Sunday Roast Chicken with Potatoes, Carrots & Herb Pan Gravy

A cozy, heartwarming family dinner that fills the whole house with “home.”

Sunday dinner is more than a meal, it’s a ritual. It’s the smell of roasted chicken drifting through the house, the clatter of everyone gathering around, the easy conversation, the stories, the comfort. This roast chicken is the perfect centerpiece for that moment: golden, crisp-skinned, juicy, and surrounded by caramelized vegetables that soak up all the pan drippings. It’s simple, wholesome, and unbelievably satisfying, the kind of dinner that feeds both hunger and connection.

If you’re looking for a Sunday recipe your family will request again and again, this is it.

Ingredients

For the Roast Chicken

• 1 whole chicken (4–5 lbs)

• 2 tbsp olive oil or softened butter

• Salt & black pepper

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• 1 tsp onion powder

• 1 tsp smoked paprika

• 4–5 garlic cloves, smashed

• 1 lemon, halved

• Fresh rosemary & thyme sprigs

For the Vegetables

• 1 lb baby potatoes, halved

• 4–5 large carrots, chopped

• 2–3 shallots or 1 red onion, quartered

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• Salt & pepper

• Fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme)

For the Pan Gravy

• Drippings from the roast

• 1 tbsp flour

• 1–2 cups chicken broth

• Salt & pepper to taste

• Optional: splash of white wine

How to Make This Cozy Sunday Dinner

1️⃣ Prep the Chicken

Pat the chicken dry (crispier skin!).
Rub with olive oil or butter, then season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika.
Stuff the cavity with lemon, garlic, and herbs.

2️⃣ Add the Veggies

Place potatoes, carrots, and shallots in your cast iron or roasting pan.
Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt & pepper, and scatter fresh herbs.
Nestle the chicken on top.

3️⃣ Roast Everything

Roast at 425°F (220°C) for 20 minutes.
Reduce heat to 375°F (190°C) and roast another 60–75 minutes, until juices run clear.
Rest the chicken 10–15 minutes before carving.

4️⃣ Make the Herby Pan Gravy

Place your cast iron on the stove over medium heat.
Whisk flour into the drippings until lightly browned.
Slowly pour in broth (and optional wine).
Simmer until thick and glossy.

Season to taste.

5️⃣ Serve Family-Style

Carve the chicken.
Pile everything, potatoes, carrots, shallots, herbs, onto a large platter or leave it rustic in the cast iron.
Drizzle with gravy and bring it to the table warm and inviting.

Perfect Sunday Pairings

• Homemade rolls or garlic bread

• Creamy cauliflower cheese

• A big tossed salad

• Warm apple crisp for dessert