Creative Ways to Add Flavor to Roasted Chicken

In the event the skin is not browning properly, you can baste the outside with butter as it bakes. Roasting whole chickens is a great way to feed the family; the leftovers can be used for creating all kinds of other dishes including soups, salads, casseroles and stocks.

Have you ever tried whole roasted chicken sold in a good restaurant and wonder how they make them to taste so good? Not only is roasting a whole chicken economical, it is also a great way to cook moist, juicy, flavorful chicken. You can adjust the flavors and seasonings to accommodate personal preferences and the different combinations for flavoring the chicken are endless.

Honey-Lemon Glaze

The lemon juice marinade is what makes the chicken more tender while the honey glaze incorporates a sweet balance to the tang of the lemon. You just let the chicken absorb the lemon juice marinade in a zip lock plastic bag and place the bag in the fridge for a number of hours or overnight if you prefer a stronger taste. Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the marinade.

Before baking, season the chicken with pepper and salt, and put some thyme sprigs into the cavity. About halfway through baking utilize a basting brush to coat the chicken all over with honey. Baste with the juices on the baking pan and brush with honey on occasion until baking time is completed.

Brown Sugar and Bacon Glazed

This glaze will incorporate a quite intense flavor from different ingredients.  You'll get the sweetness of brown sugar, flavor from smoky bacon and spiciness of cayenne pepper. Simply massage the top of the chicken with olive oil and add a generous amount of salt and pepper. Keep in mind that the salt will tend to seep out of the chicken as it roasts, so use some extra salt. With the usual roasting procedure, baste the chicken occasionally as it cooks.

In a small pan, melt some butter and mix in some flour to create a roux. Once the butter is melted and the mixture is a golden brown color, pour in the juices from the baked chicken and bring to a light boil while mixing. Now place a few pieces of bacon over your chicken so that the flavor is absorbed into the skin. Drizzle the glaze you just created all over the chicken and bacon.

Balsamic Glaze

Balsamic glaze is a tangy and sweet glaze that works well with all kinds of grilled meats. Simply mix together balsamic vinegar, garlic, basil, brown sugar and crushed red pepper flakes into a sauce pan at medium high heat. The garlic and basil should be whole. Once you notice a thick glaze coating the spoon, take out the garlic and basil. Place the glaze in another container to rest from heat. If the glaze thickens, thin with a bit of water once you're ready to use it. Glaze chicken lightly, as this glaze has an intense flavor.

Mango Rum Glaze

This one is a bit more daring and has a very exotic flavor to it. You can enjoy a sweet fruitiness with a bit of zest. All you have to do is season the chicken with a few basic dry seasonings like dried basil and thyme, and pepper and salt. Puree some mango nectar, chutney and rum and use that as a glaze.

The key to a great roasted chicken, aside from cooking it right of course, is all in the glaze. You can instantly add flavor by creating your own, homemade roast chicken glaze.