Herb Rubbed Cast Iron Chicken With Pan Sauce Recipes

HERB-RUBBED CAST-IRON CHICKEN WITH PAN SAUCE

Steps:

• Finely chop parsley, rosemary, oregano, and garlic in a food processor. With the motor running, stream in olive oil and process until a coarse paste forms. Season chicken with salt and pepper and rub flesh side with herb purée. Place, skin side up, on a rimmed baking sheet. Chill, uncovered, at least 3 hours and up to 1 day.
• Let sit at room temperature 1 hour before roasting. Place a rack in lower third of oven and set a large cast-iron skillet on rack; preheat oven to 450°F. Wrap the bottom of a medium cast-iron skillet in foil; set aside. As soon as oven is heated, carefully transfer skillet to stove and set over medium heat. Add vegetable oil. Once it begins to smoke, arrange both chicken halves skin side down with breasts touching in center and legs facing out. Place foil-wrapped skillet on top to weigh down. Cook, moving top skillet around to press on chicken in different spots, and shifting bottom skillet around burner every few minutes, until skin is deeply golden brown, 8-10 minutes.
• Position top skillet on chicken legs, transfer to oven, and roast 7 minutes. Slide top skillet over so that weight is on breasts and continue to roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of legs registers 165°F, 7-9 minutes longer. Remove top skillet and spoon off all but 1 Tbsp. fat from skillet with chicken; discard. Add lemon juice and 3/4 cup water. Let sit off heat 2 minutes. Transfer chicken to a platter; let rest while you make the sauce.
• Bring liquid to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring and scraping up browned bits; cook until an emulsified glossy sauce forms, 5-7 minutes. Season with salt. Pour sauce around chicken.

SPICE RUBBED ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine the salt, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, cayenne and lemon zest in a bowl. Wash the chicken and pat very dry. Rub the spice mixture all over the chicken. Set the chicken on a plate and refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 1 hour and up to 8 hours (to dry out the skin and promote crisp skin).
• When you are ready to cook, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Stuff the chicken with the lemon quarters, garlic and bay leaves. Arrange the onion slices to make a bed for the chicken in a large cast-iron skillet. Set the chicken on the onions and tuck the wings tips under the chicken's body. Brush the chicken all over with the melted butter.
• Roast the chicken, basting once halfway through with the pan juices, until the skin is crisp and golden and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thigh (do not touch bone) reads 165 degrees F, about 45 minutes. Let rest at least 10 minutes before carving.

ROASTED CHICKEN RUB

Steps:

• Stir celery flakes, salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, sage, black pepper, rosemary, and cayenne pepper together in a bowl. Transfer spice mixture to a spice grinder or food processor and blend until smooth.

HERB-ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine herb leaves and garlic with a mortar and pestle or in a food processor, pouring in oil in a slow, steady stream. Stir in zest; season with pepper.
• Place chicken on a cutting board. Tuck wing tips under. Season cavity with salt and pepper. Place lemon halves and herb stems in cavity. Make two 1 1/2-inch slits in each leg and thigh. Loosen skin from breasts with your fingers. Rub paste all over chicken, into slits and under skin. Tie legs with kitchen twine. Refrigerate chicken, covered, at least 3 hours or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Let chicken stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Heat a large cast-iron skillet or roasting pan in oven 15 minutes. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Carefully place it in the skillet in the oven, breast side down. Roast 15 minutes. Turn chicken onto its side; roast 10 minutes. Turn onto other side; roast 10 minutes. Turn chicken onto its back; roast until golden brown and juices run clear or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 175 degrees. about 20 minutes.
• Lift chicken so that juices run into skillet; transfer chicken to a platter. Cover chicken loosely with foil; set aside. Pour off fat from skillet, leaving juices; discard fat. Heat juices over medium-high heat. Slowly add wine, stirring to loosen the browned bits. Bring to a boil. Cook until reduced by half, about 4 minutes. Serve chicken with the pan sauce.

SPICE-RUBBED CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix the first eight ingredients. Sprinkle over both sides of chicken., On a lightly greased grill rack, grill chicken, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from heat until a thermometer reads 170°, 6-8 minutes on each side.

ROASTED HALVED CHICKEN WITH GARLIC-HERB PASTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Garlic-Herb Paste: Combine the rosemary, lemon zest, lemon juice,garlic, olive oil, cayenne, Dijon mustard, and salt and pepper to taste, in a small bowl. Stir to incorporate.
• Rub chicken with Garlic-Herb Paste. Let marinate at room temperature for 1 hour.
• Coat a large cast iron skillet lightly with olive oil and heat over medium-high heat. Oil the bottom of a second cast iron skillet, of equal or smaller size.
• Put the chicken, skin side down, in first pan, and top it with the second pan, oiled-side down on top of the chicken. Sear chicken until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
• Remove top skillet, flip the chicken and transfer to the oven. Cook until chicken is cooked through, about 35 minutes.
• Transfer to a serving platter and serve.