Roast Chicken with Croutons and Wilted Greens

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Roast Chicken with Croutons and Wilted Greens
Prep Time:
15 mins
Total Time:
1 hrs
Servings:
4

Tossing the croutons in the flavorful roasted chicken pan juices makes them absolutely irresistible.

Ingredients

  • 1 whole chicken (3 ½ to 4 pounds), rinsed and patted dry

  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1 ½ tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves

  • Coarse salt and ground pepper

  • 1 lemon, halved

  • 1 loaf crusty white bread (8 ounces), torn into chunks

  • 1 bunch arugula (12 ounces)

  • 2 teaspoons red-wine vinegar

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place chicken on a rimmed baking sheet; rub with 2 tablespoons oil. Sprinkle with thyme. Season with salt and pepper. Squeeze lemon into cavity; place inside. Roast chicken until juices run clear when pierced between breast and leg or an instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest part of a thigh (avoiding bone) registers 165, 45 to 50 minutes. Transfer to a rimmed platter.

  2. Place bread on sheet; toss with cooking juices. Season with salt. Bake until croutons are golden, 7 minutes. Pour any accumulated juices from platter into a bowl; add croutons, arugula, 1 tablespoon oil, and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper and toss. Carve chicken and serve with croutons and greens.

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