Juicy roast chicken with two whole lemons tucked inside: no basting, no fat, just salt, pepper and lemon.
About this Italian recipe
Roasting a chicken with whole pricked lemons inside is a simple Italian home method. The lemons steam the bird from within and flavour the juices.
Ingredients you will need
The main ingredients are whole chicken, small lemons, salt, black pepper. Exact quantities are in the recipe card below.
How long it takes
Allow 1 hr 50 min in total: 10 min of preparation, 1 hr 30 min of cooking and 10 min of resting, chilling or soaking. The recipe serves 4.
Inspired by Marcella Hazan
Roast chicken with lemons is one of the recipes Marcella Hazan is most remembered for. This is our own take on the idea. Read our profile of Marcella Hazan.
This is our own home-kitchen version of a classic dish. It is not Marcella Hazan’s recipe and is not endorsed by them. For the chef’s own recipes, see their official books and restaurants.
Lemon Roast Chicken
Ingredients
Method
- Heat the oven to 180°C. Pat the chicken dry inside and out.
- Rub the salt and pepper all over the chicken and inside the cavity.
- Roll the lemons on the counter, prick each 20 times with a skewer and put them in the cavity. Close the opening with toothpicks.
- Put the chicken breast side down in a roasting tin and roast for 30 minutes.
- Turn breast side up and roast for 30–35 minutes more.
- Raise the oven to 200°C and roast for 20 minutes until golden and 74°C in the thickest part. Rest for 10 minutes and serve with the juices.