Best 6 Light Butter Roasted Chicken Recipes

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Nothing compares to the aroma of roasted chicken filling your home. Tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor, roasted chicken is an easy and delicious meal that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Roasting chicken with butter is a classic technique that results in a crispy, golden-brown skin and moist, flavorful meat. However, traditional butter-roasted chicken can be high in calories and fat. If you're looking for a lighter version of this classic dish, there are several ways to reduce the fat and calories without sacrificing taste.

Let's cook with our recipes!

BUTTER-ROASTED CHICKEN



Butter-Roasted Chicken image

Provided by Molly O'Neill

Categories     dinner, main course

Time 2h10m

Yield Four servings

Number Of Ingredients 6

2 small chickens, 2 to 2 1/2 pounds each
4 teaspoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 teaspoons salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste
3 leeks, white and light green parts only, washed well and coarsely chopped
1/2 lemon, thinly sliced

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Cut the wing tips off the chickens with sharp kitchen scissors. Use your fingers to loosen the skin over the breast of each bird to form 4 pockets. Rub 1 teaspoon of the butter into each pocket. Sprinkle the salt and pepper all over the skin and inside the cavities. Place the leeks and the lemon slices in the cavities.
  • Place the chickens on a rack in a roasting pan. Roast for 15 minutes. Turn the oven down to 375 degrees. Baste the chickens well. Continue roasting until the juices run clear when the chicken is pricked with a fork in the thickest part of the thigh, about 1 1/2 hours, basting every 15 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before carving into serving pieces.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 827, UnsaturatedFat 34 grams, Carbohydrate 11 grams, Fat 56 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 66 grams, SaturatedFat 17 grams, Sodium 1374 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 0 grams

ROASTED CHICKEN WITH LEMON BUTTER



Roasted Chicken with Lemon Butter image

Provided by Guy Fieri

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h35m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

6 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
2 lemons, zested and sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
One 4 to 5-pound chicken (organic and free range, if possible)
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
1/2 fennel, bulb sliced and fronds cut into 2-inch lengths
1/2 fennel, bulb sliced and fronds cut into 2-inch lengths
1 onion, sliced
4 cloves garlic
3 sprigs fresh thyme
2 to 3 sprigs fresh oregano
3/4 cup dry white wine

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place a large skillet or roasting pan in the oven to preheat while you prepare the chicken.
  • Begin by preparing a lemon butter. Place 4 tablespoons of the butter in a mixing bowl and add about 1 teaspoon of zest from the lemons. Season with salt and pepper and mix well.
  • Flatten the chicken by cutting out the backbone and flattening the breast by firmly pressing with the heel of your hand. Sprinkle both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper. Using your fingers, loosely separate the skin from the breast and thighs. Smear the lemon butter evenly in the cavity between the skin and meat, ensuring it is worked evenly over the bird. With the skin side facing up, drizzle olive oil over the chicken.
  • Remove the preheated pan from the oven and place the chicken in the pan, skin-side down.
  • Place the lemon slices over the bird along with fennel, onions, garlic, thyme and oregano. As it cooks, this will flavor the bird.
  • Place in the oven and roast for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, flip the chicken to skin-side up and add half the wine to the pan. Return to the oven and roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the joint between the leg and thigh registers 165 degrees F, approximately 30 minutes longer. When the chicken is done, remove from the pan to a serving platter and allow to rest for 15 minutes before carving and plating.
  • Meanwhile, make a pan sauce. Place the chicken pan over medium-high heat and add the remaining butter and wine. Stir until the butter is melted and the sauce thickens slightly. Pour the pan sauce over the platter of chicken. Serve immediately.

LIGHT BUTTER ROASTED CHICKEN



Light Butter Roasted Chicken image

The changes made in this made over recipe slashes the fat by 70% and saturated fat by 80%, cut calories and sodium by about half and reduced cholesterol by more than a third. Yet the buttery-tasting makeover version is sure to please your family.-Helen Copeland, Greenback, Tennessee

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h20m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 11

1 broiler/fryer chicken (2-1/2 pounds), cut up and skin removed
1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Steps:

  • Place chicken in an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. In a small saucepan, combine the remaining ingredients; bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and pour over chicken. Cover and bake at 325° for 1 to 1-1/4 hours or until chicken juices run clear, basting occasionally.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 281 calories, Fat 13g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 115mg cholesterol, Sodium 802mg sodium, Carbohydrate 4g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 37g protein.

THE BEST ROASTED CHICKEN



The Best Roasted Chicken image

This is the best chicken I have ever made. My husband liked this so much that, because I had leftover potatoes, gravy, and cornbread stuffing, I had to make another chicken.

Provided by Patricia Feeney Monson

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Chicken     Whole Chicken Recipes

Time 1h35m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 9

¼ cup butter, softened
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
1 lemon, zested and halved
1 teaspoon salt, divided
1 teaspoon ground black pepper, divided
1 whole chicken
1 tablespoon olive oil

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
  • Mix butter, garlic, thyme, rosemary, lemon zest, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper together in a bowl.
  • Loosen skin on chicken breast; rub butter mixture between skin and breast meat. Press on the skin to distribute evenly. Rub oil, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper all over; place lemon halves inside cavity. Set in a baking pan.
  • Roast in the preheated oven, basting after 30 minutes, until chicken is no longer pink, about 1 hour. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone, should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Let rest before carving, about 15 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 380.8 calories, Carbohydrate 3 g, Cholesterol 117.4 mg, Fat 27.1 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 31.1 g, SaturatedFat 10 g, Sodium 536.5 mg

BUTTER-HERB ROASTED CHICKEN



Butter-Herb Roasted Chicken image

Butter gives this herb-roasted chicken a nice crispiness in this recipe, perfect for a Sunday supper!

Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Entree

Time 1h55m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 12

1/2 cup butter, softened
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage leaves
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 whole chicken (about 4 lb)
12 small whole carrots with tops or 3 large carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 lb fingerling potatoes, cut lengthwise in half
2 sweet onions, each cut into 6 wedges
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup Progresso™ chicken broth (from 32-oz carton)

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 375°F. Spray shallow roasting pan with cooking spray.
  • In small bowl, mix butter, chopped thyme, sage, garlic, 3/4 teaspoon of the salt and 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper. Rub mixture under and on skin of chicken. Place chicken, breast side up, in roasting pan. Insert ovenproof meat thermometer so tip is in thickest part of inside thigh muscle and does not touch bone.
  • In large bowl, toss carrots, potatoes and onions with oil and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Arrange vegetables around chicken. Pour broth over vegetables.
  • Roast uncovered 1 hour 15 minutes or until thermometer reads at least 165°F and legs move easily when lifted or twisted. Cover loosely with foil; let stand 10 to 15 minutes for easier carving. Serve chicken with vegetables.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 660, Carbohydrate 32 g, Fat 6, Fiber 4 g, Protein 51 g, SaturatedFat 17 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 1270 mg

BUTTER ROAST CHICKEN



Butter Roast Chicken image

When I was newly married, I was very interested in cooking, so I started to collect recipes. My new sister-in-law's mother sent me her family's favorite chicken recipe, and I knew it was destined to be a favorite in our household. The delicate flavor of lemon makes this dish great. -Elisabeth Garrison, Elmer, New Jersey

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h45m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 broiler/fryer chicken (2-1/2 to 3 pounds), cut up
1/2 cup butter, cubed
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Steps:

  • Place chicken in an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Combine the remaining ingredients in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and pour over chicken. , Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 1-1/2 hours or until juices run clear, basting occasionally.

Nutrition Facts :

Tips:

  • Use a whole chicken: This will give you more flavor and juiciness than using chicken breasts or thighs alone.
  • Pat the chicken dry before roasting: This will help the skin crisp up.
  • Season the chicken generously with salt and pepper: This will help it develop a flavorful crust.
  • Roast the chicken at a high temperature: This will help the skin brown and crisp up.
  • Baste the chicken with melted butter or olive oil: This will help keep the chicken moist and prevent it from drying out.
  • Roast the chicken until it is cooked through: The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Let the chicken rest before carving: This will help the juices redistribute throughout the chicken, making it more tender and flavorful.

Conclusion:

Light butter roasted chicken is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for any occasion. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a flavorful and juicy chicken that your whole family will love. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy dinner recipe, give light butter roasted chicken a try. You won't be disappointed!

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