Walnut, butternut and sourdough stuffed chicken

Looking for a delicious and impressive chicken dinner recipe that’s perfect for a special occasion or a weeknight meal?

This walnut, butternut, and sourdough stuffed chicken is sure to impress!

The combination of crunchy walnuts, sweet butternut squash, and tangy sourdough bread creates a delicious and hearty stuffing that perfectly complements the tender chicken. It’s a flavourful and unique take on a classic chicken dinner that’s surprisingly easy to make.

Recipe compliments of Astral.

Ingredients

• 500g butternut cubes
• 3 Tbsp (45ml) olive oil
• 1 onion, roughly chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
• 2 tsp (10ml) dried thyme leaves
• 1 cup (250ml) sourdough, cubed
• 100g walnuts, toasted and roughly broken
• 1 orange
• 1 x County Fair Whole Chicken
• 2 Tbsp (30ml) olive oil
• 2 tsp (10ml) dried thyme
• 1 butternut, approximately 1kg
• 2 onions, peeled and sliced into 1cm thick rounds
• 2 Tbsp (30ml) olive oil
• Small handful of fresh thyme
• Salt and milled black pepper

Method

• Preheat the oven to 190°C.
• Place the butternut cubes on a tray and drizzle over 3 Tbsp of olive oil, and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Toss and roast in the oven for 30 minutes until cooked.
• Turn the heat down to 180°C.
• Heat the remaining olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
• Add the onion and sauté for 7 minutes, then add the garlic and thyme, and sauté for a further 2 minutes. Add the sourdough to the pan and toss through.
• Place the sourdough mix in a bowl with the roasted butternut and toasted walnuts. Add the juice and zest of 1 orange and toss well. Season to taste, set aside to cool.
• Once cooled. Place the chicken on a board and drizzle over the olive oil. Season with salt, pepper and thyme, and stuff the cavity of the chicken with the cooled stuffing.
• Wash the butternut thoroughly, then slice it into 10 wedges, discarding the seeds.
• Arrange the sliced onion and butternut in a large roasting tray and drizzle over the olive oil, thyme, salt and pepper.
• Nestle the chicken into the middle and place in the oven.
• Roast for 1 hour at 180°C until the chicken is golden and cooked through.