Recipes Julia Child's Favorite Roast Chicken 5.0 (1,756) 11 Reviews Julia Child seasoned this roast chicken inside and out by packing sautéed vegetables, lemon slices, and fresh herbs into the cavity, then rubbing the skin with butter. In typical French fashion, she trussed the bird to promote even cooking. By Julia Child Updated on October 28, 2022 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Active Time: 30 mins Total Time: 2 hrs 30 mins Yield: 4 servings Ingredients 2 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided 1/3 cup finely diced carrots 1/3 cup finely diced onion 1/3 cup finely diced celery 1 teaspoon thyme, savory, or mixed herbs, or 2 fresh thyme or savory sprigs 1 (3 1/2- to 4-pound) chicken Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper Fresh flat-leaf parsley stems Celery leaves 6 lemon slices, 1/8 inch thick 1/2 cup sliced onion 1/2 cup sliced carrots 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 3/4 cup chicken stock or broth Directions Preheat the oven to 425°F. Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a skillet. Add the diced carrots, onion, and celery and cook over moderate heat until softened. Stir in the herbs and set aside. If desired, cut out and discard the wishbone. Pull the neck skin up over the chicken breast and secure it to the back with a toothpick. Salt and pepper the cavity and spoon in the cooked vegetables, a handful of parsley stems and celery leaves, and the lemon slices. Massage the chicken all over with 1 tablespoon of the butter, then truss it. Alternatively, tie drumstick ends together and tuck wings under the body. Choose a flameproof roasting pan that is about 1 inch larger than the chicken and place a rack inside. Salt the chicken all over and set it breast-side up on the rack. (Thoroughly wash all surfaces and utensils that have been in contact with the raw chicken.) Roast the chicken for 15 minutes and then brush with the remaining 1/2 tablespoon butter. Scatter the sliced onion and carrot all around. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F. Roast for 45 minutes, and then brush the lemon juice over the chicken. If necessary, add 1/2 cup of water to the vegetables to prevent burning. Roast for 1 hour and baste the chicken with pan juices. Test for doneness; drumsticks should move easily in their sockets and their flesh should feel somewhat soft. If not, continue roasting, basting and testing every 7 to 8 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer registers 165°F. Spear the chicken through the shoulders and lift to drain; if juices run clear yellow, the chicken is done. Let the chicken rest on a carving board for 15 minutes; discard the string. Spoon all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the juices in the pan. Add the stock and boil until lightly syrupy, 5 minutes. Strain; you will have just enough to bathe each serving with a fragrant spoonful. Con Poulos Suggested Pairing Minerally, full-bodied Cour-Cheverny. Rate it Print