Orange Herb Chicken Recipes

ORANGE HERB ROASTED CHICKEN WITH POTATOES

Steps:

• Place cast iron skillet inside the oven while it preheats to 425 degrees. Rack should be in the upper third of your oven so that when you cook the chicken later it's getting plenty of direct heat to make it nice and golden on top.
• While oven is preheating rinse the chicken inside and out. Pat dry with paper towels.
• Pierce holes in one orange with a fork and place inside cavity. Not only does this make for a great presentation but it also helps the bird cook evenly. Tie legs together with kitchen twine.
• On stove top or in the microwave melt 1/4 cup ghee or butter and combine with orange juice. Stir together.
• When the oven has reached 425 degrees carefully remove the skillet (use an oven mit so you don't touch the handle directly). Pour half of your melted butter/orange juice mixture into the hot skillet. (It will sizzle so be careful.) This will help prevent sticking.
• Place the chicken in the skillet breast side up. Tuck the tips of the wings under the bird. Drizzle the remaining half of the melted butter/orange juice all over your chicken. Generously salt and pepper the chicken. (I salt pretty liberally on the chicken because the salt is what really amplifies the flavors of orange and fresh herb!)
• Slice your potatoes into circles about 1/2 inch thick. Layer them around your chicken.
• Remove the leaves from your sprigs of thyme and rosemary. (Hold each sprig at the top and gently slide your finger down it to remove leaves.) Chop the rosemary leaves so they're smaller. (Thyme leaves are already very small.) Sprinkle both herbs on top of the chicken and potatoes.
• If you want to really make this dish gorgeous cut a thin circle from an orange and place on top of the chicken. Slice a few semicircles of orange and place them around the front of your chicken.
• Bake for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. I typically get a chicken that's 4 1/2 pounds and it take the full hour and a half. If you insert a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the chicken it should read 165 degrees.
• Let chicken rest at least 20 minutes before cutting.