Best Spatchcock Chicken Recipes

SPATCHCOCK CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil.
• Place chicken, breast side down, on a work surface. Starting at the tail end, cut along both sides of backbone with kitchen shears. Remove backbone. Grabbing hold of both sides of the chicken, open it like a book. Turn breast side up. Push down on each side of breast with your hands until you hear it crack. Flatten chicken and transfer to one short end of the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the second chicken.
• Combine salt, tarragon, paprika, and pepper in a small bowl. Stir in oil. Run your fingers under chicken skin and rub tarragon paste under skin. Slide lemon slices under skin, in a single layer.
• Roast until skin is crisp and an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of breast reads 165 degrees F, about 35 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting each chicken into 8 pieces.

SPATCHCOCK ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Lay the chicken on a cutting board breast-side down, with the legs closest to you. Use kitchen shears to cut out the backbone. Open the chicken like a book to reveal the ribs and sternum. Use a chef's knife to score the sternum vertically down the center, then use your hands and body weight to crack the sternum and flatten the breasts and rib cage. Season the chicken all over with 2 teaspoons salt and a generous amount of pepper.
• Lay the thyme sprigs in the center of a rimmed baking sheet and place the chicken on top, skin-side up. Roast the chicken until the skin is golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F, about 40 minutes.
• Let the chicken rest 5 minutes before serving.

ROASTED SPATCHCOCK CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400˚ F. Rinse the chicken, pat dry and rub all over with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Generously season on both sides with salt and pepper.
• Heat a large cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. When the oil is hot, place the chicken, skin side down, in the pan. Cook until the skin starts to crisp on the edges and the color is golden brown. Flip the chicken over with tongs, taking care not to splatter oil toward yourself, and add the garlic, rosemary and thyme around the chicken in the pan. Squeeze a lemon half over the top and place both lemon halves in the pan, cut sides down.
• Transfer the pan to the oven and roast the chicken (skin side up) for 30 to 35 minutes, until a meat thermometer registers 155˚ F when inserted in the thickest part of a breast. Let rest for about 10 minutes, then carve and serve with pan juices.

SPATCHCOCK BARBECUE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Mix together the oil, paprika, garlic, lemon zest and salt and pepper. Brush this all over the skin of the spatchcock chicken and leave in the fridge for 30 mins to marinate.
• To cook on a barbecue: cook for 5 mins each side in the centre, then draw aside to the edges to cook on a gentler heat. Turn regularly. Baste in between with beer or water. To check that it's cooked through, pierce with a knife between the thighs and breast bone: the flesh should be white and firm.
• Remove from the heat and leave to rest, covered with foil, for 10-15 mins. Cut into portions, drizzle over lemon juice and seasoning, plus a little oil and pinches of paprika. Serve with the lemon quarters.

SPATCHCOCK PIRI-PIRI CHICKEN

Steps:

• To spatchcock the chicken, flip it over so the backbone is facing you. Using a sturdy pair of kitchen scissors or poultry scissors, cut down either side of the backbone, then discard. Turn the chicken over and push down firmly on the breastbone to flatten out the bird. Make a few slashes in each leg joint. You can watch a video showing how to spatchcock a chicken in the How To Cook section of the website).
• Put the chillies and garlic in a food processor with a good pinch of salt, or use a pestle and mortar. Blend to a paste, then add the paprika, vinegar, parsley and olive oil. Mix well, then smear over the chicken. Leave to marinate for at least 1 hr or overnight if possible. Can be frozen at this stage.
• Fire up the barbecue. When the flames have died down, place the chicken on the centre of the barbecue, skin-side down, and cook for 15-20 mins until nicely charred. Flip the chicken over and continue cooking for another 5-15 mins until cooked through. Check that the juices run clear, as the heat of every barbecue will vary. To cook in the oven, heat to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and cook for 35-40 mins on a baking tray. To char the skin, grill for a further 5-10 mins. Serve with lemon wedges, and Tabasco if you like it hot.

PERUVIAN-STYLE SPATCHCOCK CHICKEN WITH CREAMY CILANTRO SAUCE

Steps:

• Gently separate the skin of the chicken from the meat with your fingers.
• Whisk together the soy, sambal, mustard, pasilla/ancho powder, cumin, salt, lime zest and juice and a few cracks of black pepper. Pour into a ziptop bag, add the chicken and marinate, refrigerated, overnight.
• When ready to cook, place a cast-iron skillet on the bottom rack of the oven and preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade and pat dry.
• Carefully remove the hot skillet and lower the oven temperature to 450 degrees F. Add the vegetable oil to the skillet, place the chicken breast-side down in it and return it immediately to the oven. Roast until well browned, 20 to 30 minutes. Gently flip the chicken and cook until the breast registers 160 degrees F, about another 10 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes on a cutting board. Slice and serve with Creamy Cilantro Sauce.
• Put the cilantro, oregano, honey, mustard, cumin, serrano, lime zest and juice and garlic in a food processor. Process until smooth, scraping down the sides to evenly distribute. Add the mayo and pulse until combined. Season with salt and pepper.

SPATCHCOCK CHICKEN SHEET PAN SUPPER

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 475 degrees F.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the oregano, thyme, 1/2 cup of the olive oil, the juice of 2 lemon halves and a pinch of salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Place a kitchen towel over the top of a cutting board. Place the chicken on the towel breast-side down and locate the backbone. With sharp kitchen shears, cut along one side of the spine followed by the other, then remove the backbone and discard or reserve for stock. Flip the chicken over and lay flat. Press down firmly with your hands on the center of the breast. The breastbone should pop and the chicken should sit relatively flat. Season the chicken all over with 2 tablespoons of salt and 2 teaspoons of pepper.
• Add remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil to a rimmed sheet pan and distribute evenly. Place the chicken skin-side up in the middle. Rub the chicken's skin with 3 tablespoons of the oil and herb mixture.
• Toss the potatoes with 3 tablespoons of the oil and herb mixture. Distribute the potatoes around the chicken on the sheet pan. Roast for 15 minutes, then lower the heat to 400 degrees F and continue roasting for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toss the zucchini, cherry tomatoes and garlic in the remaining oil and herb mixture. Scatter around the sheet pan and roast until the chicken is totally cooked through, an additional 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board. Let it rest while you arrange the potatoes and vegetables on a platter.
• Separate the chicken into 6 pieces: 2 breasts with wing, 2 thighs and 2 legs. Arrange in the middle of the platter. Squeeze the remaining lemon halves over the platter and garnish with chopped parsley.

GARLIC AND HERB SPATCHCOCK GRILLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for medium-high heat with both direct and indirect heat zones, preferably with hardwood or hardwood charcoal. Separate leaves from 5 rosemary sprigs, then coarsely chop leaves. Tie remaining sprigs together with kitchen twine to form a brush. Combine garlic and oil in a measuring cup.
• Place chicken breast side down on work surface. Spatchcock chicken by cutting along both sides of backbone with kitchen shears; reserve backbone for stock. Turn chicken over, breast side up, and splay open. Press down on breastbone with palms until you hear it crack and chicken is as flat as possible. Tuck the wings behind the breasts, then tuck in the legs so the bottoms of the drumsticks are pointed away from the body and chicken is as flat as possible.
• Brush all sides of both pieces of chicken with the garlic-oil using rosemary brush. Sprinkle all sides with chopped rosemary leaves, salt, and pepper.
• Grill both pieces of chicken, skin side down, over direct heat, until skin is golden brown, crispy, and lightly charred, about 5 minutes. Flip both pieces of chicken over, transfer to indirect heat, and baste with rosemary brush dipped in garlic-oil.
• Continue to grill chicken, basting occasionally, until skin is golden brown, juices run clear, and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat registers 165°F, 45-60 minutes for whole chicken and 25-35 minutes for chicken breast. Let chicken stand at least 10 minutes before carving. Arrange chicken on a serving platter and serve with chimichurri sauce alongside.

SPATCHCOCK BBQ CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Cut the carrots into 2 1/2-inch long segments. Cut the onions into wedges. Place on a sheet pan, drizzle with 1/4 cup of the oil and a pinch of salt and pepper.
• Next, spatchcock the chicken by placing on a board. Place the chicken breast-side down and locate the backbone. Cut down both sides of the bone with kitchen shears and remove the backbone. Discard this or use to make stock. Flip the chicken over and press firmly with the palm of your hand on the center of the breast. The breastbone should pop and the chicken should sit relatively flat.
• Season the chicken all over with the remaining oil, 2 tablespoons salt and 2 teaspoons pepper. Place on top of the vegetables on the sheet pan. Place in the oven and roast for 25 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the oven, sprinkle over the garlic and toss with the carrots and onions. Brush the chicken all over with the BBQ sauce, return the pan to the oven and roast for 10 minutes.
• Remove from the oven, brush with more BBQ sauce and return to the oven for another 10 minutes.
• Remove from the oven, brush on more sauce and return it to the oven for a final 10 minutes, cooking until the chicken registers 165 degrees F when a meat thermometer is inserted in the thigh.
• Remove from the oven and rest for 10 minutes, covered loosely in foil.
• Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and cut into 4 or 6 pieces. Put on a platter and surround it with the vegetables. Serve with additional BBQ sauce for dipping.

SPATCHCOCK ROAST CHICKEN WITH SCHMALTZY POTATOES AND GREEN GODDESS SAUCE

Steps:

• Locate the backbone of the chicken and cut all the way through the bird along both sides of the backbone. Save the bone for stock. Turn the chicken over and press down firmly to crack the keel bone. Your chicken is now spatchcocked and will lay flat.
• Sprinkle salt all over the chicken from 8 inches above the bird. That ensures the salt falls evenly over the chicken. Place on a baking sheet or a baking pan and refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 12 hours and up to 36 hours.
• When the chicken is ready, preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Toss the potatoes with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt and pepper and place on a sheet tray. Place the chicken over the bed of potatoes, breast-side up and wings tucked under, then brush with olive oil.
• Roast for 10 minutes, then turn the oven down to 400 degrees F and roast until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees F, about 40 minutes more. You can make the Green Goddess Sauce now.
• When the chicken is fully cooked, place it on a cutting board to rest for 10 minutes before slicing. While waiting for the chicken, put the potatoes back in the oven at 450 degrees F and roast until crispy, another 10 to 15 minutes.
• To serve, slice the chicken breasts off the bone and slice each breast at an angle into 1-inch slices. Remove the wings and leg quarters and separate the thigh from the drumstick. The remaining carcass can be saved and frozen to make chicken stock. Serve the chicken with the schmaltz potatoes and Green Goddess Sauce.
• Soak the cashews in hot water for 10 minutes. Drain, then add the soaked cashews, 6 tablespoons water, the lemon juice, olive oil, horseradish, maple syrup, garlic and 1/4 teaspoon salt to a high-speed blender. Blend until the mixture is smooth. Add the cilantro, parsley, tarragon, dill and green onion and blend until all the herbs are fully incorporated. The sauce can be stored in the fridge for 2 to 3 days. If it becomes thick, thin with water as needed.

GRILLED SPATCHCOCK CHICKEN WITH DIJON AND ROSEMARY

Steps:

• Place chicken on a large cutting board, breast-side down. Using kitchen shears, cut along each side of backbone and remove (reserve for stock, see cook's note). Flip over; press firmly with your palm in center of breasts to flatten.
• Whisk together mustard, mayonnaise, rosemary, and lemon juice. Season chicken generously all over with salt and pepper; slather both sides with mustard mixture. Cover loosely and let stand while you prepare the grill, or refrigerate in a resealable bag up to 1 day (return to room temperature 1 hour before grilling).
• Heat grill to 350°F for direct and indirect cooking. Oil grates over indirect zone, then place chicken, skin-side up, on it, with legs facing direct zone (this helps keep the breast from overcooking before the legs are done).
• Cover and cook, maintaining a temperature of about 350°, until skin begins to brown and a thermometer inserted in thickest part of breast reads 150°, 45 to 50 minutes.
• Oil grates over direct-heat zone. Using tongs, carefully flip chicken skin-side down over direct heat. Cook, moving occasionally to avoid flare-ups, until skin is charred in places and chicken is cooked through (thermometer should read 160°), 5 to 10 minutes more. Transfer to a tray; tent with foil. Let stand at least 15 minutes before carving.

SPICED YOGURT SPATCHCOCK CHICKEN

Steps:

• Pop the chicken in a large dish and slash the legs a few times with a sharp knife. Mix together the lemon juice, chilli powder and 1 tsp salt. Pour this over the chicken, turning so that it coats both sides. Cover with cling film and chill for 1 hr. Meanwhile, whizz the remaining ingredients (except the oil) and some black pepper in a blender until smooth.
• Remove the chicken from the fridge and spoon over the spicy paste, making sure it covers both sides. Chill for at least 4 hrs, preferably overnight.
• Light a lidded barbecue and let the flames die down. Once the coals have turned ashen, mound them up on one side. Drizzle the skin of the chicken with the oil and place, skin-side down, on the side of the barbecue with the coals underneath. Cover with the lid and cook for 15-20 mins until charred.
• Flip the chicken over and move to the side with no coals underneath. Close the lid and cook for a further 20-25 mins until cooked through. Check that the juices run clear; if not, return to the barbecue for a further 10 mins, then check again. (To cook in the oven, heat to 200C/180C fan/gas 6, place on a wire rack over a tray and cook for 45-55 mins. To char the skin, grill for a further 5-10 mins if needed.)
• Leave the chicken to rest for 20 mins, then scatter over the coriander and serve with chapatis warmed on the barbecue, raita and your favourite chutney.

SPATCHCOCK CHICKEN WITH LEMON BUTTER

Steps:

• Chicken: Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (use convection if possible). Place skillet on the bottom rack of the oven to preheat. Meanwhile, spatchcock the chicken: Use a heavy chef's knife or kitchen shears to remove the backbone, running from the neck to the cavity, by cutting down one side, then down the other. Discard the backbone (or reserve to make stock). Open the spatchcocked chicken like a book, then place skin-side up on a flat surface. Use the heel of your hand to push down on the keel bone (breastbone) to flatten the chicken. Optional: Use kitchen twine to tie the two drumsticks together for better maneuverability in the skillet. Season the chicken liberally and evenly with salt to coat. Flip skin-side down, and season again. Then season both sides with freshly ground black pepper.
• Remove the preheated skillet from the oven. Place chicken skin-side up into the hot skillet so it lies flat. Place into the oven and roast until it's ready for the first basting, 30 minutes. (Chicken will roast for a total of 50 minutes.)
• Lemon-Rosemary Butter: Mince the shallot and set aside. In a small saucepan, add lemon juice and a generous pinch of salt; turn heat to medium and bring to a simmer, 1-2 minutes. Meanwhile, remove leaves from rosemary sprig and mince; you should have about 1 tablespoon of minced leaves. Add butter pieces to the simmering lemon juice and swirl the pan continuously to create an emulsion, 30-60 seconds. Whisk in the mustard powder and shallots. Turn off the heat and add rosemary. Whisk until evenly combined. Set the Lemon-Rosemary Butter aside.
• After 30 minutes, remove chicken from the oven. Use a pastry brush to baste the chicken with one third of the Lemon-Rosemary Butter (including pieces of shallot as well). Return chicken to the oven for another 10 minutes.
• After 10 minutes, remove chicken from the oven and brush skin with half the remaining Lemon-Rosemary Butter. Return to the oven and roast for 10 more minutes.
• After the chicken has roasted for a total of 50 minutes, remove from the oven. The skin should be dark brown, and the drumstick, when gently tugged, should want to separate from the thigh joint. Brush the chicken with the remaining Lemon-Rosemary Butter. Transfer to a cutting board and allow to rest, 15-20 minutes. Carve the chicken: Use a chef's knife to cut away the thigh-and-leg pieces from the breasts, then cut off the wings. Cut the breasts apart. Arrange all the pieces on a platter and serve.

OVEN-ROASTED SPATCHCOCK CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450ºF.
• Mix dressing, garlic and rosemary until blended. Place potatoes in large bowl. Add 1/4 cup dressing mixture; toss to evenly coat potatoes. Spread into single layer on foil-covered rimmed baking sheet.
• Use kitchen shears or sharp knife to spatchcock chicken. (See tip.) Open chicken butterfly-style; place, skin side up, on separate foil-covered rimmed baking sheet. Brush chicken, on and under the skin, with remaining dressing mixture.
• Bake chicken and potatoes 30 min., placing potatoes on top rack. Reduce oven temperature to 400ºF. Bake an additional 15 min. or until chicken is done (165ºF) and potatoes are tender.

GRILLED SPATCHCOCK FIRECRACKER CHICKEN

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for direct and indirect heat: For gas grills (with 3 or more burners), turn all the burners to medium-high heat; after about 15 minutes, turn off one of the side burners and turn the remaining burners down to medium. For charcoal grills, bank one chimney starter-full of lit and ashed-over charcoal briquettes to one side of the grill. Set up a drip pan on the other side to avoid flare-ups. (Be sure to consult the grill manufacturer's guide for best results.) If your grill has a thermometer, aim to keep the temperature at about 350 degrees F throughout grilling.
• To spatchcock the chicken: Use kitchen shears to cut out the backbone from the chicken. Lay the chicken breast-side down on a cutting board and use a large knife to cut through the breastbone but not into the flesh. Push the chicken down to flatten it. Cut the wings off at the third joint (at the wing tip). Line a plate with paper towels and put the chicken on it skin-side down to dry the skin. Sprinkle the non-skin side generously with salt and pepper.
• Oil the grill grates thoroughly. Put the chicken on the indirect-heat side of the grill skin-side down and top with a large cast-iron skillet. Cover the grill and cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F and the skin is golden and very crisp, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the soy sauce, sugar, hot sauce, vinegar and red pepper flakes in a medium bowl and whisk to combine.
• Remove the skillet from the chicken and put it on the direct-heat side of the grill (leave the chicken where it is). Pour the soy mixture into the skillet and bring it to a boil. Immediately transfer the chicken to the skillet with tongs and coat both sides in the sauce. Sprinkle with the scallions and serve with flatbread.

SPATCHCOCK GOCHUJANG CHICKEN

Steps:

• Put the chicken on a board breast-side down with the legs facing you. Using kitchen scissors or poultry shears, cut along either side of the backbone and remove it (freeze it to use for stock). Open the chicken out, turn it over and push down the breastbone to flatten. Cut a few slashes in the legs and thighs.
• Whisk the marinade ingredients together. Reserve 2 tbsp and rub the rest all over the chicken, working it under the skin. Cover and chill for at least 1 hr or overnight.
• Light the barbecue, stacking the coals on one side. When the flames have died down and the coals are ashen, lay a flameproof foil tray or old roasting tin over the empty side and pour in the ginger beer or 100ml water. Set the grill on top. Place the chicken skin-side up on the grill, cover with the lid and cook for 45 mins. Baste with the reserved marinade, then re-cover and cook for 5 mins more. Move the chicken to the hotter side of the barbecue for 5 mins to char the skin a little, being careful not to burn it. The chicken is ready when the legs pull away easily and a digital probe thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh and breast reads 70C. Lift onto a board, rest for 10 mins then scatter over the spring onions and coriander. Drizzle with sesame oil.

SPATCHCOCK BBQ CHICKEN WITH GRILLED GREEN BEAN SALAD

Steps:

• Heat greased grill to medium heat.
• Place chicken, breast side down, on cutting board with legs toward you. Use kitchen shears to cut along each side of backbone; remove and discard bone. Open up chicken like a book; turn over. Press firmly between breasts to flatten.
• Reserve 2 Tbsp. oil for later use; brush remaining oil, then rub 2 tsp. paprika evenly onto both sides of chicken.
• Place chicken, breast side down, on grill grate; top with weight. (See tip.) Grill 5 min. Remove weight; turn chicken. Grill (without weight) 35 min. or until chicken is done. Brush chicken with 1/2 cup barbecue sauce; grill 5 min. Remove from grill, brush with 1/4 cup of the remaining barbecue sauce. Cover with foil to keep warm.
• Toss beans and onions with remaining oil and paprika in disposable foil pan sprayed with cooking spray. Grill 5 min. or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Remove from grill.
• Cut beans and onions in half; place in medium bowl. Add remaining ingredients, including remaining barbecue sauce; mix lightly. Serve with chicken.

SPATCHCOCK CHICKEN WITH PAPRIKA AND OLIVE OIL - BONNIE STERN

Steps:

• Cut out back bone from chicken. Open flat and remove breast bone. If you wish, cut slits in the skin between the white and dark meat and insert chicken drumsticks for a neat presentation.
• In a bowl combine olive oil, paprika, salt, pepper and garlic. Place chicken in the dish or plastic bag and coat well. Marinate 10 minutes at room temperature or up to overnight in the refrigerator.
• To roast, place chicken, skin side up, on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Roast in a preheated 375F (190C) oven for approximately 45 minutes to one hour or until golden brown and a meat thermometer reads 165F (75C) when inserted into a thigh.
• To grill chicken, place bone side down on a hot grill for 5 minutes. Turn and cook skin side down for a few minutes to brown. Place chicken bone side down on indirect heat now (cooler place on the grill) and cook 30 to 45 minutes longer until cooked through.

HOW TO SPATCHCOCK A CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place chicken on a flat surface breast side down, legs facing away from you.
• With kitchen shears or a very sharp knife, cut out the neck bone all the way to the butt by cutting down one side of the neck bone and then repeat on the other side.
• Turn chicken over and press flat, season and grill or bake as desired.

HOW TO COOK A SPATCHCOCK CHICKEN IN THE OVEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500. Put the chicken skin side up on a rimmed baking sheet with a rack. Put the pan in the center of the hot oven and cook undisturbed for 20 minutes. Then lower the temperature to 450 and cook an additional 30 to 35 minutes. Internal temp at 155 to 160 at thickest part of bird.