Roast Chicken with Gravy
Print This Recipe
INGREDIENTS 1 (3-1/2 to 3-pound) chicken, giblets removed and reserved
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 lemon, quartered
4 sprigs thyme, parsley, rosemary, or any combination
2 carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 large onion, quartered
2 celery stalks, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
1-1/2 cups chicken broth, homemade or canned
2 tablespoons all-purpose flourPreheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Season the cavity of the chicken with salt and pepper. Stuff the cavity with the lemon, herbs, and half of the carrots, onions, and celery. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine and fold the wing tips under the back. Place the remaining carrots, onion, and celery in the center of a roasting pan just large enough to accomodate the chicken. Brush the entire chicken with the butter; season with salt and pepper. Set the bird, breast-side up on top of the vegetables.
Roast the chicken for 45 minutes. Then increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees, cooking until an instant-read thermometer stuck into the chicken thigh registers 160 degrees, about 15 minutes more. Tip the chicken so the juices run into the pan. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and loosely tent with foil while making the gravy.
Discard the vegetables and pour the fat and juices in the pan into a small bowl. Transfer about 2 tablespoons of the fat back into the pan, skim and discard the rest. Add the roasting juices to the broth. Place the pan directly on the burner over medium-high heat. Scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Stir in the flour and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Whisk in the broth and continue to stir. Bring to a boil and cook until thickened, about 3 minutes. Pour the sauce into a gravy boat and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Carve the chicken and serve with gravy.
Makes 4 servings