Grilled Spatchcock Firecracker Chicken Recipes

GRILLED SPATCHCOCK CHICKEN

Steps:

• Remove the backbone with kitchen shears. Cut along the backbone on both sides from the neck to the tail section
• Put the chicken breast side down and cut through the breast bone plate at the center and top of the chicken breast.Flip the chicken so the breast side is up and push down on the chicken breast untill the the rib cage flattens.
• Take some paper towels or a kitchen towel and dry the chicken so that the olive oil and seasoning will stick.
• Add the olive oil all over the chicken to coat everything possible. You want to do all sides.
• Preheat the grill to 450°. You want to setup two-zone heating if possible.Add the chicken breast side down when the grill is upto temp. Watch the chicken, when the skin is crispy and brown and not sticking, flip it over and let it cook on the backside.If you were able to setup two-zone heat then move the chicken to the side without direct heat. Rotate from time to time to make sure the chicken cooks evenly.Remove when the temp hits 160°.
• Allow the chicken to rest and come up to temp and to allow the juices to distribute throughout the meat.After the temp hits the 165° and has rested for 10 minutes or so go ahead and cut-up and serve.

GRILLED SPATCHCOCKED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place salt in a large bowl or Dutch oven and add a little water. Stir until salt is dissolved. Unwrap the chicken and place in the salt water brine. Add enough water to cover the bird and refrigerate up to 4 hours.
• Remove chicken from the water, drain, and pat dry with paper towels. Place the chicken breast-side down on a clean cutting board.
• Cut along both sides of the backbone of the chicken with kitchen shears. Remove bone and reserve for another use or discard. With the skin-side down, cut down into the breast bone and a bit of the cartilage above the bone about 1/4-inch deep using the tip of a sharp knife. Turn the chicken skin-side up.
• Place the heel of one hand on top of the other wrist, and using the heel of the hand, press down on the center of the breast, above the area of the cut, to flatten the center and achieve a more uniform thickness of the chicken.
• Combine smoked paprika, garlic powder, cumin, and pepper in a small bowl. Rub spice mix onto both sides of the chicken, gently lifting the skin wherever possible to place some of the rub directly onto the meat. Refrigerate seasoned chicken uncovered for at least 2 hours.
• Remove chicken from the refrigerator 10 to 15 minutes before grilling so it can come to room temperature.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat to about 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly oil the grate.
• Place chicken bone-side down onto the preheated grill and cook for 50 to 60 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 150 degrees F (65 degrees C). Flip the chicken skin-side up and brush with barbecue sauce. Continue grilling until chicken is no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 20 more minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
• Remove to a platter, tent with foil, and allow chicken to rest, about 10 minutes. Cut chicken into 6 servings and serve with additional barbecue sauce, if desired.

GRILLED SPATCHCOCKED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Make brine In a large pot, cook zests, sugar, salt, peppercorns, garlic, and the water over high heat, stirring occasionally, until salt and sugar have completely dissolved. Remove from heat, add ice cubes, and stir until completely cooled.
• Brine chicken Submerge the chicken in the cooled brine, skin side down, and allow it to soak, covered, for 1 hour at room temperature or up to 3 hours in the refrigerator.
• Meanwhile, make glaze Whisk together the honey and citrus juices in a small bowl.
• Grill chicken Heat grill to medium-low (see Grill Temperature Guidelines on page 162). When it is hot, scrub with a grill brush and sweep lightly with oil. Remove chicken from brine and pat dry. Set on grill, skin side down. To flatten chicken during cooking, rest a small baking sheet on top of chicken and place two foil-wrapped bricks (or other heatproof weights) on the baking sheet fig.3.14. Grill until skin side is golden brown and releases easily from grate, 8 to 10 minutes. Flip chicken with tongs and brush with some glaze, then cover grill and cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest part of thigh (avoiding bone) registers 165°F, about 10 to 15 minutes more, brushing with glaze two more times. Transfer to a carving board, skin side up, and let rest for 5 minutes.
• Serve Carve chicken as shown on page 130, and serve.
• When cooking a whole (not spatchcocked) chicken on the grill, the challenge is to allow it enough time to cook through before the skin becomes too crisp and charred. The solution is to wait to crisp the skin at the end. Heat grill to high, and start with the chicken over indirect heat, breast side up; cover grill, and cook for 50 minutes to 1 hour. The internal temperature of the legs should register 165°F. If not, cover the grill and continue cooking until it does (check every 5 minutes or so). Then flip chicken, breast side down, and grill over direct heat to crisp the skin, about 2 minutes, rotating the chicken 90 degrees after a minute so the skin will cook evenly. Remove from grill and let rest on a carving board for 5 to 10 minutes before carving and serving.
• Like a whole chicken, individual chicken parts are prone to drying out on the grill if overcooked (160°F for breasts, 165°F for legs). Just be mindful of the times below, and take off each part as it is done. To keep meat moist, leave the skin on or, before cooking, brine chicken pieces for 1 to 3 hours in the refrigerator in a mixture of 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup coarse salt, 8 cups water, and the herbs of your choice. You could also rub them with Spice Paste (page 173) before grilling, or brush them with All-Purpose Grilling Sauce (page 177) about 5 minutes before you take them off the grill. And, of course, you can leave out those treatments altogether and simply season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat grill to medium-high; pat dry chicken. First sear over direct heat, then finish over indirect (medium) heat. Split breasts require 30 to 35 minutes total, legs 18 to 22, thighs 15 to 20, and wings 11 to 13.

GRILLED SPATCHCOCKED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Prep:Puree onion, garlic, herbs, oil, and zest in a food processor. Rub some puree under skin of chicken breast. Rub remaining puree over rest of bird. Refrigerate at least 6 hours and up to 8 hours. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Wipe off most of rub; season with salt and pepper.
• Grill:Heat grill to medium-high, or set up for indirect heat. Grill chicken, breast side down, covered with vent open, until nicely charred, 10 to 15 minutes. Flip; cook 30 minutes more. Flip again; grill until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees in thickest part of breast, 5 minutes more. Let rest 10 minutes.