Spatchcock Chicken Roasted Tender Juicy

It comes out uniformly cooked, tender and juicy on the inside and crisp on the outside.

Why We Love It

This Spatchcock Chicken recipe makes roasting a whole chicken a breeze and reduces cook time!

The chicken will roast evenly turns out incredibly juicy.

Spatchcock Chicken is so versatile! It can be marinated, rubbed with seasonings, or just sprinkled with salt & pepper depending on your preference! Add your favorite veggies to the pan for a complete meal.

What is Spatchcock Chicken?

By removing the backbone, the chicken can be turned over and laid flat (or butterflied). This helps it to cook evenly and reduces cook time. (It works well with turkey too, I make a 10lb spatchcock turkey in just over an hour).

Add veggies like carrots, potatoes, or onions and a handful of fresh herbs and then let everything roast together! It’s the best one-pan entrée!

How to Spatchcock a Chicken

It might seem complicated but it’s a super easy trick every cook should have up their sleeve.

Remove neck and giblets from cavity of a whole chicken.
Cut out backbone with a pair of poultry shears or a good pair of kitchen scissors (save bones, giblets, and neck for stock or broth or gravy).
Turn bird over and gently press on breast bone until it cracks and chicken is flattened.
Fold wings under bird and place on a rimmed baking sheet.

Ingredients/Variations

CHICKEN This recipe calls for a 4lb bird with the giblet and neck removed. If your chicken is a little bigger or smaller, adjust the cooking time slightly!

VEGGIES I only added potatoes to this recipe, but any and all veggies will taste great! Carrots, celery, green beans, or turnips can all be used!

SEASONING The chicken is rubbed with olive oil and chicken seasoning before being roasted. Feel free to mix up the spices to your liking, or add some heat!

How Long to Cook a Spatchcock Chicken

Spatchcocking a chicken is the best way to ensure that it will cook evenly, so roast for about 45 to 50 minutes or until a meat thermometer registers 165°F.

Measure at the thickest part, away from any bones.

Tips for Making Spatchcock Chicken

Once the chicken is spatchcocked, it can be coated with a marinade for up to two hours before roasting. It can also be rubbed with a seasoning mix on the inside and outside of the meat.
This will help tender the meat and add a rich, savory flavor to it. Don’t forget to make gravy to pour over the chicken or side dishes. Keeping the skin on will protect the meat with a layer of fat while it’s roasting.
Spatchcock chicken can also be shredded and added to sandwiches, wraps, and salads for other meals!
For freezing, remove the meat from the bone and freeze in dated zippered bags.

Perfect Sides for Chicken

Lemon Orzo – light & fresh
Roasted Parmesan Asparagus – so easy to make
Mushroom Barley Risotto – creamy & savory
Homemade Garlic Bread – 10 minute cook time
Baked Corn on the Cob – 2 ingredients

Did you try this Spatchcock Chicken? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!