Have you ever heard of Smart Chicken? I first learned of Smart Chicken a few years ago when it was on sale for around $0.89/lb at a local grocery store. When I got home and cooked it, I could tell it tasted different from other brands. Different in a good way. I was just not sure why I felt this way, so I decided to do a little research.
"Smart Chicken is dedicated to producing the safest, highest
quality, and best tasting fresh chicken in the United States
while exemplifying excellence in all aspects of customer
service.
All Smart Chicken products are raised without animal byproducts, antibiotics, or hormones, are 100% all-natural, and are processed using purified cold air instead of adding non-potable water—that’s The Air-Chilled Difference"
All Smart Chicken products are raised without animal byproducts, antibiotics, or hormones, are 100% all-natural, and are processed using purified cold air instead of adding non-potable water—that’s The Air-Chilled Difference"
Well no wonder it tasted different than other brands! Since learning how great of a brand Smart Chicken is, I try to stock up on it whenever I can.
One of my FAVORITE stores to stock up on Smart Chicken is Harps. Like Smart Chicken, Harps is unlike other grocers. The stores are always clean, the employees are always nice and their produce selection is AMAZING! One other thing I like about Harps, their bathrooms are clean! How often can you say that about your grocery store?
I am lucky enough to have two Harps locations near me, one is older and fairly small, the other is new, big, and super nice. For this shopping trip, I headed to the new Harps in Grove.
Ok, so it is like a year or two old, that is still new to me.
Before I left I checked out a few recipes on the Cafe Tecumseh website and settled on their Lemon-Based Marinade. I did make a few changes though.
Roasted Lemon Chicken
Marinade
1/3 Cup Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
1 Tsp Grated Lemon Zest
1/2 Cup Olive Oil
2 Cloves Garlic, Minced
2 Tbs Chopped Fresh Parsley*
2 Tbs Chopped Fresh Chives
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Crushed Red Pepper
1 Smart Chicken Whole Fryer
Preheat oven to 400°F
Mix all marinade ingredients together and set aside.
Place the whole chicken in a gallon size zip-top bag.
Pour Marinade over chicken then seal bag.
Allow to marinate in the refrigerator 30-40 minutes, turning once.
Once Chicken has finished marinating, place in a baking dish. I poured the entire contents of the bag into the dish.
Roast Chicken for 20 minutes at 400°F.
Reduce heat to 350°F and roast for an additional 50 minutes. Baste chicken halfway through cooking.
Remove from oven and allow chicken to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
*The original recipe called for Oregano, I accidentally picked up parsley instead.
The chicken turned out GREAT, it was very juicy and tender! I will be using this marinade again, it is delicious! I was scared the red pepper flakes might be too hot but, they weren't at all. Mads loved the chicken so much, she asked for seconds. For her, that is rare.
I can't wait for you all to try this recipe, you will have to let me know what you think!
I
am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This
shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® #CBias #SocialFabric
All opinions are my own.