Like many, I’m ready for this year to be over. I’m optimistic about 2021 and hope for the joy that it will bring us all after this horrifying year. I’m going to go out on a high note though! I’ll be sharing my favorite recipes that I saved for the end of the year starting with this freaking glorious herb-roasted spatchcock chicken. If you take anything away from this post: please always spatchcock your chicken! Doing so ensures even cooking, no dry meat, and cuts the time in half! Read on below for all my tips/tricks in regards to spatchcock-ing and even if the thought of doing it makes you nervous, please try it! It will honestly change your roast chicken game for life and you’ll be a better cook for it. Happy cooking, y’all!

What even is spatchcock chicken?

Oooh, let me tell ya! A spatchcock chicken is a chicken where the backbone has been removed prior to cooking. Doing so causes the bird to lay flat and thus everything cooks at the same rate! Aka, no more dry white meat! Cooking in this manner also reduces the cooking time drastically and helps you get dinner on the table faster with less effort. What a win-win, amiright?

Reasons to spatchcock a chicken

Faster cooking. In a 425 degree oven, a whole chicken takes an hour and a half to cook to the proper internal temperature. A spatchcocked chicken takes 40 minutes!! Less than half the time!
Even cooking. With the bird laid out flat, everything cooks at the same speed. Say goodbye to dry chicken breasts, folks!
More Flavor. It’s much easier to season every nook and cranny of the chicken, hence a more flavorful end product!

Tools needed to spatchcock a chicken

Just one! A good pair of kitchen shears. This is the pair of poultry shears I have and I love them! They cut through skin and bone with no issues and don’t slip in my hands when I’m trying to make tough cuts. A good pair of poultry shears doesn’t have to set you back tons of money! Do you need to use shears? No… but your life will be much easier if you do. You can use a sharp chef’s knife, but I find it to be much more dangerous.

How to spatchcock a chicken

I swear I will get a video of this up eventually, but I had to use scissors for this recipe because I couldn’t find my shears and I mucked through it a bit. If you need a video, check out Kenji from Serious Eats here.

First, place chicken on a large cutting board and pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Arrange the chicken breast-side down on the cutting board with the neck facing towards you.

Using good-quality kitchen shears holding the neck and cut along one side of the chicken spine, separating it from the ribs. Be sure to cut as close to the spine as you can so that you do not end up discarding any more of the chicken meat than necessary. Repeat on the other side of the spine. If you are having difficulty getting through the bird, rotate it so that the tail faces you and cut from the other side.

Flip the chicken so that the breasts face upward and the chicken legs face outward. Using the palm of your hands, press along the breast bone. You might hear a small crack. This should flatten the chicken completely.

What makes this spatchcock roast chicken recipe so good?

There are a couple things! First, this chicken is dry-brined and you can read all about why that’s so much better than wet-brining in my juicy roasted turkey breast post. It creates less mess, takes up less space, and gives way better flavor, and yields crispy skin (just to name a few). I actually go a step further in this dry brine and ask you to add… BAKING POWDER. I know that sounds insane, but it’s only a tiny amount and you will not taste it. The slightly alkaline mixture raises the skin’s pH levels, which allows proteins to break down more efficiently, giving you crisper, more evenly browned results. Also, this chicken is slathered in the most glorious garlic and herb butter which bastes the chicken as it roasts.

Can I use baking soda instead of baking powder?

Absolu-fucking-lutely not. Baking soda will give off a very unpleasant metallic taste. While you’re at it, make sure it’s an aluminum-free baking powder.

Can I omit the baking powder?

Yes! If this whole thing freaks you out, just leave it out. You’ll still have a deliciously seasoned and well-browned roast chicken.

Can I use dried herbs in this recipe?

Yes! I prefer fresh here, but if you use dried herbs, just cut the quantities in half as they are very potent.

I don’t like garlic or herbs, what else can I use?

First, what in the what? Second, just use good-quality salted butter and whatever seasonings you prefer. Paprika would be nice too.

If you have any other questions, drop them in the comments below!

Other Recipes You May Like:

Lemongrass Fried Chicken
Red Pozole with Chicken
Tandoori Chicken Bowls