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Citrus Pepper Roasted Chicken

Citrus Pepper Roasted Chicken features two whole birds infused with bright lemon and fragrant thyme, balanced by a bold peppery bite and hints of garlic. The vegetables tucked inside keep the meat juicy and aromatic, yielding crisp skin and tender, flavorful meat. Ideal for a cozy weekend dinner or a special family gathering where a centerpiece roast shines.

  • Prep20 mins
  • Cook2 hrs 30 mins
  • Serves12
  • DifficultyMedium
Citrus Pepper Roasted Chicken

easyChef Pro health score

Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Citrus Pepper Roasted Chicken, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.

55 Health Score
Glycemic ImpactFair
56 / 100
Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
Nutritional DensityPoor
17 / 100
Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
Energy DensityGood
93 / 100
Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
1 / 4
Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.

How it scores for each health goal

The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.

49
Heart Health
68
Metabolic
21
Digestive
39
Inflammatory
58
Performance
51
General Wellness
  1. 1

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

  2. 2

    Mix lemon-pepper, garlic salt, black pepper, thyme, and salt in a bowl; set aside. Slice 2 lemons into rounds for stuffing; keep 1 lemon reserved for its juice.

  3. 3

    Set 2 chickens in a roasting pan so they do not touch. Evenly squeeze 1 lemon over both chickens to coat. Split the sliced lemons, green onions, celery, and garlic in half; stuff each chicken cavity with one half. Tie the legs together with cooking string, ensuring the legs face up. Rub the spice mixture all over the chickens.

  4. 4

    Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Rotate the pan; baste the chicken with the juices. Continue baking, basting often, for 50 minutes more. Raise the oven temperature to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C); keep basting and baking until the juices run clear and the 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 but not touching the bone, should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

About This Recipe

Citrus Pepper Roasted Chicken is made with 10 ingredients and serves 12. It takes about 2 hrs 50 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Celery, Dried Thyme, and Garlic. Each serving provides about 252.74 kcal, and is a good source of protein.

Recipe Questions

What is Citrus Pepper Roasted Chicken made of?
The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Celery, Dried Thyme, Garlic, Garlic Salt. The full list of 10 is above.
How long does it take to make Citrus Pepper Roasted Chicken?
About 2 hrs 50 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 2 hrs 30 mins to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 252.74 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is Citrus Pepper Roasted Chicken easy to make?
This recipe is rated medium, with 10 ingredients and 4 steps.
Is Citrus Pepper Roasted Chicken healthy?
Citrus Pepper Roasted Chicken has an easyChef Pro health score of 55/100. Per serving, it provides 252.74 calories and 43.07 g of protein, or 86% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 392.53 mg (17% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Celery, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.

How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products

easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.

The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.

Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.

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