Step 1

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Step 2

Remove the giblets from the chicken and dry it the skin well.

Step 3

Thoroughly salt and pepper the chicken both inside and out.

Step 4

Place the herbs and lemon wedges inside and truss if you wish.

Step 5

Place the chicken on its side in a roasting pan or a large cast iron skillet. Sit the butter on top.

Step 6

Place in the oven and cook for 15 minutes.

Step 7

Remove from oven, baste the skin all over and turn the chicken on its other side.

Step 8

Cook for 15 more minutes, remove from oven, baste the skin all over and turn the chicken breast side down.

Step 9

Cook for 15 minutes, remove from oven, baste the skin all over and turn the chicken on its back (breast side up).

Step 10

Return to the oven and cook an additional 30 minutes or until juices at the thigh run clear and the internal temperature reaches 165F. Be sure to baste several more times during the final 30 minutes of cooking.

Step 11

Remove from the oven and allow to rest for at least 10 minutes before carving.