Best 10 Roast Chicken Legs With Lemon Thyme Recipes

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Looking for a flavor-packed and hassle-free dinner option? Our juicy and succulent Roast Chicken Legs with Lemon and Thyme is the perfect choice. This simple yet elegant dish showcases the natural flavors of chicken, enhanced by a vibrant blend of lemon, thyme, and garlic. The roasting process creates a crispy, golden-brown skin, while the tender meat falls off the bone effortlessly. Served with a side of roasted vegetables or a refreshing salad, this dish is sure to be a hit among family and friends.

In addition to the classic Roast Chicken Legs with Lemon and Thyme recipe, this article also features two exciting variations to cater to diverse tastes and preferences:

1. **Tuscan Herb Roasted Chicken Legs:** This delightful recipe infuses the chicken legs with a vibrant blend of Italian herbs, including rosemary, basil, oregano, and thyme. The addition of sun-dried tomatoes and Kalamata olives adds a Mediterranean flair, creating a flavorful and aromatic dish that will transport you to the heart of Tuscany.

2. **Spicy Harissa Roasted Chicken Legs:** For those who enjoy a bit of heat, the Spicy Harissa Roasted Chicken Legs are sure to satisfy your cravings. A fiery marinade made with harissa paste, paprika, cumin, and coriander coats the chicken legs, resulting in a tantalizingly spicy and flavorful dish. Served with a cooling yogurt sauce, this recipe brings together a harmonious balance of heat and creaminess.

Whether you prefer the classic lemon and thyme combination or are looking to explore new flavor profiles with the Tuscan herb or spicy harissa variations, this article has something for every chicken lover. So, gather your ingredients, preheat your oven, and get ready to indulge in a delicious and satisfying chicken feast!

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

ROASTED CHICKEN WITH LEMON, GARLIC, AND THYME



Roasted Chicken with Lemon, Garlic, and Thyme image

Provided by Kelsey Nixon

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h45m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 (6-pound) roasting chicken
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
3 tablespoons minced fresh thyme, plus 1 handful for stuffing
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 teaspoons fresh lemon zest
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 lemon, quartered
1 onion, coarsely chopped
3 celery stalks
3 carrots, unpeeled cut into thirds
1 onion cut into quarters
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
Roasted Chicken Variations, recipes follow

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Rinse the chicken and pat it dry.
  • In a small bowl, make a compound butter by combining the softened butter, minced thyme, garlic cloves, lemon zest, salt, and pepper.
  • Season the cavity of the chicken generously with salt, and pepper. Stuff the cavity with the lemon quarters, a handful of fresh thyme leaves, and the quartered onion. Place the carrot, celery and onion in the bottom of a roasting pan and place the chicken on top of the vegetables. Cross the legs and tie with kitchen twine.
  • Gently lift the skin away from the chicken and spread 2 tablespoons of the softened butter mixture underneath the skin, distributing it evenly. Spread the remaining butter over the entire surface of the chicken and season generously with salt, and pepper.
  • Place the chicken in the oven and roast for 20 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees F and roast the chicken until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the inner thigh, not touching the bone registers 160 to 165 degrees F, about 45 minutes. Transfer the chicken and vegetables to a cutting board to rest for about 15 minutes. Tent the chicken with aluminum foil to keep warm.
  • Pour the pan juices into a large glass measuring cup. Spoon the fat off the top. Add the chicken broth to the roasting pan and place over high heat. Bring to boil, scraping up any browned bits. Return the pan juices to the pan. Whisk the flour into the broth mixture and bring to a boil until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Season the sauce to taste with salt, and pepper. Serve alongside the roast chicken.
  • Roasted Chicken Variations:
  • Honey-Glazed Chicken: Season the butter with 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, and 2 tablespoons honey.
  • Soy-Ginger Chicken: Season the butter with 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, and 2 teaspoons soy sauce.

LEMON GARLIC ROASTED CHICKEN LEGS



Lemon Garlic Roasted Chicken Legs image

These Lemon Garlic Roasted Chicken Legs are loaded with flavor, perfect for a super quick dinner. The best part? No bowls to wash, super fast prep all in one pan!

Provided by Joanna Cismaru

Categories     Main Course

Time 1h10m

Number Of Ingredients 10

12 chicken legs (skin on)
4 tablespoon unsalted butter (melted)
2 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
4 cloves garlic (minced)
2 tablespoon lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
1 lemon (sliced)
fresh thyme (for garnish)

Steps:

  • In a large ziploc bag add the chicken legs, melted butter, olive oil, oregano, paprika, garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Close the ziploc bag and toss everything together well.
  • Place the ziploc bag in the fridge and marinate for a minimum of 30 minutes up to 24 hours.
  • Preheat the oven to 450 F degrees.
  • Transfer the chicken legs to a large casserole dish and place the lemon slices in between the legs. Bake uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes or until legs are golden brown and cooked through.
  • Garnish with fresh thyme and serve warm.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 2 legs, Calories 361 kcal, Carbohydrate 3 g, Protein 27 g, Fat 26 g, SaturatedFat 9 g, Cholesterol 159 mg, Sodium 159 mg

ROASTED CHICKEN THIGHS WITH LEMON, THYME AND ROSEMARY



Roasted Chicken Thighs With Lemon, Thyme and Rosemary image

The ease and deliciousness of this recipe, from the chef Nancy Silverton's cookbook "Mozza at Home," deserves to be emphasized. Though you need several hours of refrigeration to allow the chicken skin to dry out, which makes it crisp, you can be flexible about it; do what's convenient. No matter what, just be sure to pat the skin dry with paper towels. You may also find the final run under the broiler unnecessary. Use your judgment. And also consider swirling in a good splash of white wine or chicken stock to the juices in the baking dish before spooning them on the chicken.

Provided by Florence Fabricant

Categories     dinner, main course

Time 1h15m

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

12 chicken thighs, bone in and skin on
1 medium onion, peeled, quartered vertically and sliced 1/4-inch thick vertically
1 cup peeled garlic cloves (about 40)
1 lemon cut in 1/4-inch-thick slices, seeded
15 fresh thyme sprigs
4 (3-inch) rosemary sprigs
2 tablespoons kosher salt, or to taste
2 teaspoons ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Pat chicken thighs dry and place, skin side up, in a single layer on a baking sheet. Place in refrigerator, uncovered, for 8 hours or overnight to dry skin. Remove chicken from refrigerator at least 45 minutes before cooking.
  • Heat oven to 500 degrees. Spread onion slices and garlic cloves in a baking dish that can hold the chicken snugly in a single layer. Scatter lemon on the onion-garlic mixture and strew with thyme and rosemary sprigs.
  • Remove chicken from baking sheet and place on several layers of paper towels, skin side down. Sprinkle with half the salt and pepper. Turn thighs over and season with remaining salt and pepper. Transfer to the baking dish skin side up. Use your hands to arrange the bed of onions and garlic so they're completely under the chicken.
  • Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until juices run clear when chicken is pierced with a knife point. If skin is not a deep golden brown and crispy, turn on broiler and broil chicken close to heat a few minutes to crisp and brown it.
  • To serve, move chicken off the bed of onions, garlic, lemon and herbs. Discard lemon and spoon the rest of the ingredients, along with pan juices, onto a serving platter. Place chicken on top and serve.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 537, UnsaturatedFat 23 grams, Carbohydrate 10 grams, Fat 38 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 39 grams, SaturatedFat 10 grams, Sodium 628 milligrams, Sugar 1 gram, TransFat 0 grams

ROASTED LEMON CHICKEN LEGS



Roasted Lemon Chicken Legs image

Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h10m

Yield 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 6

24 chicken legs
6 lemons
1/2 cup olive oil
4 cloves garlic, pressed
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Put the chicken legs in a large resealable bag, squeeze in the juice of the lemons and throw in the rinds as well. Add the olive oil, garlic and some salt and pepper, seal the bag and toss around. Place in the fridge to marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 6 hours.
  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
  • Place the chicken legs on a baking sheet and roast until the juices run clear, 20 to 30 minutes.

LEMON-PEPPER ROAST CHICKEN



Lemon-Pepper Roast Chicken image

This veggie-stuffed roast chicken has all the flavor of savory lemon-pepper and garlic. A recipe that consists of everyday ingredients. A meal big enough to feed an entire family.

Provided by Bridget

Categories     Meat and Poultry Recipes     Chicken     Whole Chicken Recipes

Time 2h50m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 11

4 tablespoons lemon-pepper seasoning
3 tablespoons garlic salt
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon salt
3 lemons
2 (3 1/2) pound frozen whole chickens - thawed, rinsed, and dried
2 stalks celery, roughly chopped
6 large green onions, green parts only, chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled
cooking string

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Combine lemon-pepper, garlic salt, black pepper, thyme, and salt in a bowl. Set aside. Slice 2 lemons into rounds for stuffing; reserve 1 for juice.
  • Place both chickens in a roasting pan, not touching. Squeeze 1 lemon over both chickens, making sure juice coats evenly. Split sliced lemons, celery, green onions, and garlic in half and stuff each chicken. Use cooking string to tie legs together, making sure legs are facing up. Pat dry rub all over chickens.
  • Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Rotate the pan and baste chicken with juices. Continue to bake, basting often, for 50 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and continue to baste and bake until juices run clear and chickens are no longer pink in the centers, about 40 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone, should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

Nutrition Facts : Calories 266.9 calories, Carbohydrate 5.7 g, Cholesterol 111.7 mg, Fat 10.1 g, Fiber 2.1 g, Protein 38.1 g, SaturatedFat 2.7 g, Sodium 2135 mg, Sugar 0.6 g

LEMON & THYME ROASTED CHICKEN



Lemon & Thyme Roasted Chicken image

I love lemon and thyme together so I decided to roast a chicken with that combo. The seasoning is simple, and the meat comes out moist and tender. -Pam Nelson, Beaverton, Oregon

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h55m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
1 roasting chicken (5 to 6 pounds)
1 medium lemon, halved
1/4 large sweet onion
1/4 cup fresh thyme sprigs
6 garlic cloves, peeled
Lemon wedges

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350°. Mix minced thyme, salt, garlic powder and pepper. Place chicken on a rack in a shallow roasting pan, breast side up. Tuck wings under chicken; tie drumsticks together. Squeeze juice from lemon halves over chicken; sprinkle with thyme mixture., Loosely stuff chicken with squeezed lemon halves, onion, thyme sprigs and garlic. Roast 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until a thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh reads 170°-175°. (Cover loosely with foil if chicken browns too quickly.), Remove chicken from oven; tent with foil. Let stand 15 minutes before carving. Serve with lemon wedges.

Nutrition Facts :

ROAST CHICKEN LEGS WITH LEMON AND THYME



Roast Chicken Legs with Lemon and Thyme image

Chicken legs, with their moist, succulent dark meat, are ideal for many cooking methods. For a last-minute dish that's abundant with the flavors of spring, we roast them with thyme, garlic, and lemon.

Categories     Chicken     Citrus     Herb     Bake     Quick & Easy     Healthy     Gourmet

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

4 whole chicken legs or 4 chicken thighs and 4 drumsticks (2 1/2 to 3 pounds total)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
5 (3- to 4-inch) sprigs fresh thyme
2 garlic cloves, smashed
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
4 (1/4-inch-thick) lemon slices

Steps:

  • Put oven rack in upper third of oven and preheat oven to 500°F.
  • Toss chicken with oil, thyme sprigs, garlic, salt, and pepper in a large bowl, then transfer to a large (17- by 12-inch) shallow heavy baking pan (1 inch deep).
  • Bake chicken 10 minutes, then add lemon slices to pan. Continue to bake until chicken is golden and cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes more. Serve chicken with lemon slices.

LEMON & THYME BUTTER-BASTED ROAST CHICKEN & GRAVY



Lemon & thyme butter-basted roast chicken & gravy image

Smoothing butter under the bird's skin helps to baste the chicken and herbs add a delicious flavour to the gravy

Provided by Good Food team

Categories     Lunch, Main course

Time 1h55m

Number Of Ingredients 11

50g butter , softened
bunch fresh thyme or lemon thyme, leaves picked, stalks reserved, plus extra to serve
4 garlic cloves , 1 mashed, the other 3 left whole but squashed
2 lemons , halved
1 chicken , about 1.5kg
2 carrots , roughly chopped
1 onion , roughly chopped
2 bay leaves
1 tbsp plain flour
250ml chicken stock
splash soy sauce (optional)

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. In a small bowl, mash the butter with one-third of the thyme leaves, the mashed garlic and the juice of half a lemon. Mix everything together with some seasoning and set aside.
  • Use your hand to loosen the chicken skin away from the breast, then push most of the butter mix into the gap. Rub the rest of the butter all over the outside of the chicken, then stuff the cavity with the lemon halves, remaining thyme leaves and stalks, and the garlic.
  • Scatter the chopped carrot, onion and bay leaves over the base of a small roasting tin. Sit the chicken on top, breast-side up, and roast on the middle shelf for 1 hr 30 mins, basting with the buttery juices after about 40 mins. When the chicken is dark golden, crispy-skinned and the juices run clear, remove from the oven and leave in the tin for 5 mins. Use a pair of tongs to pull the lemons, garlic and thyme out of the cavity and into the tin. Lift the chicken up, letting any juices dribble into the tin, and transfer the chicken to a serving platter to rest for at least another 15 mins.
  • To make the gravy, squeeze the juice out of the cooked lemon halves and discard the skins. Place the tin on a low heat, stir in flour and sizzle until light brown. Gradually pour in the stock and cook for a few mins. If you like a darker gravy, add a splash of soy sauce to the tin. Strain the gravy into a jug and serve with the chicken.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 610 calories, Fat 42 grams fat, SaturatedFat 15 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 11 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 6 grams sugar, Fiber 2 grams fiber, Protein 47 grams protein, Sodium 0.8 milligram of sodium

ROAST CHICKEN LEGS WITH LEMON & THYME



Roast Chicken Legs With Lemon & Thyme image

This is a fast, easy, and flavourful way to prepare chicken. It also works with skinless chicken. Recipe is from "Gourmet Magazine" (April 2007).

Provided by blucoat

Categories     Chicken Thigh & Leg

Time 40m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

4 chicken thighs, and 4 drumsticks (2 1/2 pounds total)
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
5 sprigs fresh thyme, 3-4 inches each
2 garlic cloves, smashed (can use more if you really like garlic)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
4 lemon slices, each about 1/4-inch thick

Steps:

  • Put oven rack in upper third of oven and preheat oven to 500°F.
  • Toss chicken with oil, thyme sprigs, garlic, salt, and pepper in a large bowl, then transfer to a large (17- by 12-inch) shallow heavy baking pan (1 inch deep).
  • Bake chicken 10 minutes, then add lemon slices to pan (or slip under skin for added flavour). Continue to bake until chicken is golden and cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes more. Serve chicken with lemon slices.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH GARLIC AND THYME



Roast Chicken with Garlic and Thyme image

Crisp, golden skin and juicy garlic-laced meat exemplify why roasting is one of the best ways to highlight the texture and flavor of a chicken.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Ingredients     Meat & Poultry     Chicken

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 whole chicken (about 4 pounds), preferably pasture-raised and organic
1 head garlic, halved crosswise
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
6 sprigs thyme
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
Garnish: fresh thyme

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Let chicken stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Rub chicken all over with cut side of garlic. Season cavity with salt and pepper; stuff with garlic halves and thyme. Brush chicken with butter; generously season with salt and pepper. Transfer chicken to a rimmed baking sheet. Cross legs, and tie with kitchen twine.
  • Roast chicken, basting after 30 minutes, until skin is crisp and golden and an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh reaches 165, about 1 hour. Let stand for 10 minutes before carving. Garnish with thyme.

Tips:

  • Brine the chicken legs: For extra juicy and flavorful chicken, consider brining the legs in a mixture of water, salt, and sugar for several hours before cooking.
  • Use a high-quality olive oil: The olive oil you use will greatly impact the taste of your dish, so opt for a high-quality extra virgin olive oil.
  • Generously season the chicken: Don't be shy with the salt and pepper! Season the chicken liberally before roasting to ensure it's well-flavored throughout.
  • Roast the chicken at a high temperature: This will help to crisp up the skin and ensure the chicken cooks through evenly.
  • Roast the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C): Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken to ensure it's cooked through before removing it from the oven.
  • Let the chicken rest before serving: This will allow the juices to redistribute throughout the chicken, resulting in more tender and flavorful meat.

Conclusion:

Roast chicken legs with lemon and thyme is a simple yet delicious dish that can be enjoyed for lunch, dinner, or even as a party appetizer. With its crispy skin, juicy meat, and bright lemon flavor, this dish is sure to impress your taste buds. So next time you're looking for an easy and flavorful meal, give this recipe a try!

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