Spatchcock Barbecue Chicken Recipes

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 BBQ CHICKEN

Steps:

• If making homemade BBQ sauce: follow the my sweet BBQ sauce recipe. It makes about 2 cups. If you're not making your own BBQ sauce, skip to the next step.
• Preheat oven to 425 F. Get the oven rack adjusted to the middle position.
• Spatchcock the chicken: Using strong kitchen shears, cut through the backbone of the chicken and remove it, along with any little bones that may be sticking out. With the lower side of the palm of your hands, press down the chicken breast until flattened. Thoroughly pat dry the chicken. Note: for more step-by-step instructions and pictures, check out my how to spatchcock a chicken post.
• Season chicken with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Rub some olive oil (about 2-3 tablespoons) along with the seasoning, all over the chicken on both sides. Clip off the wing tips or hide them under the skin so that they don't burn. Transfer prepared chicken to a large and sturdy sheet pan.
• Set aside 1/2 cup of the BBQ sauce for brushing the chicken. Reserve the rest of the BBQ sauce for serving.
• Roast the chicken for about 35 mins. Remove from oven and brush with some BBQ sauce, and return to oven for 10 minutes. One more time, remove from oven and brush with more BBQ sauce, and return to oven for another 10 minutes. It should be about 55 minutes total in the oven, or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Remove from oven and let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before serving.
• Cut up the chicken and serve with the reserved BBQ sauce. Enjoy!

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 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.

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.

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.

SPICE-RUBBED SPATCHCOCKED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Spatchcock the chicken by using poultry shears or kitchen scissors (or a sharp knife) to cut along one side of the backbone until the chicken opens. If you like you can cut along the other side of the backbone and remove it, or leave it attached to roast with the rest of the bird. Open up the bird and place it so it lies flat, breast side up. Press hard onto the center of the breast until you feel a pop, and the breast lies more or less flat.
• In a small bowl, mix together sugar, salt, chile powder, paprika, mustard powder, oregano, pepper, allspice and bay leaves. Smear the mixture all over the chicken. Lay chicken, skin side up, on a rimmed baking sheet (or plate) and refrigerate uncovered for at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees. If the chicken isn't on a rimmed baking sheet, transfer it to one. Roast chicken until the juices run clear when the thickest part of the thigh is pricked with a fork (an instant-read thermometer plunged into the thickest part of the breast will read 150), 40 to 50 minutes.
• Remove from oven, cover bird with foil and let rest for 10 minutes before carving. Serve with lime or lemon wedges on the side.