This is one of those recipes you just can't make once: that's to say, after the first time, you're hooked. It is gloriously easy: you just put everything in the roasting dish and leave it to cook in the oven, pervading the house, at any time of year, with the summer scent of lemon and thyme - and of course, mellow, almost honeyed garlic. I got the idea of it from those long-cooked French chicken casseroles with whole garlic cloves and just wanted to spritz it up with lemon for summer. The wonderful thing about it is that you turn the lemon from being a flavouring to being a major player; left in chunks to cook slowly in the oven they seem almost to caramelise and you can eat them, skin, pith and all, their sour bitterness sweetened in the heat.
Recipe posted by Nigella
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This is incredibly beautiful. I have cooked it so many times over the years - it is most definitely one of my favourites. Try adding some potatoes with the chicken too so that they absorb all chickeny lemon flavour
Posted by jonathan.baker87 on 1st Sep 2011 at 12.36
Haven't made this in ages. Inspired to make again - wishing for Nigellissima summer.
Posted by sarah sweetland on 6th May 2012 at 9.11
Decided to give this a try today and we are impressed - added some new potatoes as someone else suggested and it was great. So easy tp prepare, wonderful aroma through the house and darned tasty too. It will feature again very soon. P.S. can't wait for Nigellisima - book & TV
Posted by paulgarb on 24th Jun 2012 at 21.08
Yum yum!! I feel like chicken tonight!! I know this is going to be sooooo good!
Posted by Kylicious on 25th Jun 2012 at 1.17
This has become one of my "go to" recipies! I love it just put it all in the roasting pan, put in the oven, and that's it. I've adapted it to use boneless chicken pieces too, if that's all I have and it's wonderful.
Posted by knittingaddict on 8th Aug 2012 at 14.12
The chicken was cooked beautifully, very tasty but the sauce was not so great, as was said in the recipe put chunks of lemon, I did put chunks of lemon with skin and that skin added bitter taste.Why is that??? But apart from that it was very nice.
Posted by katie27 on 9th Oct 2012 at 9.09
Delicious dish! At the final stage of roasting I have added a drizzle of honey which adds just enough sweetness to counteract the bitterness of the lemon pith.
Posted by sponson on 27th Nov 2012 at 7.28
My boyfriend decided to try some impromptu cooking and made the slow roasted chicken with lemon and garlic. It was the most lovely meal!!! I'm still trying to find a recipe that can top this one so I can return the favour!
Posted by Flyboy on 1st Dec 2012 at 4.43
This is classic comfort food. I use a huge baking tray and add peeled potato pieces and other veg to save time and electricity and to soak up the flavours. Small globe artichoke halves are great, as are butternut cubes and cherry tomatoes. So good!
Posted by Kiss the Cook on 28th Feb 2013 at 11.21
hi, am now.. I tried this recipe and I must say it was very tasty..
Posted by chitra on 3rd Jun 2013 at 5.59
I received a (near) standing ovation from my housemates last night for this dish. There was one complaint, however: "Why didn't you make more???"
Posted by MsZeli on 5th Jun 2013 at 2.14
Best chicken I've made! Very easy, beautiful and delicious! Added potatoes to the pan and served with crusty bread for sopping up the luscious juices.
Posted by Linda013 on 18th Jun 2013 at 16.56