Oven Roasted Chicken with Herb Butter

There’s something incredibly satisfying about cooking with fresh herbs—especially when they’re blended into a rich, flavorful garlic herb butter. This simple homemade butter elevates everything from warm bakery bread to perfectly roasted chicken. It’s one of those kitchen staples that adds a touch of gourmet without any fuss.

I recently whipped up a batch of homemade garlic herb butter, and it quickly became the secret weapon for a weeknight dinner hit: oven-roasted chicken with herb butter. The buttery, herb-packed flavor gave the chicken a golden, crispy skin and juicy interior that even the kids loved—green flecks and all.

With fresh herbs now thriving in our greenhouse, and a few sprouting on my windowsill, it’s the perfect time to try this recipe in your own kitchen.

Garlic Herb Butter Recipe
Ingredients

1 head garlic

1 tablespoon olive oil

3 tablespoons fresh thyme

3 tablespoons fresh rosemary

3 tablespoons fresh sage

3 tablespoons fresh parsley

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Trim the papery tip off the garlic head to expose the cloves, keeping the bulb intact.

Place garlic on a sheet of aluminum foil, drizzle with olive oil, and wrap tightly.

Roast for 30–45 minutes, or until cloves are soft. Allow to cool.

Squeeze the roasted garlic out of the skins into a bowl.

Add softened butter and chopped herbs. Mix until thoroughly combined.

Optional: Shape into a log and wrap in wax paper. Store in the refrigerator for up to one week or freeze for up to three months.

Oven-Roasted Chicken with Garlic Herb Butter
Ingredients

3 tablespoons melted garlic herb butter

3½ pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces (breasts, drumsticks, and thighs)

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425°F.

Rinse and pat chicken pieces dry. Season lightly with salt and pepper.

Arrange pieces in a baking pan, skin-side up, placing breasts in the center and legs/thighs around the outside.

Brush generously with melted herb butter.

Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. Chicken is done when the breast reaches 160°F and thighs reach 175°F.

Let rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Whether you’re spreading the garlic herb butter on fresh bread or using it to elevate your next roasted chicken dinner, these recipes are a delicious way to bring the flavor of fresh herbs into your home-cooked meals. Keep a batch of the butter on hand—you’ll find endless ways to use it.

For more kitchen inspiration and seasonal recipes using farm-fresh ingredients, explore our full collection of home cooking ideas.