This is one of those recipes you can’t make once: that’s to say, after the first time, you’re hooked. It is gloriously easy: you just put everything in the roasting dish and leave it to cook in the oven, pervading the house, at any time of year, with the summer scent of lemon and thyme – and of course mellow, almost honeyed garlic.
I got the idea of it from those long-cooked French chicken casseroles with whole garlic cloves and just wanted to spritz it up with lemon for summer. The wonderful thing about it is that you turn the lemon from being flavouring to being a major player; left in chunks to cook slowly in the oven they seem almost to caramelise and you can eat them, skin, pith and all, their sour bitterness sweetened in the heat.
What's flavour-intensifying low heat?? What temp is that for a fan forced oven?
Read step 1 of 'Method' D'oh!
Absolutely one of the most delicious roasted chicken recipes I have ever made. This is the second time I made this recipe and it was just as good as the first time. Unfortunately I didn't have any white wine or thyme (I substituted it with dried oregano) but it still came out moist and flavorful. The cooking time might seem like too long but it is worth it once you see how the meat just falls off the bone and the skin gets deliciously crispy. Personally I like to take the roasted lemon and garlic and rub it all over the chicken at the end. Be careful not to bite into a lemon seed because it will be bitter, better yet remove them before cooking lol.
I don't know what I did wrong. It tasted like foot. The chicken was so bitter and had the worst after taste of sour lemon and wine breath. Maybe it was the wine I used, perhaps the lemons were not the best. I honestly followed it word for word. Wasted a whole organic chicken on this one. It could have been grand. Was very embarrassed as I made it for my boyfriends family, although they were real troopers about it. Disappoint. :(
Dee45 I totally agree. Just made this and it tasted awful - really bitter. I too followed the recipe word for word. I used a Sauvignon Blanc and wonder if this is the problem. Absolutely foul.
Personally I made this without the wine and it still came out delicious. It's really weird that it came out so sour. Maybe you should have removed the seeds from the lemons? Don't give up on this recipe. I suggest you try it again but just leave out the wine and make sure the lemons are really fresh.
Delicious, moist chicken with beautiful flavours & so easy - this is a winner
Cooking time was far too long. The chicken becomes stringy and flavourless. Just throw some chicken legs (seasoned with salt!) and lemon slices in a roasting pan and cook 45 minutes at 400. The result will be much better. How could she leave salt out. crazy.
I found the lack of salt in the recipe odd but I just went ahead and added it anyways. I actually found cooking it that long made it even more flavorful and the meat was just falling off the bone.
I love the way Nigella make her dish so easy and the presentation ,WOW ! She inspire me to cook new and helthy food everyday.
Nigella Slow Roasted Garlic, Lemon & Thyme Chicken is the best way ever that I've eaten chicken. 1) Never get tired of it, 2) Everyone loves it, 3) It's simple, yet different from other chickrn recipies, 4) It's easy, quick and fun to make, yet it is the most aromatic and delicious of styles! Thank you soooo much dear Nigella. With love and admiration, James (Santiago) McAllister
Would like to know if this can be done in a slow cooker? Would it come out too soupy or stew like? How long would you cook it and would there be any changes in the recipe?
This would definitely come out like a soup or stew if cooked in a slow cooker. The whole point is for the chicken to roast. I doubt the flavors would work as well if slow cooked in that way.
I love nearly all Nigella's recipes.This chicken, served with rice is easy and everyone loved it.
Simple n I will try tonight for my wife BirthDay dinner,thank you
Hi just wondering can i use a whole chicken instead of cutting into pieces?
Cooked this dish last night for friends - the smell was great but taste rather disappointing, I won't do it again.
Do you need to add a sauce or gravy with this? Is it not too dry on its own?
No sauce needed - with the white wine and juices that come from the chicken you have more than enough.
I made this on a perfect summer's evening in Berlin. I finished work, came home and chucked the chicken etc in the oven then met some friends at a little bar on the canal to drink some beer and talk some *** while we waited for the chicken to cook. we all came back to my apartment, which was full of yummy smells. I put the potatoes and onions in to roast and set up the newly converted dining room. candles. serviettes. tres civilized. served the chicken from the roasting dish as recommended. While my terribly polite guests praised the meal, i was nothing but disappointed having found it almost boring. Maybe it was because i don't have a baking dish and used a alfoil lined cheese cake tin instead. But creative substitutions aside, i won't be making this again and next time will have a gourmet pizza at the bar.
Too bad this didn't come out as you might of expected. I find that rubbing the roasted lemons and garlic over the chicken at the end really adds a ton of flavor. Hopefully you will try it out again.
If you like more of a kick to a taste then try squeezing the lemon juice over the chicken and then leave the chunky lemon pieces in the dish and leave it to cook as per recipe. Ive just cooked this dish and sueezed the lemon only because I love lemon and it tasted delicious. I served it with a good salad and crusty fresh bread chucked in the middle of the table for anyone who wanted to su** up the juices in the pan. Everyone loved it!!! Good luck next time if you decide to give it another go?
hay sweet treat may b u went wrong by chucking it in2 the oven without preping it propply maybe if u spent alittle time on it it would of worked well SO DONT BLAME THE RECIPIE 4 UR FAILURE U ONLY GET OUT OF IT WHAT U PUT IN2 IT UNDERSTAND
i dont know how to thank you . not only i but my friends are also great fans of yours. god bless.
OMG amazing! So easy and so impressive!!!
Great ***!
What an awesome recipe! I'm never going back to regular roast chicken. Tried it at home and my hubby devoured it asking for more. Yummmmm!
Seriously - an absolute stand out. Im eating it right now and have just sent link to five friends. Its so easy (but a while to cook so plan for that) but worth it? Amazing.
DELECIOUS!!!!!! You really are are domestic goddess, your recipes are easy to follow and i've yet to cook one that hasnt come out just as you say!! Simple and down to earth cooking, dont ever change!!!!
Just the sort of dish I like - easy to cook and delicious!
Trying this tonight for my son's 22nd b'day will let all know the outcome..Like the idea of oven and leave...has party to attend lol
So easy, so delicious.
Ooh will definitely be trying this one!
Another family favourite - it is just an absolute winner.
I made this for dinner a couple of days ago - it was great. We are having the leftovers tonight with a Greek Salad. Yum.
I love one pot recipes and it looks delicious, I will be trying it out this week.
Cant wait to try this one, sound simple and yummy .
I will be trying this dish at home on the weekend, thanks
FLAB FLAB FLAB FLAB
we are having this tonight!
this looks fantastic am printing out to cook tommorrow
Yummy
Looks great, and just my type of recipe simple and easy to do must try this.
OMG I'm totally in amazement at how Nigella can make cooking look like so much fun instead of such a chore.I am now totally obsessed with cooking & am on a mission 2 buy myself some decent kitchen utensils. Even my 16 yr old daughter is keen 2 get into the kitchen. That's gotta be a good thing.Nigella ur the BEST.
I agree, Nigella you are so easy to watch, your recipes well explained and so easy to follow. Well done.
Seriously so easy and prefect for a late Sunday lunch!
Simply scrumptious thanks Nigella you rock