Lemon Pepper Chicken Roast - Keto Holiday Meal Idea

Every Christmas I roast a chicken as one of my main dishes. I’m made this recipe recently to test it out for the holidays and I think it’s a win. It’s a Keto Lemon Pepper Chicken Roast that’s perfectly comforting for a family gathering. We all love Lemon Pepper Chicken so I thought I would dress it up as a whole roasted chicken to serve this year.

Is Lemon Pepper Seasoning Keto Friendly?

You’ll have to check the ingredients of yours to make sure there’s no added sugar or starches to the mix. You can always make your own lemon pepper seasoning or use an organic brand like this one to ensure there is no sugar added.

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Tips for the Best Keto Lemon Pepper Chicken Roast

For this keto lemon pepper chicken recipe, you’ll definitely want to have an instant-read thermometer on hand to check the temperature of your chicken as it roasts.

That’s because actual cook time will vary depending on a number of factors, including starting internal temperature, size of the bird, and fluctuations in cooking temperatures from one oven to the next. For best results, check with your thermometer after 1 hour and adjust the final cook time accordingly.

Watch your chicken and if necessary, loosely cover it with aluminum foil after 45 minutes to prevent over-browning of the skin.

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I used potatoes for this meal but also served up my Chayote Gratin for myself as a side-dish. This Cauliflower Casserole would also be a wonderful side dish for your keto holiday menu.

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Whole Roasted Keto Lemon Pepper Chicken with Potatoes

A delicious way to serve up roast chicken at your family gatherings this holiday season while staying low carb.

2 whole lemons
2 medium yellow onions (sliced ¼ inch thick)
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil (divided)
2 tbsp unsalted butter (room temperature)
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp Herbes de Provence
Sea salt and black pepper (to taste)
1 whole roasting chicken (4-5lbs)
4 large Rosemary sprigs (torn into small pieces and divided)
1 lb baby red tomatoes (scrubbed)
1 tbsp whole peppercorns
½ cup chicken broth (organic)

Place the top oven rack in the center position and pre-heat the oven to 400°F. Zest one of the lemons with a Microplane and cut the rest of it into quarters. Set the zest and lemon aside
Slice the remaining lemon into ¼-inch thick slices and arrange on the bottom of a large, oven-safe skillet, along with the sliced yellow onion. Set aside
In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of olive oil with the lemon zest, butter, garlic powder, onion powder, and Herbes de Provence. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and stir with a fork to create a paste
Place the chicken on top of the onions and lemon in the skillet and gently massage 1-2 tablespoons of the lemon-butter mixture under the skin. Spread the remaining mixture all over the outside of the chicken in an even layer.
Stuff the chicken with the quartered lemon and ⅓ of the rosemary sprigs. Secure the legs together with kitchen string.
In a large glass bowl, toss the baby red potatoes with the remaining olive oil and fresh rosemary. Season with salt and black pepper, as desired
Nestle the seasoned potatoes around the chicken before adding the chicken broth and whole peppercorns. Place the skillet in the preheated oven to roast for one hour
After an hour, remove from oven and check for doneness by inserting an instant-read
thermometer between the leg and breast, but not against the bone
Let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before carving. Serve immediately topped with some of the juices from the skillet and the roasted rosemary potatoes on the side. Enjoy!

Chicken should reach an internal temperature just below 165°F before removing from the oven. The temperature will rise several degrees as it rests.

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