ROASTED PESTO CHICKEN

One of the most comforting meals in the world may be roasted chicken. It could be that it has that sweet poultry taste of Thanksgiving or the crispy skin that melts in your mouth on command. I am taking the traditional roasted chicken and giving it a spin that makes it even better. Yes, even better.

Pesto is the perfect marinade for anything really. I love green sauces that combine the flavors of herbs, spices, citrus, and garlic on meat because they bring out the sweetness you wouldn't guess was there. Pesto is one of my favorite things to make because of how quickly it can be blitzed up. I didn't include recipes for sides because I figured I'd leave that up to you. Take my recipe and pair it with your own or someone else's! I chose to whip up some honey & cinnamon sweet potato mash. Very simple & delicious which is great!

Pesto Roasted Chicken

// Pesto //

• 1/4 cup of basil
• 1/2 cup of spinach
• 1 ounce of green onion
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
• 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
• 1/4 cup of olive oil

// Chicken //

• 1 whole chicken 
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• Salt & Pepper to taste

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 450'F. 
2. Prep your chicken by removing the packaging and giblets from the cavity. Pat down with paper towels inside & out to get rid of any excess moisture. Trim off extra fat & skin using a boning knife.
3. Rub the bird with olive oil making sure to coat all sides. Repeat the same process with two thirds of the pesto. Be sure to liberally coat the breast, wing, and thigh areas with the pesto. Finish with a sprinkling of sea salt & fresh cracked pepper. 
4. Place the chicken in the oven to bake. I cannot give you an exact time as each chicken is sized differently. A good rule to follow is 1 hour baking time per 2 pounds, but always check the temperature of chicken using a meat thermometer. The internal temperature must read 165'F for 15 seconds in order to be fully cooked and safe for eating.
5. 10 minutes before the chicken is finished, brush it with the remaining pesto and pop back in the oven.
6. When the chicken is done, allow to cook for about 10 minutes before slicing. If you are someone who has trouble fabricating whole birds, this video should help!