Roasted Lemon-Herb Whole Chickens

Step 1: Remove chickens from the fridge and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before roasting.

Step 2: Meanwhile, cut 2 lemons in half, and the remaining lemon into 8 wedges.

Step 3: In a small bowl combine all the Herb Butter ingredients and mix well.

Step 4: Preheat oven to 400F.

Step 5: Place onion halves on the bottom of a large cast iron skillet, or foil lined roasting pan.

Step 6: Loosen the skin on the chicken breasts. Spread some of the Herb Butter under the skin of each chicken; spread the remainder of the Herb Butter on top of the skin. Then, tuck 4 lemon wedges in the cavity of each chicken.

Step 7: Using cotton kitchen string (butcher string), tie the legs together and secure the wings to the body. Place the chickens, breast side up, on top of the onions (move onions around until each chicken is balanced on the onions).

Step 8: Scatter lemon halves around the chickens.

Step 9: Roast chickens until a meat thermometer inserted into the chicken breast reads 180F (about 1 ¼ hours). If the skin is browning too quickly, cover the chickens loosely with foil.

Step 10: Remove pan from the oven. Transfer roasted lemons and onions to a serving dish and keep warm.

Step 11: Transfer chickens to a cutting board and cover them loosely with the foil; let stand 15-20 minutes before carving.

Step 12: While the chickens are resting, skim the fat from the pan juices then strain the juices into a sauce pan. Just before serving, bring the juices to a boil and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Step 13: Serve the carved chicken with the roasted lemons and onions, and the pan juices.