Serves: 4

Ingredients for the Chicken:

• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 (3½- to 4-pound) whole chicken, giblets discarded
• 1 tablespoon melted ghee (or fat of choice)

For the Optional Tarragon-Lemon Pan Sauce:

• 1 shallot, minced
• 1 cup chicken broth or bone broth
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (or cold ghee for folks doing a Whole30)
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh tarragon
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• Freshly ground black pepper

Steps:

Position your oven rack in the middle position, place a 12-inch oven-safe skillet on it, shut the oven door, and crank the heat up to 450°F.

Mix together the salt and pepper in a small bowl…

…and grab the melted ghee.

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.

Really. Don’t skip this part. No one likes handling a slick chicken.

Pull off any extra fat around the open cavity, and trim away any extraneous skin.

If you happen to spot any remaining feathers, just pluck ’em out. Don’t get squeamish on me.

Brush the entire surface of the bird with melted ghee. If your chicken is still cold from sitting in the refrigerator, the ghee may clump up a bit upon contact with the bird, but that’s no biggie.

See my face? That’s not a worried expression.

Sprinkle the salt and pepper mixture all over the surface and interior of the bird.

Massage in the seasoning with your hands.

Tuck the chicken wings behind the back to keep ’em from burning in the oven…

…and tie the legs together with a piece of kitchen twine.

Dainty, right?

Now the bird’s ready for the oven.

Plop.

Place your bird breast-side up in the hot skillet in the oven. Remember that your skillet’s hot—don’t burn your hand.

Roast the chicken until the breast registers 120°F and thighs are 135°F, about 25 to 35 minutes. (If you haven’t already invested in a meat thermometer, I recommend that you do it. It’s a great insurance policy against ruined dinners.)

Immediately turn off the oven, leaving the chicken inside until the breast reaches 160°F and thighs are 175°F, about 25 to 35 more minutes. Again, use your meat thermometer to check your bird for readiness.

Remove the chicken from the pan and rest it for 20 minutes.

I used to use a pair of tongs to transfer roast chicken from pan to plate, but found that the teeth of my tongs would tear the beautifully crisp, golden skin. The solution? I now insert the handle-end of a sturdy wooden spoon or spatula into the bird’s cavity to lift it up and out—and to drain out any excess juices from the inside of the chicken.

While the chicken’s resting…

…we have time to whip up a quick pan sauce!

Remove all but 1 tablespoon of fat from the skillet. Leave the extra jus and brown bits in the pan.

Heat the contents of the skillet over a medium-high burner. Once the liquid starts bubbling…

…throw in the shallots.

Cook the shallots until softened.

Then, pour in the broth…

…and the mustard, scraping up any tasty browned bits on the bottom of the pan.

Simmer until reduced to ¾ cup.

While the sauce is reducing, juice your lemon…

…and mince the tarragon leaves.

When the sauce is ready, remove it from the heat. Grab the chilled butter…

…and slowly whisk it into the sauce…

…along with the lemon juice…

…and minced tarragon.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Hack up the chicken and ladle on the gravy.

The result: the perfect roast chicken. Pair it with a simple salad or roasted vegetables, and treat yourself and your loved one to a delicious feast!

And then make them do the dishes.

Tip of the Day:

It is awesome to have accountability, but when it comes down to it, you are the one who has to make the choice. Encourage yourself with notes, quotes, verses, etc. taped to the refrigerator, your mirror, or anywhere you will see them often. Changing the way you think (about food, about yourself, about your circumstances) is the best way to start changing your habits.

Write down a list of reasons to remind yourself WHY you are doing this when you are standing in front of the refrigerator (or a plate full of cookies) thinking, “Why am I doing this?”