Description
Juicy whole roasted chicken with garlic, herbs, and a velvety white wine cream sauce—an elegant one-pan dinner perfect for cozy nights or weekend guests.
Ingredients
1 whole chicken (≈ 4 lb / 1.8 kg), giblets removed
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 Tbsp dried or 2 Tbsp finely chopped fresh herb mix (rosemary, thyme, oregano, parsley)
4 garlic cloves, minced – divided
½ cup dry white wine (e.g., Sauvignon Blanc)
½ cup chicken broth
¾ cup heavy cream
1 tsp Dijon mustard (optional)
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
Extra fresh herbs, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
Prep & Season – Preheat oven to 425 °F / 220 °C. Pat chicken dry. Rub inside and out with olive oil, salt, pepper, herb mix, and half the garlic.
Truss & Roast (Stage 1) – Tuck wing tips, tie legs loosely, place breast-side up on a rack in a roasting pan. Scatter any leftover herbs/garlic in the pan. Roast 20 min.
Roast (Stage 2) – Reduce heat to 375 °F / 190 °C; continue roasting 40–50 min, until thigh registers 165 °F / 74 °C. Transfer chicken to a platter; tent loosely, rest 10 min.
Deglaze – Set roasting pan over medium heat. Add remaining garlic; cook 30 sec. Pour in white wine, scraping browned bits; simmer until reduced by half.
Finish Sauce – Stir in chicken broth; simmer 3 min. Whisk in cream, Dijon, and lemon juice; simmer until sauce coats a spoon. Taste, season, and sprinkle with fresh herbs.
Serve – Carve chicken and spoon warm creamy white wine sauce over each portion.
Notes
Swap cuts: Use 8 bone-in, skin-on thighs; roast ≈ 45 min.
Add-ins: Scatter sliced mushrooms during final 20 min of roasting.
Lighter option: Replace half the cream with whole milk plus 1 tsp cornstarch slurry.
Built-in greens: Stir a handful of baby spinach into finished sauce until wilted.
Storage: Refrigerate chicken and sauce separately up to 3 days. Reheat chicken in a 350 °F oven 15 min; warm sauce on stovetop, thinning with broth if needed.
FAQs: See blog post for tips on preventing dry breast meat, wine substitutions, or extra-thickening methods.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 1 h 10 min
- Category: Dinner / Main Course
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Modern American (French-inspired)
