Description
This Roasted Za’atar Chicken is a flavorful Middle Eastern-inspired dish that features a whole chicken rubbed with a zesty za’atar spice blend, garlic, and lemon, then roasted to juicy perfection. Serve this aromatic and delicious chicken with a side of roasted vegetables or couscous for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 1 whole chicken (about 4 pounds)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons za’atar spice blend
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- juice of 1 lemon
For Garnish:
- 1 lemon, cut into wedges
- 1 red onion, cut into wedges
- fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Prepare the chicken: Pat chicken dry with paper towels.
- Make the spice rub: In a small bowl, mix olive oil, za’atar, salt, pepper, garlic, and lemon juice to form a paste.
- Rub the chicken: Rub the mixture all over the chicken, including under the skin for maximum flavor.
- Add aromatics: Place the lemon wedges and onion around the chicken in a roasting pan.
- Roast the chicken: Roast uncovered for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the thigh.
- Baste and rest: Baste with pan juices halfway through cooking. Remove from the oven, tent loosely with foil, and let rest for 10 minutes before carving.
- Garnish and serve: Garnish with fresh parsley and serve.
Notes
- For extra crispy skin, start the chicken breast-side down for the first 30 minutes, then flip.
- Pairs well with roasted vegetables or couscous.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of chicken
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg
