Description
Golden Million Dollar Chicken roasted with a creamy crème fraîche glaze & sourdough—juicy meat, crispy skin & rich, irresistible flavor!
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 tbsp olive oil, divided
3 thick slices day-old sourdough French bread
1 cup crème fraîche
1 tbsp grated shallot
1 tsp Aleppo pepper
1 tbsp water (or as needed for glaze consistency)
Instructions
Prep Chicken: Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). Season chicken cavity with salt and pepper. Stuff with lemon, thyme, garlic, and bay leaf. Tie legs with twine.
Arrange Bread Base: Drizzle 1 tbsp olive oil in a roasting pan. Lay sourdough slices in pan, press to coat. Drizzle another tbsp oil on top.
Roast: Place chicken atop bread slices. Brush with 1 tbsp olive oil, season skin with salt. Roast for 1 hour.
Make Glaze: Mix crème fraîche, shallot, and Aleppo pepper. Thin with water until brushable.
Glaze & Finish: After 1 hour, brush chicken generously with glaze. Return to oven 15–25 minutes, until golden and internal temp is 165°F (74°C).
Rest & Serve: Let rest 10 minutes. Serve with roasted, flavor-soaked bread.
Notes
Aleppo pepper can be swapped for sweet paprika or chili flakes.
Day-old sourdough holds up best to soaking and roasting.
Pairs beautifully with roasted vegetables or a green salad.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes + Additional Time (Rest): 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American