Christmas Chicken – YUM!!

Controversial? I wanted to show how a humble chicken could rival a Christmas turkey! Well look no further here it is my amazingly moist and flavour packed Christmas Chicken 🙂

Just look at it!! 

The best Roast Chicken 

I have elevated the chicken but pushing seasoned good quality sausage meat under the chicken breast skin, then covering it heavily in delicious smoked streaky bacon, it’s so flipping good.

The bacon and sausage almost act like  a suit of armour around the juicy breast – containing all those lovely flavours 

And actually no need for pigs in blankets really – but hey it’s Christmas so why not have them too! 

I add a lemon, some fresh rosemary, salt & black pepper and a good glug of olive oil over the whole bird 

Christmas Chicken v Christmas Turkey 

So why not go chicken instead of turkey?

What I would say is go for a good bird. Splurge a little and maybe go Free-Range or Organic – yum yum 

For me it’s for these reasons

1. A chicken is really moist and super easy to cook
2. It normally take much less time to cook (for time for fun) 
3. More oven space as it’s a shorter roasting time 
4. I simply prefer the taste 

Step by step to your perfect Christmas Chicken 

****My chicken was a fresh 1.75Kg (3.5-4  pounds) – you must change the cooking instructions if you chicken is a different size)*** 

Step 1 

Using your hand separate the skin from the breast and stuffed a flattened skinned sausage underneath the skin in a very thin layer

Step 2 

Half a lemon and pop inside the cavity – you can also add some bay leaves and an onion in if you fancy it – it all adds to the flavour.

Next criss cross the entire top of the chicken with plenty of smoked streaky bacon.

Add some fresh herbs – I used rosemary and a drizzle of olive oil, fresh black pepper and salt

Step 3 

Cover with foil and cook in a preheated oven for 1 hour – remove the foil and cook for a further 40 minutes (or longer depending on the size of your chicken) 

Rest covered for 20 minutes and serve with all the usual trimmings – delicious! 

Enjoy – it really is delicious! 

Other tasty morsels 

Here’s my recipe for yummy Brussel sprouts – I love them

And if you do want amazing Stuffing maybe give my dads Christmas Stuffing recipe a go 

Hope you enjoy! 

Much love Clare x

Christmas Chicken to rival a Turkey!

5 from 2 votes

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour 40 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours

Servings: 6

Calories: 562kcal

Print Pin Rate

A delicious moist and flavoursome roast chicken, it's so easy and rivals a turkey at Christmas

Ingredients

• 1.75 Kg Large fresh Chicken or whatever size you like
• 1 Lemon halved
• 2 Sausages good quality herbed ones
• 300 grams Streaky Bacon - smoked
• Fresh rosemary
• 15 grams Olive oil
• Salt & Black Pepper

Metric - US Customary

Instructions

• These instruction are for a 1.75Kg fresh chicken, if your chicken is a different size adjust times accordingly!!
• Preheat your oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6
• Remove your chicken from it's packaging and place on a large foil covered baking tray
• Using your fingers carefully separate the skin from the breast
• Next skin the sausages and flatten them - slide them between the skin and the breast, should be a thin layer
• Next criss cross the streaky bacon over the entire breast - use plenty
• Place the halved lemon inside the chicken with some rosemary
• Add some further rosemary between the breast and legs
• Drizzle with olive oil and finally add some salt and black pepper
• Cover tightly with foil
• Cook for 1 hour (follow on pack instructions if your chicken is a different size)
• Remove the foil and cook for a further 40 minutes
• Once cooked (juices should run clear) remove from the oven, cover and rest for minimum 20 minutes, 30 if possible
• Enjoy

Notes

*** All. nutritional information is approximate and intended as a guide 

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Christmas Chicken to rival a Turkey!

Amount per Serving

Calories

562

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

46

g

71

%

Saturated Fat

 

14

g

88

%

Trans Fat

 

1

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

8

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

20

g

Cholesterol

 

144

mg

48

%

Sodium

 

482

mg

21

%

Potassium

 

409

mg

12

%

Carbohydrates

 

2

g

1

%

Fiber

 

1

g

4

%

Sugar

 

1

g

1

%

Protein

 

34

g

68

%

Vitamin A

 

225

IU

5

%

Vitamin C

 

12

mg

15

%

Calcium

 

23

mg

2

%

Iron

 

2

mg

11

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.