Sheet Pan Half-Roasted Lemon Herb Chicken
A simple sheet pan dinner featuring half a whole chicken roasted with fresh lemon and herbs for a bright, savory finish. This Mediterranean-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 60 minutes, pairs whole chicken, lemon, fresh rosemary for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 3 lb whole chicken
- 1 whole lemon
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
- 4 minced garlic cloves
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 425°F. Using a sharp knife, cut the 3 lb whole chicken in half lengthwise into two equal halves. Pat dry with paper towels.
- Step 2: In a small bowl, combine 3 tbsp olive oil, 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 2 tbsp chopped rosemary, and 2 tbsp chopped thyme.
- Step 3: Rub the herb and oil mixture evenly all over both chicken halves, making sure to coat under the skin where possible.
- Step 4: Slice 1 whole lemon into thin rounds and place half the slices on a large rimmed sheet pan. Set one chicken half skin side up on top of the lemon slices.
- Step 5: Roast the chicken half for 40-45 minutes until skin is golden and an internal thermometer reads 165°F in the thickest part of the thigh.
- Step 6: Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving, allowing juices to redistribute and flavors to meld.









