank you for all the good work that you do for others! Xx

we made ths tonight and it was fantastic - the chicken was so moist and the potatos cooked to perfection - i didnt have time to rub the chicken and let rest but it was still fantastic.
we are now cooking down the chicken to stock for bisque tomorrow.
fantastic recipe - going to be a weekly one i think - perfect for a family with picky kids - all were fightng for more bacon

I cooked this for my xmas dinner with friends. first time ever i roasted meat and i have to say it was easy, delicious, sinfully tasty looking and the potatoes were just pure poetry...

Jamie, I would like to thank you for such a wonderful recipe you have given. The chicken that I cooked today was so unique. It was vey light, yummy with minimum oil, yet juicy. Me and my husband thoroughly enjoyed it.'Keep up your good work.

Jamie, I love everything you stand for in cooking. From making a stand about school dinners to showing up supermarkets like Tescos you are an inspiration. Anyway, I have never cooked a chicken in my life but this recipe appeared on Google so I will give it a go.

The best and easiest chicken I have ever cooked! It is always a hit with family and friends!
THANK YOU for creating this receipe!!!

Whilst I thought the recipe was a good one, i found the taste outcomes slightly bland. and whilst jamie is certainly talented, he is no feran adria!

cheers

simon j

I've invested in an organic, free range chicken.. (about £11!!!) from M&S and I was looking for a recipe to do it justice. So I have all the ingredients and people coming round tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes! If not, you owe me £11. Ha ha.

could I do rubbing salt & pepper thing the night before, I will be cooking chicken for lunch this saturday. I am after max flavor. please reply. thanx very much

I love chicken, and this is one of the best ways to cook it! http://recipe85.com/

Hi, my lovely boyfriend is cooking this now, smells so good can't wait to taste it! Thanks for sharing your recipes online, it is great that you share it with everyone and people don't have to pay to share your knowledge and talent, ....

Just wanted to say you're a great inspiration and really respect the way you use your talent, status and knowledge to strive to improve society, unlike some well known chefs i will not mention,

hate tesco even more now,

there're lots of people behind you, hugh and heston and just want to say many appreciate and respect you all and keep up the good work :)

Best wishes!

Jamie;
I've made this recipe for years and it's always been a success; I'm making it again for mom's birthday on friday, we're totally your fans.
I wish I could see more of you in TV around here!
You're amazing!!!

Michelle
Mexico City

are this all good comments for real?

Hello Jamie,
Knowing about you from my lovely- cooking- addict-roomate when i was studying in Nottingham.Now back to work in China,saw your brilliant cooking program about roast chicken with lemon and rosemary roast potatoes,so attractive,you and your food.Personally, i am a potato addict, loving any cooking with potato,so this piece of recipe means a lot to me,like all your other fans, i cant wait to try it out next day.Thanks for your talent and sharing with us.
Best wishes to you and your family

Used this recipe on Sunday and it was the most delicous chicken I've ever tasted!! Spuds were yummy too!!

Jamie you are blinding!!!!

Have been watching yours and Hugh F.W channel 4 programs and on your reccommendation have been buying all my meat from a butcher and fruit and veg for our local market. I can honestly say will never buy it from tesco again!!! The guys from the market have loads of choice (not to mention were a good laugh!!) and you can get some brilliant deals from them so have been making savings too- hubby is well impressed!!!

Thanks again Jamie!!!

Jamie,

I cooked my very first roast chicken today, and just to add pressure, I decided to invite my entire family over for dinner (not a common event). Well, thanks to your wonderful recipe and clear directions the meal was an instant success (and was a rock star for the evening!)

Thanks so much for sharing Jamie!

Cheers,
Krista

Jamie, we loved the recipe!! I can see why some would say that the potatoes would be bland if the recipe wasn't followed correctly (I almost missed the drippings step).. But everything was fantastic - chicken was flavorful and moist, potatoes were crispy and yummy! Didn't have thyme on hand so I just used rosemary instead.. still yummy! Thanks for a fantastic recipe!! ; )

my friend says she cant cook but is doing chicken tonight so I gave her this recipe. Now she is a cordon bleu chef and has many guests around for dinner making her the real social butterfly. Thanks for changing her life Jamie.

This recipe is simply and purely absolutely and totaly 100% delightfull !!!!!!!! Ivan made this recipe twice already, each time came up great, was absolute pleasure to eat. Jamie, you are GENIUS man, thank you heaps !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!xxxxxxxxxx

I couldn't but help think that it tasted of chicken. Everything from JO's books tastes of chicken. Even the chicken. Bizarre.

I had a few friends over for dinner and served this chicken as a main course... it was delightful. Was a bit skeptic about the potatoes (I am Maltese and we like using a lot of seasoning :)). However, everything was simply yummy... especially the potatoes... Hehe. Everyone enjoyed it! Thanks

Hello Jamie,

Do you ever actually read these comments I wonder...hmm perhaps you employ a comment-reader...Anyhow, I've been a fan from the start. Not an adoring groupee type fan (so not my style) but more of an admirer of what you've chosen to do with your lime light-respect where respects due I say!

Perhaps your comment reader could pass on compliments to my top chef, this recipe was a super chicken licken delight! Made whilst listening to blue grass and consumed by candle light it felt like a real live grown up meal! we loved the subtle flavours.

Thanks for being you and doing what you do; I think you rock ! Keep on keeping on!

Ayley

I tried this for Christmas and it was fantastic. I have been a vegetarian for 20 years. But not anymore! This roasted chicken convinced me.

I saw you on tv cooking this recipe but didn't take down notes. It looked really yummy, so I googled it and luckily found it on your website! I just tried this recipe tonight and my family absolutely loved it! Even my 6-year old son (who is a picky eater) rated it a 10/10. I have to admit this is the best roast chicken I ever tasted! 10000000000x better than the ones you buy at take-out. The meat was tender and juicy and very flavorful. The lemon inside the chicken absolutely did the trick. And it was very simple to do! I can't believe it tasted this great (like gourmet) consisdering it's my first time cooking whole roasted chicken.

I did a few things differently though, coz i think i saw you (on tv) pound up some scallions, with the garlic, herbs and some lemon zest, then added olive oil to this mixture and then rubbed the mixture all over the chicken before putting it in the cavity. After cooking and before discarding the lemon, I stabbed it a few times inside the cavity. I also used commercial chicken, (free-range organic chicken is not readily available at the local grocery store). Still, it turned out great! Thanks jamie! I can't wait to try your perfect roast chicken recipe for my husband's birthday next week. Maybe i'll go to my mom's--she has free-range chickens in her backyard. Then I can compare the diffrence. :)

xoxo regards from the philippines xoxo

I throughly enjoyed myself making this dish on a Sunday afternoon with glass of Chardonnay.

It smelled and tasted FANTASTIC! The best Chicken I've EVER tasted!! Yum!

It has become our little treat in the house. I have made it a few times now. Winner every single time. I normally leave potatoes skin on and roast with some other rooted vegs as well. Making a gravy with the roast juice, it is nice for 2 or a bigger group.

I made this yesterday, my man was really impressed, think it may have some interesting qualities as he enjoyed the chicken so much that he took me straight upstairs for stuffing!

This is by far the BEST roast chicken I have ever tasted or cooked!
I have been cooking for a long time , and most people consider me a gourmet cook. So , when I say this is the best, easiest, most WONDERFUL roast chicken..... it is!
Just one point- I always use organic , free-range chickens. Makes a HUGE difference!
Michele

what if your chicken is over 2kg. i got a large chicken which is near 3kg. how to i change the cooking times?

It definitely smells good..All my guests could smell it along the corridor..and it tasted amazing...

Thanks jamie for the recepi!! It was so good.. everyone on the table love it!

i did this 0nce and 0000mg the best chicken ever
jamie u r'0ck and i l0ve uuuu
im s0 g0nna make this f0r christmas

i am cooking it with my dad right now so hopefully will turn out ok. It smells and looks delicious. We have left the skins on our potato to make it a bit haeltier. But i still think your GREAT

I'm going to cook this roast on christmas day. It's gonna be the first time i make a roast myself... it sounds easy and looks yummy! Can't wait!!!

In yr 4 at buckstone we are learning about food and we have your book for tpic reading and you are a relly good cook

I work as an au pair in England now and my kids absolutely love that, so I will do it again for tonight. Easy to cook English roast (even for Germans)! =)

My friend prepared this dish and brought it on a beach outing...it was so YUMMYLICIOUS!!!!....for a min, i forgot all about the sun, sand and the sea...:)

triumph. followed this to a tee and it rocked. i used an organic chicken and also added whole button mushrooms and squash slices at the same time as the potatoes. superb!

Made this for 6 friends last night. One is a chef and really fussy about his food and hard top please! It was totally amazing. Everyone loved it. Best roast chicken i ever tasted. I could not get thyme so just used rosemary throughout. Served with minted peas and Vichy carrots. Will def be making this again. Would love to see some Kosher recepies.

This was a huge hit at my house. My youngest had given up on chicken and ate both legs. I don't even like potatoes especially and I had seconds. Very easy, very good.
And I am a terrible cook.

Ok it's in the oven, my mouth is watering i've not had a proper roast in a year! Stupid me thought cooking normal food and living in Egypt wouldn't be a problem HA HA! Can't wait to taste it :-)


I'm soooooooooooo excited!

cooking this recipe right now..hope it goes well!smells really good so far and the instructions are pretty good.

Have to say jamie..as a worker of sainsburys i have high hopes!
so i hope you prove your worth espesially after this comment

"16. aimee largent Wed 17 Sep 2008 14:57 i cooked it and it tasted like aboslute shit

what are yaaa doin"

Is it me or does it not mention when to use the thyme in this recipe? either way will be trying it tonight.ta/

very yummy! the meat is tender & juicy. I couldn't find fresh thyme, so I used chinese pasley instead, also taste good!

its too delicious

what is fluffing potatoes??

chicken recipe was excellent...potatoes were boring!

how di i make them look like the picture

Lemon makes the meat so soft and juicy!

yo J this chicken is dope! even my vegetarian flatmate loved the potatoes (may have forgot to tell him they were cooked with the meat...oops). Love your recipes!

Cheers Jamie - lovely moist chicken, with a definite lemon "hit" in the breast meat - fan diddly tastic!!!

Jamie great show but less F-----g- please, leave that to the cooks.not chiefs.
YOU DONT NEED BAD LANGUAGE.
The program is very good,I hope you will carry on.You have a lot of people out here who support you but are to busy(lazy) to take time out to let you know.
I hope you may get down to WORTHING WEST SUSSEX one day and you will see you have a very good following here.
All the best for now, Regards John & Carol.

Thanks for this great suggestion to roast the Chicken! My family and guests loved it and were delighted that the meat (esp. the breast) didn't turn out dry.

One thing we found was that the potatoes were sweet to taste though I did not add one bit of sugar to the cooking process. But they loved it!

Jamie I have never liked you one bit but now I have to sadly admit out of desperation I tried this recipe and my gosh WONDERFUL ,GORGEOUS, AWESOME meal and everyone loved it . I have to now bite my lip and say you are the bestttttttttttttttttttttt ever and THANK YOU SO MUCH XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

tried this recipe for sunday lunch for my family
it was delicious! everyone enjoyed it
thanks jamie

yummy!!! its good!! really!!!
thanks!!!!
xx

Hello :) I tried this recipe this evening and it was amazing. I am a really nervous cook and don't have much confidence in my cooking abilities however the meal was a sucess and I want to try more!

TIP: for a subtle favor and if your boyfriend brings home a lime NOT a lemon then go with the lime! A surprising sucess!!

Thanks...an inspired Mrs Beeton wannabe :)

X

I love your food!

my fantastic fianee cooked this for me it was the best chicken i ever had he made it look so easy he is going to try some more recipies soon xx thank's darl

Made this last Sunday, and got it in the oven again for dinner tonight. One tip, put the lemon inside the chicken before stabbing it with a fork. This way all the flavor that oozes out goes straight in to the bird, not all over your fingers!

I prepared this meal last night for the wife. Being half Spanish and quarter Italian, she has very exacting standards about her food, so the pressure was on. I am not a regular cook, but I can follow instructions. It was a doddle and the end result was just as described in the recipe. It looked great and tasted delicious. I couldn't believe it. Simple tips like fluffing the potatoes up to make them extra crispy may be taken for granted by more experienced cooks but were really appreciated and made such a difference.

Like the rest of the nation, I too am now a Jamie Oliver fan. Thank you so much.

jamie, once agian i have thought how to cook such a bird, and read that you do it just the same, very very satisfying meal, i personally use some lemon zest on the skin of the chook to give it that extra, WOW !!!

keep trucking on !

I copy - past:

yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yumyum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yumyum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yumyum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yumyum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yumyum yum

I cut two small lemons in half and stuffed them in the cavity with the thyme and garlic then roasted the chicken, it was fantastic, thanks Jamie

i cooked it and it tasted like aboslute shit

what are yaaa doin

Best...chicken...ever

Wow this looks really good. I love roast chicken. This recipe definitely deserves an organic chicken, not the unhappy ones from the supermarket.

Tried this recipe today. Seems like the breast meat did not get much of the flavour. Any ideas how those flavors right into the meat?

Other than that, Fantastic recipe!

Jamie that sounds amazing and definitely going to try out at the weekend!

Ooh it's making my mouth water just reading it!

Yum yum x

wow i loved it i cooked it 4 the whole famaly

lovely jabbly

thanks jamie xx

yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yumyum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yumyum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yumyum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yumyum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yum yumyum yum =] <3 [=

The meat is really delicious!

Tastes even yummyer than it looks!