I used to work at a beloved Italian restaurant in San Francisco that had a retail counter stocked full of salads, savory pastries, whole roast chickens, charcuterie, and cheese. When I opened the front door each day, the aroma of rotisserie chicken and pollo al mattone would waft by me—quite possibly one of the nicest ways to be greeted first thing in the morning. I think that’s why people gravitated towards the place, aside from the wonderful pasta.
Let’s face it, the smell of roasted chicken just warms the soul—there’s really nothing like it. And if you have a few great roast chicken recipes in your arsenal, you can conjure up those cozy feelings pretty much any day of the week. We’ve gathered some of our favorites—from perfect roast chicken to foolproof pan-roasted chicken with vegetables. For those who want to infuse their bird with different flavors, we also have a spicy, citrusy Spanish roast chicken and an aromatic lavender-and thyme-infused bird that will transport you to Provence. So grab a bird and get roasting!
