Name: Million Dollar Chicken
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 85 min
Total time: 115 min
Ingredients: 1 (4.5 pound) whole chicken; salt and ground black pepper to taste; 1 lemon, halved; 1 bunch fresh thyme; 3 cloves garlic, peeled; 1 bay leaf; 3 tablespoons olive oil, or as needed; 3 thick slices day-old sourdough French bread; 1 cup creme fraiche; 1 tablespoon peeled and grated shallot; 1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper; 2 tablespoons lemon juice, or to taste; 1 teaspoon lemon zest; 3 chive blossoms for garnish, chopped

Million Dollar Chicken

4.2

(82)

66 Reviews

12 Photos

This chicken is roasted on thick slices of sourdough bread and slathered with a crème fraîche glaze. It looks like a million dollars. When you combine the chicken with toasted bread soaked in sticky drippings, you're talking about at least a million-dollar taste.

By Chef John

Updated on February 7, 2023

Prep Time:

20 mins

Cook Time:

1 hrs 25 mins

Additional Time:

10 mins

Total Time:

1 hrs 55 mins

Servings:

Yield:

1 whole roasted chicken

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

1 (4.5 pound) whole chicken
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 lemon, halved
1 bunch fresh thyme
3 cloves garlic, peeled (Optional)
1 bay leaf
3 tablespoons olive oil, or as needed
3 thick slices day-old sourdough French bread
1 cup creme fraiche
1 tablespoon peeled and grated shallot
1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper
2 tablespoons lemon juice, or to taste
1 teaspoon lemon zest
3 chive blossoms for garnish, chopped (Optional)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
Season chicken cavity generously with salt and black pepper. Squeeze lemon halves into cavity, then drop squeezed halves inside. Stuff cavity with thyme, garlic, and bay leaf. Set aside.
Drizzle 1 tablespoon oil into a heavy roasting pan. Place bread slices into the pan and press lightly into oil to coat the bottoms of bread. Drizzle 1 more tablespoon oil over bread and place chicken on top. Tie legs together with kitchen twine, then brush chicken with remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Season the entire outside of chicken with salt.
Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour.
Meanwhile, mix together crème fraîche, shallot, and Aleppo pepper in a small bowl. Stir lemon juice and lemon zest into crème fraîche mixture. Refrigerate sauce until needed.
Lift chicken off bread slices using tongs and flip bread slices over (they will be very brown). Place chicken back onto bread slices. Generously brush the outside of chicken with crème fraîche sauce, putting enough on to drip down onto bread slices.
Bake until sauce is browned, about 10 minutes. Repeat, brushing more crème fraîche sauce generously onto chicken. Bake for 10 more minutes. Remove chicken from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes. An instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh near the bone should read at least 165 degrees F (75 degrees C).
While chicken rests, pour remaining crème fraîche sauce into a small skillet over medium heat; bring to a boil. Cook and stir until shallot is cooked and sauce thickens slightly, 1 or 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and set aside.
Transfer chicken and bread pieces to a cutting board. Cut bread pieces in half crosswise and arrange them on a serving platter. Cut chicken into 8 serving pieces (drumsticks, thighs, wings, and breasts) and place over bread on the platter. Drizzle thickened crème fraîche sauce over chicken and garnish with chopped chive blossoms.

Aja

Chef's Notes:

Use a microplane to grate shallot.

The original recipe from the Standard Grill in New York City calls for finishing with Maldon sea salt. I didn't, but that's always a nice option.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

687	Calories
48g	Fat
16g	Carbs
50g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 687
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 48g	61%
Saturated Fat 18g	89%
Cholesterol 200mg	67%
Sodium 269mg	12%
Total Carbohydrate 16g	6%
Dietary Fiber 2g	8%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 50g
Vitamin C 18mg	92%
Calcium 77mg	6%
Iron 3mg	19%
Potassium 495mg	11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.