Best Spatchcocked Chicken With Walnut Dill Pesto Recipes

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.

CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICHES WITH WALNUT-DILL PESTO

Steps:

• Combine the onion, lemon juice, sugar, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl; set aside.
• Put the dill, walnuts and garlic in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. With the motor running, slowly add the olive oil until the mixture comes together, scraping down the sides of the processor as needed. Transfer the dill pesto to a large bowl and stir in the lemon zest and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Add the chicken and toss to coat.
• Drain the onion and squeeze dry. Drizzle the tomatoes with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Divide the lettuce and tomatoes among 4 pieces of bread; top each with some chicken salad, onion and another piece of bread. Serve with chips.

SPATCHCOCKED CHICKEN WITH WALNUT-DILL PESTO

Steps:

• Remove the packets of giblets from the body of the chickens and set aside for another use. Remove and discard the fat just inside the body and neck cavities of the chickens. Rinse the chickens, inside and out, under cold running water and then drain and blot dry, inside and out, with paper towels.
• Spatchcock the chickens: Place the chicken on its breast. Using poultry shears, start at the neck and cut lengthwise down one side of the backbone to the tail. Next, repeat that cut along the otherside of the backbone. Remove the backbone and save it for stock.
• Now, fold the chicken open, like a book, with the skin side down. Use a paring knife to cut along each side of the breastbone. Run your thumbs along both sides of the breastbone and pull the white cartilage out.
• Turn the skin side up and trim the wingtips and any loose skin. The chicken is now spatchcocked. Place the chickens in a nonreactive roasting pan.
• Prepare the pesto: Place the dill, basil, garlic, walnuts, cheese and lemon zest in a food processor and process until very finely chopped. With the machine runing, add the oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper and 3/4 cup water. Taste for seasoning, adding salt and pepper as necessary; the pesto shuld be highly seasoned. Set 1/2 cup pesto aside. pour the remaining pesto over the chickens, spreading it on the meat with a rubber spatula. Turn the birds so you coat both sides. Let the chickens marinate in the refrigerator, covered, for as little as 2 hours or as long as overnight, turning once or twice to coat with marinade; the longer the chickens marinate, the richer the flavor will be.
• Set up the grill for direct grilling and preheat to medium. When ready to cook, brush and oil the grate. Arrange the chickens on the grate, skin=side down. Grill for 12 to 15 minutes per side, turning once with tongs and a spatula. the chickens can be a little awkward to turn; you'll need to use both utensils. When you turn the chickens, spread the reserved 1/2 cup pesto on top. You'll probably get flare-ups as the melting fat hits the fire. Keep the birds moving to dodge the flames. If the skin browns to much, lower the heat or move the chickens to a cooler section of the grill. The chickens are done when an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh (but not touching the bone) registers about 180 degrees F.
• Transfer the chickens to a plater, let rest for a few minutes, garnish with the dill sprigs and lemon wedges, and serve.
• Tip 1: Any bird can be spatchcocked and grilled in this fashion, from qual to turkeys.
• Tip 2: Feel free to make the pesto with rosemary (1 cup of leaves) or another fresh herb.

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.

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.