I just love this dinner! It is always my go to when I need to get a meal on the table fast. The next time you are trying to figure out what to make and may be thinking take-out, reconsider! By the time you figure out where you want to order from and who wants what, this can be prepared and on the table!

I am going to offer two ways to make the chicken. The first one you may choose to make if you have the time, or are having company. The second will be faster. Neither one takes long to prepare. Both will result in a moist, delicious bird that your family or company will love.

Broccolini is a vegetable that you don’t see too often in recipe magazines or books. I don’t know why because it is fantastic. It is very similar to broccoli, but with smaller florets and longer, thinner stalks and is also known as “baby broccoli”. It is a very delicate vegetable that only needs to be cooked briefly. This adds up to fast and simple in my book. Try it, I know you will love it!

Preheat oven to 375.

If you have the time, try adding this step first. You will need: (my essence, or yours!)

1 stick of margarine or butter melted
2 tbsp. fresh oregano (or 1 tbsp dried)
2 tbsp. fresh thyme (or 1 tbsp dried)
Juice of half a lemon
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

Mix all ingredients together.

Take two fingers and place between skin and meat of chicken. Slowly and carefully separate the skin from the meat. (I know this looks bad, but in the end it tastes great!)

 

With a spoon, pour melted butter mixture in between the skin and the meat.

If you do not have the time, skip the first step and just prepare as follows;

Make your essence. Here is mine (just in case you missed it in my previous blog).

2 tbsp. garlic powder
2 tbsp. onion powder
2 tsp. oregano
2 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
3 tbsp. paprika

Mix and sprinkle all ingredients (without the paprika) over entire chicken.  Make sure to get it under thigh and wings. Pat onto chicken. 

Next trickle on paprika and pat onto chicken as well.

I like to make my roast chicken on a vertical roaster. You can purchase it on amazon and it is very inexpensive. This method allows all the fat to drip down into the pan so you get a perfectly crisp chicken every time. If you don’t have a vertical roaster, you can place the chicken breast side up in a baking pan.

Place vertical roaster in aluminum pan and put in oven.

Set timer for 15 minutes.

Turn oven down to 350 and roast for 1 hour. You may need a little more or less time depending on the size of the chicken.  Make sure to adjust your timer for 10 minute increments if needed.

Ingredients for the Broccolini

Preheat oven to 500.

3 tbsp olive oil
6 cloves of garlic, chopped
Juice of 1/2 lemon
2 tbsp. balsalmic vinegar
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. pepper

Wash and trim ends off broccolini. Place in bowl with ingredients and mix well.

Transfer to baking dish. Bake for 10 minutes. Take out when broccolini is bright green. Remember, it will still cook after you remove it from the oven!

Dinner is done!

It’s that simple!