The golden, juicy, fuss-free roast that saves Christmas lunch (and your sanity)
🎄 The Roast Chook That Brings the Crowd Together
There’s something deeply comforting about a roast chicken — it’s nostalgic, it’s cosy, and it reminds everyone that you’ve got your life together (even if you absolutely don’t).
But Christmas Day in Australia isn’t exactly “roast weather” — it’s more “stand under the ceiling fan and question your life choices” weather.
That’s why butterflying the chicken is a game changer.
It cooks faster.
It cooks evenly.
It gets that glorious crispy skin we all fight over.
And best of all… it doesn’t heat up the house for hours.
This is my go-to second main whenever I’m feeding a crowd — or when someone in the family announces they “don’t really like seafood” and you need a reliable, universally loved backup.
It’s juicy, bright with lemon, aromatic with thyme, and looks beautifully rustic on a platter. Zero stress. Maximum payoff.
🌿 Why This Recipe Belongs on Your Christmas Table
- Roast chicken is the great unifier. Everyone eats it.
- Butterflied = cooks in under an hour.
- Flavour? Fresh, herby, citrusy — ideal for a summer Christmas.
- Perfect for sharing, carving, and picking at with fingers later.
- Pairs with every side under the sun.
- Looks impressive without being fussy (my favourite kind of cooking).
This is Christmas cooking the Plan4One way — simple, beautiful, flavour-first, and achievable even if the kids woke you up at 5am because “Santa came”.
🍋 Herb-Roasted Butterflied Chicken with Lemon & Thyme
Serves: 4–6
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 45–55 minutes
Difficulty: Easier than assembling a LEGO set on Christmas morning
🛒 Ingredients
🍗 Chicken
- 1 whole chicken (1.4–1.8 kg), butterflied/spatchcocked
(Your butcher can do this — just ask. Or do it yourself if you’re feeling brave.) - 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt & pepper
🌿 Herb Butter Mix
- 3 tbsp softened butter (or olive oil for dairy-free)
- 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 1 lemon — zested & halved
- 2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tbsp chopped rosemary
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- Optional: pinch of smoked paprika for colour
🍽 To Roast With
- 1 onion, sliced into thick rounds
- 1 lemon, sliced
- A few extra thyme sprigs
- Optional: whole cloves of garlic, unpeeled
👩🍳 Method
1. Preheat
Set your oven to 200°C (fan).
Line a big tray with baking paper. Lay the onion slices down — this makes a built-in roasting rack.
2. Pat the Chicken Dry
This is key for crispy skin.
Place chicken skin-side up on the onions.
3. Make the Herb Butter
Mash together: butter + garlic + lemon zest + thyme + rosemary + Dijon + paprika.
It’ll smell like a Christmas garden.
4. Massage the Chicken
Rub the herb mixture all over the chicken, including under the skin if you can.
Season generously with salt and pepper.
Scatter lemon slices and thyme sprigs over the top.
5. Roast
Cook for 45–55 minutes, depending on size.
The skin should be golden, the juices clear, and the meat juicy.
If you’re fancy, check for 75°C at the thickest part of the thigh.
6. Rest & Serve
Let rest for 10 minutes before carving.
Drizzle any tray juices over the top — liquid gold.
🍽 Perfect Pairings
Serve this with summery sides that love citrus and herbs:
- Roast baby potatoes with olive oil & sea salt
- A big green salad with cucumber, mint & feta
- Charred broccolini with lemon
- A simple pasta salad
- Warm crusty bread to mop up the juices
Place the sliced chicken on your table next to the Honey Citrus Salmon and you’ve basically created a magazine-cover spread.
🧊 Storage & Leftovers
- Fridge: 2–3 days in an airtight container.
- Amazing cold: Honestly, roast chicken the next day is top-tier.
- Leftover ideas:
- Shred into a lemon herb rice bowl
- Add to a fresh wrap with yoghurt & salad
- Toss through pasta with leftover herbs
- Add to a Boxing Day grazing platter
🎁 Plan4One Gifting Tip
Send guests home with Leftover Roast Chicken Snack Pots:
A small tub of chicken + one lemon wedge + a tiny sachet of salt & pepper.
They’ll love you forever — especially when the holiday hunger hits later.
🐣 Solo-Serve Version
Got a quieter Christmas?
Simply buy 2–3 bone-in chicken thighs or drumsticks and use ¼ of the herb mix.
Roast for 30–35 minutes.
Still festive, still delicious, still gloriously low-stress.
🎄 Final Thoughts
This is the kind of Christmas recipe that feels rustic, homely, and deeply comforting — but also totally achievable in the chaos of Christmas morning.
It’s juicy.
It’s fragrant.
It tastes like sunshine and herbs and good intentions.
And it always, always disappears first.
👉 What’s Next?
Will this beauty make your Christmas table this year?
Let me know — or tag #Plan4One with your herb-roasted masterpiece!
