Sunday Chicken Roast Recipe

A roast chicken is one of the simple delicacies enjoyed around the world and across many households. If you’ve never enjoyed the delights of a roast chicken dinner, a roast chicken is simply a whole chicken roasted in the oven until golden and crispy on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside. It’s a popular dish across many cultures that’s perfect for any occasion, but especially for a Sunday dinner with family and friends.

Roast chicken has been a staple in households for centuries and remains a favourite for many reasons. Firstly, a roast chicken is incredibly versatile and can be served with a wide variety of side dishes, from mashed potatoes and gravy to roasted vegetables and stuffing. Secondly, a roast chicken is easy to make and doesn’t require many ingredients or complicated techniques. And of course, it’s always a crowd-pleaser that everyone can enjoy. Now, everyone will have their own unique sunday chicken roast recipe, but below we’re going to look at some classic and traditional choices. 

One of the classic Sunday roast chicken recipes is the simple lemon and herb roast chicken, using a mixture of butter, lemon and herbs such as rosemary, thyme, and sage to create a fragrant and flavorful chicken that’ll please everyone. Another popular recipe is a traditional garlic and rosemary roast chicken using lots of delicious minced garlic, chopped rosemary, and olive oil. The garlic and rosemary infuse fantastically into the chicken for a juicy, tender bite of chicken that accompanies a vast selection of sides perfectly. 

Ingredients needed to make Sunday Chicken Roast

For a juicy and classic roast garlic chicken recipe with seasoned potatoes, carrots, and leafy greens, as well as a flavorful gravy:

For the Roast Garlic Chicken:

• 1 whole chicken 
• 1 head of garlic
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter
• Salt and pepper, to taste

For the Seasoned Potatoes and Carrots:

• 4-6 medium-sized potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
• 4-6 medium-sized carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• Salt and pepper, to taste

For the Leafy Greens:

• 4-6 cups of mixed leafy greens (such as spinach, kale, or arugula)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt and pepper, to taste

For the Gravy:

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 cups chicken broth
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Step by step instructions to make Sunday Chicken Roast

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas Mark 5.
2. Season the chicken generously with salt and pepper inside and out.
3. Cut the head of garlic in half horizontally, and place the halves inside the chicken’s cavity, along with the sliced lemon.
4. Rub the chicken all over with olive oil, and place it in a roasting pan or baking dish.
5. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, and brush it all over the chicken.
6. Roast the chicken in the oven for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken reads 165°F/74°C.
7. Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for at least 10 minutes before carving.
8. While the chicken is resting, make the gravy. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat, and whisk in the flour to make a roux. Cook the roux for about 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly.
9. Gradually whisk in the chicken broth, and continue whisking until the gravy is smooth and thickened.
10. Season the gravy with salt and pepper to taste.
11. Serve the roast chicken with the gravy, and your choice of seasoned potatoes, carrots, and leafy greens.

For the Seasoned Potatoes and Carrots:

• 4-6 medium-sized potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
• 4-6 medium-sized carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas Mark 5.
2. In a large mixing bowl, toss the potatoes and carrots with olive oil, dried thyme, dried rosemary, salt, and pepper until well coated.
3. Spread the vegetables out on a baking sheet in a single layer.
4. Roast the vegetables in the oven for about 30-40 minutes, or until they are tender and golden brown, flipping them halfway through cooking.
5. Remove the vegetables from the oven and serve them alongside the roast garlic chicken and gravy.

For the Leafy Greens:

• 4-6 cups of mixed leafy greens (such as spinach, kale, or arugula)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Wash and dry the mixed leafy greens.
2. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat.
3. Add the greens to the pan and sauté for about 2-3 minutes, or until they are wilted and tender.
4. Season the greens with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Remove the greens from the heat and serve them alongside the roast garlic chicken, seasoned potatoes, carrots, and gravy.

A tasty Sunday Chicken Roast

This chicken recipe is incredibly versatile and delicious. One of the best accompaniments to chicken is garlic. It’s simple, delicious and tasty and goes with a huge selection of sides. A sunday chicken roast is a classic meal to be enjoyed in large groups and amongst loved ones, and the perfect way to spend a sunday. 

Just what you need

This roast garlic chicken recipe with seasoned potatoes, carrots, leafy greens, and gravy is perfect for enjoying with friends, family, or even a great first date. Firstly, it’s a classic and timeless dish that is universally enjoyed by many people, so it’s a safe bet for a group or a date where you may not be familiar with the other person’s taste preferences.

Secondly, it’s incredibly easy to prepare, with simple and straightforward instructions that even a beginner cook can follow, perfect for cooking in the oven and then mingling with guests, family or friends.

Additionally, the combination of roasted garlic chicken, seasoned potatoes, carrots, and leafy greens, and a flavorful gravy is a comforting and satisfying meal that is sure to please everyone at the table. It’s a great way to bond with friends and family over a shared love of good food, or to impress a first date with your culinary skills.

Overall, this delicious garlic roast chicken recipe is perfect for bringing people together and creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere that’s perfect for any occasion.

Sunday Chicken Roast in the New Forest

For the perfect roast chicken you can join us in one of our restaurants in the New Forest and taste the delicious tenderness of a perfectly roasted chicken. You can tuck into a tasty Sunday roast at a selection of our restaurants. Join us at Bartley Lodge, The Drift or Burley Manor for a truly remarkable Sunday lunch with all the trimmings.  

Join us at New Forest Collection for a fabulous stay in one of the UK’s most gorgeous locations and enjoy a perfectly cooked roast chicken and sunday roast on the site of our restaurants.