The Story & Intro
Hi, I’m Inaya, 38, from the beautiful island of Crete in Greece. Cooking has been part of my life since I was a child, learning from my grandmother how to make traditional Greek dishes full of love and flavor. One of my favorite memories is the smell of roasted chicken filling her kitchen crispy skin, buttery aroma, and fresh thyme from her garden.
This Honey Butter Roasted Chicken with Thyme brings that memory right back to life. The combination of golden honey, creamy butter, and earthy thyme creates a dish that’s simple yet incredibly satisfying. It’s the kind of meal that makes your kitchen smell heavenly and your family gather around the table before you even call them!
Honey butter roasted chicken is the perfect recipe when you want something elegant but easy. It’s sweet, savory, and infused with herbs that balance the flavors beautifully. Whether for Sunday dinner, holidays, or just a cozy weeknight meal, this roasted chicken recipe is one of my go-to favorites a guaranteed crowd-pleaser every single time.
If you’re looking for a comforting, flavorful meal that looks impressive but takes minimal effort, this Honey Butter Roasted Chicken with Thyme will become your new favorite too. 🍋
Ingredients
Here’s everything you’ll need for this heartwarming dish:
🐔 Main Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken (about 4 lbs / 1.8 kg)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 lemon (halved)
- 4–5 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika (optional, for color)
🍠 Optional Vegetables (for roasting together)
- 3 medium potatoes, cubed
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 1 onion, quartered
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Rinse your chicken under cold water and pat dry with paper towels this helps it roast to crisp perfection.
Step 2: Make the Honey Butter Mixture
In a small bowl, mix softened butter, honey, olive oil, thyme, salt, pepper, and paprika. Stir until everything blends into a golden, fragrant paste. The smell alone is heavenly sweet honey and earthy thyme together are pure magic.
Step 3: Season the Chicken
Gently loosen the skin of the chicken with your fingers. Rub half of the honey butter mixture under the skin (especially over the breast meat). Rub the rest over the top of the chicken and all around. Place lemon halves and garlic cloves inside the cavity for extra aroma and juiciness.
Step 4: Prepare the Vegetables
If using vegetables, toss them in a bowl with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Arrange them around the chicken in your roasting pan. They’ll soak up all that delicious honey butter as they roast trust me, they’ll steal the show!
Step 5: Roast to Golden Perfection
Roast uncovered for about 1 hour and 20 minutes, basting the chicken with pan juices every 20–25 minutes. If the skin gets too dark, cover loosely with foil.
Check that the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) that’s when it’s perfectly cooked.
Step 6: Rest and Serve
Once roasted, remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 10–15 minutes before carving. This helps the juices settle, keeping the meat tender and moist.
Serving Suggestions 🍋
Serve your Honey Butter Roasted Chicken with Thyme with roasted vegetables and a simple side salad. The sweet glaze pairs beautifully with creamy mashed potatoes, steamed green beans, or even crusty bread to soak up that honey butter sauce.
For a Mediterranean twist, drizzle with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice just before serving.
This dish also tastes amazing the next day shred leftover chicken into salads, sandwiches, or wraps for easy weekday lunches.
Notes 📝
- Thyme substitutes: If you don’t have thyme, rosemary or oregano work beautifully too.
- For extra crispiness: Brush a little extra honey over the chicken during the last 10 minutes of roasting.
- Make it ahead: Prepare the honey butter mixture the day before and store it in the fridge.
Nutrition (per serving) ⚖️
Estimated for 6 servings
- Calories: 410 kcal
- Protein: 32g
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Sugars: 10g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sodium: 280mg
Recipe Card 🕒
TIME COOK
⏱️ Prep: 15 mins
🔥 Cook: 1 hr 20 mins
🥣 Total: 1 hr 35 mins
INGREDIENTS
🐔 1 whole chicken
🍯 4 tbsp butter
🍋 3 tbsp honey
🌿 1 tbsp thyme
🧄 Garlic, lemon, olive oil, salt, pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Mix butter, honey, thyme, and seasoning.
- Rub over chicken (under skin too).
- Roast 1h20m, basting every 25 min.
- Rest, carve, serve warm!
NOTE
Add veggies around the chicken for a complete meal!
NUTRITION
Approx. 410 kcal per serving.
Conclusion
There’s something so comforting about roasting a chicken the aroma fills the house, the skin turns golden and crispy, and every bite feels like home. This Honey Butter Roasted Chicken with Thyme is one of those dishes that proves simplicity and love create the best flavors.
It’s the kind of meal you can proudly serve to family or guests, knowing it came from your heart and your kitchen. From my Crete kitchen to yours, enjoy this golden, buttery, and utterly irresistible roasted chicken recipe. ❤️
🌿 Short 100-word version of my story:
Hi, I’m Inaya from Crete, Greece. I learned to cook from my grandmother, who taught me that food is love shared on a plate. This Honey Butter Roasted Chicken with Thyme reminds me of her kitchen filled with the sweet scent of honey, herbs, and family laughter. I believe that cooking should be joyful, not complicated, and this recipe is proof! With golden crispy skin, buttery flavor, and thyme’s gentle aroma, it’s a dish that brings everyone together. Simple, delicious, and made with love just the way food should be.
