Zaatar Roasted Chicken (Printable)
Aromatic chicken roasted with Middle Eastern spices, delivering crispy skin and tender, flavorful meat with lemon and zaatar.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Poultry
01 - 1 whole chicken (about 3.3 lbs), patted dry
→ Marinade
02 - 3 tbsp olive oil
03 - 2 tbsp zaatar spice blend
04 - 1 tbsp sumac
05 - 1 lemon, zested and juiced
06 - 4 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 1 ½ tsp kosher salt
08 - ½ tsp black pepper
→ Vegetables for roasting
09 - 1 large red onion, sliced into thick rings
10 - 2 carrots, cut into chunks
11 - 1 lemon, sliced
# How-to Steps:
01 - Whisk together olive oil, zaatar, sumac, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until thoroughly combined.
02 - Gently loosen the skin over the chicken breasts using your fingers. Rub half the marinade beneath the skin, distributing evenly over the meat.
03 - Rub the remaining marinade over the entire exterior surface of the chicken, ensuring complete coverage.
04 - Place lemon slices and onion rings inside the chicken cavity for added moisture and flavor during roasting.
05 - Arrange remaining onion rings, carrot chunks, and lemon slices in the bottom of a roasting pan. Position the chicken on top, breast side up.
06 - Let the chicken stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking. For deeper flavor, cover and refrigerate for up to 8 hours, then bring to room temperature before roasting.
07 - Preheat oven to 400°F.
08 - Place the roasting pan in the center of the oven. Roast for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, until juices run clear and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reaches 165°F.
09 - Remove the chicken from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes to allow juices to redistribute. Carve and serve with roasted vegetables and pan juices.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The crispy skin gets this incredible nutty, tangy flavor that you cannot achieve with regular herbs
- Marinade does all the heavy lifting so hands-on time is practically nothing
- The vegetables underneath catch all those glorious pan juices and become the best part
02 -
- Bringing the chicken to room temperature before roasting helps it cook more evenly and prevents the dreaded raw-middle situation
- For extra crispy skin, remove any foil or cover for the final 15 minutes of roasting time
03 -
- Taste your zaatar blend before using, as salt levels vary wildly between brands
- Check for doneness in the thickest part of the thigh, never rely on timing alone