Honey Meyer Lemon and Thyme Roasted Chicken
It has been raining a lot, here in SoCal. But we need the rain. We really do. So during this time of staying in, I have been trying new recipes with chicken, and today it will be Honey Meyer Lemon and Thyme Roasted Chicken.
I love sticky, savory, and sweet, and since my Meyer Lemons, have ripened, it’s time to use them right? I love my Meyer Lemon tree. It is so small, because it is a dwarf version, but it packs a big punch!
This little tree can sprout a lot of Meyer Lemons! Now, for those of you who don’t know, Meyer Lemons, are a hybrid, of lemons, and oranges, if I am not mistaken, so the flavor of these lemons, are not too tart, as a traditional lemon would be. Meyer lemons, are a bit sweet. At least I think so.
I always thought that Meyer Lemons, would ripen in spring, or summer, but I have learned from others, that they actually ripen in November-December! Who knew? So I am so in the mood for some sticky, sweet, savory chicken on this blustery day, and this recipe for Honey Meyer Lemon and Thyme Roasted Chicken will soothe my soul today!
I start by washing my chicken thoroughly, inside, and out, and pat it dry, and set into my handy dandy Cast Iron Skillet! I have already pre-heated my oven to 425 degrees, so while the chicken is sitting on the sidelines, I make a mixture, of a little olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and fresh thyme leaves. I set that aside, and make another bowl of melted butter (salted butter) and drop in a few thin slices of Meyer Lemon.
I then take these buttery lemon slices, and tuck them under the skin of the chicken, in between the chicken breast meat, and skin, I should say. I also pour a but of the melted butter in there as well. I also, stuffed some onion, and Meyer lemon halves, in the cavity of the bird. Then I tie this bird up with some kitchen twine, and brush on the olive oil mixture, that I made earlier. I brush it all over, using a silicone brush, because regular basting brushes tend to have bristles that detach, so silicone, is my go-to basting brush.
After basting the chicken all over, I let it bake for 30 minutes. Now, this olive oil mixture, is delicious on its own, so if you decide to just cook the chicken through with just this mixture that it has on it, that perfectly fine, but, I’m going for sticky/sweet as well, so after 30 minutes, I baste the chicken with a mixture of a bit more olive oil, and honey, to give it a nice crispiness, and sweet flavor!
I then placed it back in the oven for another 15 minutes, then I removed the chicken from the oven, and basted it one more time with the honey mixture, and placed it back in the oven again, for another 15-20 minutes.
The flavor was so yummy, and everyone raved over the sweetness from the Meyer Lemon. This ill become, a family favorite, for a rainy weekend at home. Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken (3-4 LBS)
- 1/4 cup of honey
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 Meyer lemon, cut in half, then one half cut in slices.
- 1 half on a yellow onion, halved
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, divided
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees
- Rinse of chicken, and pat dry.
- In a small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon thyme.
- Brush mixture all over outside of chicken, until evenly coated. set aside.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine melted butter, with four thin slices of meyer lemon, and remaining teaspoon of thyme.
- Place Meyer lemon slices, under skin of chicken breast, between the skin and the meat.
- Place remanind halved meyer lemon, halved small onion quarters, and two garlic cloves, in cavity of chicken.
- Bake chicken in a roasting pan, or cast iron pan for 30 minutes.
- While that is baking, combine remaining olive oil, and honey, in a small bowl, and set aside.
- After the chicken has been baking for 30minutes, remove from oven, and brush on half of honey mixture, all over chicken.
- Place bake in oven for 15 minutes.
- After 15 minutes have passed, remove chicken from oven, and brush on remaining honey mixture, and roast for another final 15-20 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.
Other recipes that I think you will love with this meal:
PARKER HOUSE HONEY BUTTER ROLLS
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