Mains

Honey Thyme Roast Chicken with Honey Mustard and Vanilla Sauce

  • Easy

  • 1 hour 30 mins

If you need a comforting classic with a twist, we’ve got you. Take one roasted chicken, place garlic thyme butter under the skin then serve with a creamy honey mustard sauce that has the faintest hint of vanilla.

This effortless combination will warm your soul.

  • Skill Level

    Easy

  • Prep Time

    20 mins

  • Cooking Time

    1 hour 10 mins

  • Servings

    4

Ingredients

Chicken

  • 1.5-2kg free range whole chicken, patted dry
  • 25g butter
  • 1 ½ tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • Sea salt and pepper
  • 1 whole lemon
  • 90g (¼ cup) Capilano Honey, warmed
  • 2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
  • ¼ tsp dried chilli flakes

 

Honey Mustard Vanilla Sauce

  • 1/3 cup chicken juices (from roast chicken)
  • 2 tsp plain flour
  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tbsp Capilano Honey
  • 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
  • ½ cup thickened cream
  1. Preheat oven to 200°C (fan forced). Line a large roasting dish with baking paper.
  2. To prepare chicken, gently lift the skin away from the chicken breasts until you have two small pockets. Combine 1 tsp thyme and butter in a small bowl, mix well then gently transfer under the chicken skin using a teaspoon.
  3. Rub chicken all over with olive oil and season well with salt and pepper. Zest whole lemon, then place the zested lemon inside chicken cavity, setting zest aside. Truss chicken legs together with kitchen twine. Place in a roasting dish and roast for 50 minutes.
  4. For the glaze, combine honey, lemon zest, remaining thyme leaves, and chilli flakes in a small bowl and mix until well combined. After the chicken has roasted for 50 minutes, baste honey glaze over the chicken and return to the oven basting every 5 minutes for another 20 minutes. Reserve some chicken juices to prepare sauce.
  5. For the sauce, combine 1/3 cup chicken juice with flour and whisk over a low heat until a paste forms and the flour has cooked out (about 2-3 minutes). Add mustard, honey, vanilla and cream and cook over medium heat, whisking until the sauce has thickened and is reduced to your liking.
  6. Serve the chicken with the honey mustard sauce and a squeeze of honey.

Used in this recipe

  1. Preheat oven to 200°C (fan forced). Line a large roasting dish with baking paper.
  2. To prepare chicken, gently lift the skin away from the chicken breasts until you have two small pockets. Combine 1 tsp thyme and butter in a small bowl, mix well then gently transfer under the chicken skin using a teaspoon.
  3. Rub chicken all over with olive oil and season well with salt and pepper. Zest whole lemon, then place the zested lemon inside chicken cavity, setting zest aside. Truss chicken legs together with kitchen twine. Place in a roasting dish and roast for 50 minutes.
  4. For the glaze, combine honey, lemon zest, remaining thyme leaves, and chilli flakes in a small bowl and mix until well combined. After the chicken has roasted for 50 minutes, baste honey glaze over the chicken and return to the oven basting every 5 minutes for another 20 minutes. Reserve some chicken juices to prepare sauce.
  5. For the sauce, combine 1/3 cup chicken juice with flour and whisk over a low heat until a paste forms and the flour has cooked out (about 2-3 minutes). Add mustard, honey, vanilla and cream and cook over medium heat, whisking until the sauce has thickened and is reduced to your liking.
  6. Serve the chicken with the honey mustard sauce and a squeeze of honey.
Capilano Bee