Sukkah-Inspired Herb and Citrus Roasted Chicken
Juicy whole chicken roasted with fresh herbs and bright citrus, evoking the natural flavors celebrated during the Feast of Tabernacles. This Mediterranean-inspired Hanukkah recipe, ready in about 95 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 320 calories and feeds 6, 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
- 4 lbs whole chicken
- 1 large, quartered lemon
- 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 6, smashed garlic cloves
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
The roasting pan we’d use for this → Best Roasting Pans for 2026: Racks, Handles & Sizes for the Holiday Bird
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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. Rinse and pat dry 4 lbs whole chicken. Season the cavity generously with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper, then stuff with 1 large quartered lemon, 3 sprigs rosemary, 3 sprigs thyme, and 6 smashed garlic cloves.
- Step 2: Rub the outside of the chicken with 3 tbsp olive oil and season with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper evenly over the skin.
- Step 3: Place the chicken breast-side up on a roasting rack in a roasting pan. Roast uncovered for 20 minutes at 425°F to crisp the skin.
- Step 4: Reduce oven temperature to 375°F and continue roasting for 50-60 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads 165°F.
- Step 5: Remove from oven and let rest for 15 minutes before carving. Spoon pan juices over the chicken when serving.






