Million Dollar Chicken
Million Dollar Chicken features a whole bird roasted over olive oil–kissed sourdough so the juices crisp and flavor the bread. A tangy crème fraîche glaze with lemon, shallot, and Aleppo pepper is brushed on twice, creating glossy, savory skin and rich, lemon-herb pan flavors. It’s an impressive dinner centerpiece ideal for weekends or gatherings.
- Prep20 mins
- Cook1 hr 25 mins
- Serves6
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Million Dollar Chicken, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 51 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 91 / 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.
- 5
- Heart Health
- 62
- Metabolic
- 17
- Digestive
- 20
- Inflammatory
- 54
- Performance
- 43
- General Wellness
- 1
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
- 2
Generously season the chicken cavity with salt and black pepper. Squeeze the lemon halves into the cavity, then place the squeezed halves inside. Stuff the cavity with thyme, garlic, and a bay leaf. Set aside.
- 3
Drizzle 1 tablespoon oil into a heavy roasting pan. Lay the bread slices in the pan and press them lightly into the oil to coat the bottoms. Drizzle 1 more tablespoon oil over the bread and set the chicken on top. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine, then brush the chicken with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Season the entire outside of the chicken with salt.
- 4
Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour.
- 5
Meanwhile, combine the crème fraîche, shallot, and Aleppo pepper in a small bowl. Stir in the lemon juice and lemon zest. Refrigerate the sauce until needed.
- 6
Using tongs, lift the chicken off the bread slices and flip the bread slices over (they will be very brown). Set the chicken back on the bread. Generously brush the outside of the chicken with the crème fraîche sauce, applying enough to drip onto the bread.
- 7
Bake until the sauce is browned, about 10 minutes. Repeat by generously brushing more crème fraîche sauce onto the chicken. Bake for 10 more minutes. Remove the chicken from the oven and let it stand for 10 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh near the bone should register at least 165 degrees F (75 degrees C).
- 8
While the chicken rests, pour the remaining crème fraîche sauce into a small skillet over medium heat and bring to a boil. Cook and stir until the shallot is cooked and the sauce thickens slightly, 1 or 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and set aside.
- 9
Transfer the chicken and bread pieces to a cutting board. Cut the bread pieces in half crosswise and arrange them on a serving platter. Cut the chicken into 8 serving pieces (drumsticks, thighs, wings, and breasts) and place them over the bread on the platter. Drizzle the thickened crème fraîche sauce over the chicken and garnish with chopped chive blossoms.
- Calories 504.94 kcal High 25%
- Protein 65.39 g Good Source 131%
- Carbohydrate 14.39 g 5%
- Total Fat 21.49 g High 28%
- Saturated Fat 8.02 g High 40%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 211.97 mg High 71%
- Sodium 693.23 mg High 30%
- Dietary Fiber 1.46 g Low Source 5%
- Total Sugars 3.4 g --
- Added Sugars 0.05 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 19.88 mg Low Source 2%
- Iron 1.02 mg Low Source 6%
- Potassium 121.1 mg Low Source 3%
- Vitamin A 7.44 mcg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin C 14.05 mg Moderate 16%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Citrus 🍊
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Million Dollar Chicken is made with 14 ingredients and serves 6. It takes about 1 hr 45 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Aleppo Pepper, Crème Fraîche, Dried Bay Leaves, and Dried Lemon Peel. Each serving provides about 504.94 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Million Dollar Chicken made of?
- The main ingredients are Aleppo Pepper, Crème Fraîche, Dried Bay Leaves, Dried Lemon Peel, Fresh Chives. The full list of 14 is above.
- How long does it take to make Million Dollar Chicken?
- About 1 hr 45 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 1 hr 25 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 504.94 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Million Dollar Chicken easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 14 ingredients and 9 steps.
- Is Million Dollar Chicken healthy?
- Million Dollar Chicken has an easyChef Pro health score of 45/100. Per serving, it provides 504.94 calories and 65.39 g of protein, or 131% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 693.23 mg (30% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 8.02 g (40% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Milk, Wheat, Gluten, 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
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