Preheat oven to 425F

Remove any giblets and rinse the chicken. Pat dry with paper towels

Smear the chicken with butter. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.

Tuck the wings and legs and place the chicken breast side down on a roasting pan. Roast for 45 minutes and rotate the chicken and roast for another 45 minutes or until the juices between thigh and breast are clear