Easy Low Carb Roast Chicken

Roast chicken is one of those meals that never really goes out of fashion.

It's simple, filling and doesn't need a long list of fancy ingredients. Best of all, it's easy to turn into a delicious low-carb dinner with a few vegetables and some simple seasoning.

What You'll Need

• 1 whole chicken, about 1.5–2 kg
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 lemon
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and black pepper
• Your choice of low-carb vegetables

For the vegetables, try broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, green beans or leafy greens.

How to Make It

1. Get the Chicken Ready

Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F).

Pat the chicken dry with paper towel and place it in a roasting dish.

Rub the olive oil over the chicken, then season with salt, pepper, rosemary and thyme.

Rub the crushed garlic over the skin.

2. Add Some Lemon

Cut the lemon in half and squeeze a little juice over the chicken.

You can also place the lemon halves inside the chicken cavity for extra flavour while it cooks.

3. Roast

Place the chicken in the oven and roast until the skin is golden and the chicken is cooked through.

Cooking time will depend on the size of your chicken, so check the thickest part of the meat with a food thermometer. Chicken should reach a safe internal temperature of 75°C.

If the skin starts browning too quickly, loosely cover the chicken with foil.

4. Let It Rest

Once cooked, remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for around 10–15 minutes before carving.

This gives you a chance to finish the vegetables — and gives everyone else time to start asking when dinner is ready.

Easy Low Carb Vegetables

While the chicken is roasting, prepare some simple vegetables.

Try:

• Roasted cauliflower
• Steamed broccoli
• Garlic zucchini
• Green beans with butter
• Sautéed mushrooms
• A fresh green salad

You don't need to make five different side dishes. One or two good vegetables are usually plenty.

What About the Leftovers?

This is where roast chicken really earns its place in the kitchen.

Leftover chicken can be used for:

• Chicken salad
• Lettuce wraps
• Omelettes
• Low-carb soups
• Chicken and vegetable bowls
• Quick lunches

You can also shred the leftover meat and keep it refrigerated for another meal.

Always refrigerate leftovers promptly and use them according to standard food-safety guidance.

Want to Change Things Up?

Once you've mastered a simple roast chicken, it's easy to experiment.

Try adding:

• Paprika
• Garlic and lemon
• Italian herbs
• Rosemary and thyme
• A little chilli
• Lemon zest

A few different herbs and seasonings can make the same basic recipe taste completely different.

Need Another Low Carb Dinner Idea?

Sometimes you've got ingredients in the fridge but absolutely no idea what to do with them.

That's where our Easy Low Carb Recipe Generator can come in handy.

Try entering:

"Give me a low carb chicken dinner using the ingredients I have."

Or:

"Create three easy low carb meals using leftover roast chicken."

You can use whatever ingredients you already have and let the recipe generator come up with some ideas.

Try the Easy Low Carb Recipe Generator and see what you can create.

Keep It Simple

A good low-carb meal doesn't have to be complicated.

A roast chicken, some fresh vegetables and a few herbs can make a delicious dinner without spending hours in the kitchen.

And if you have leftovers, even better — tomorrow's lunch is already sorted.