Splayed Skillet Roast Chicken Recipes

SKILLET ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Bring the chicken to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Pat the skin dry with paper towels. Preheat the oven to 425˚ F.
• Heat the butter in a large ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Stir in the rosemary, garlic, lemon zest and a pinch of salt and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• Brush the herb butter all over the chicken; season generously with salt and pepper. Tuck the wing tips under the body and tie the drumsticks together using kitchen twine.
• Stir the onion and carrots into any remaining herb butter in the skillet; set the chicken on top, breast-side up. Transfer the skillet to the oven and roast until the skin is golden and a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165˚ F, 60 to 75 minutes. (Tent the chicken with foil if it is browning too quickly.)
• Transfer the chicken to a cutting board, pouring any juices from the cavity back into the skillet. Let rest 20 minutes, then carve. Serve the chicken with the vegetables and pan juices.

SPATCHCOCKED (BUTTERFLIED) ROAST CHICKEN RECIPE

Steps:

• Place oven rack in upper-middle position and preheat oven to 450°F (232°C). Using sharp kitchen shears, remove backbone from chicken and cut spine into 5 to 6 one-inch-long pieces. Set backbone aside. Flatten chicken by placing skin side up on a cutting board and applying firm pressure to breastbone. Transfer to a wire rack set in a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Position chicken so that breasts are aligned with center of baking sheet and legs are close to edge.
• If using herbs: using your fingers and starting from the neck end and working your way down towards the legs, gently separate chicken skin from the breast and thigh meat; be careful not to tear the skin. Carefully push the herbs under the skin, distributing them as evenly as possible all over the breast and thigh muscle.
• Combine 1 tablespoon (15g) kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, and 1 teaspoon (5g) baking powder (if using) in a small bowl. Sprinkle all over chicken skin and cavity sides, then return to skin-up position. Drizzle chicken skin with 1 tablespoon (15ml) oil, rubbing to distribute evenly.
• Roast chicken until thickest part of breast close to bone registers 150°F (66°C) on an instant-read thermometer and joint between thighs and body registers at least 175°F (80°C), about 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 tablespoon (15ml) oil in a small saucepan over high heat until shimmering. Add chicken backbone and cook, stirring frequently, until well browned, about 3 minutes. Add onion, carrot, and celery and cook, stirring frequently, until beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Add bay leaf and deglaze with vermouth or sherry and 1 cup (240ml) water, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from bottom of pan. Reduce heat to maintain simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Strain out solids and return liquid to pan. Boil over medium-high heat until approximately 1/3 cup (80ml) remains, about 7 minutes. Whisk in soy sauce, butter, and lemon juice off heat. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Remove chicken from oven, transfer to cutting board, tent loosely with foil, and allow to rest 5 minutes before carving. Serve with hot jus.

JACQUES PEPIN'S BASIC ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Sprinkle the chicken inside and out with the salt and pepper and fold the wings akimbo to position them closer to the body. Place the chicken on its side in an oven-safe skillet, preferably cast-iron.
• Place the chicken in the skillet in the oven and cook for 20 minutes, then turn the chicken over and cook another 20 minutes. (By cooking the chicken on its sides, the juices stay in the breast and, since only the back is exposed, the chicken does not need constant basting.) Finally, turn the chicken onto its back, baste it with the cooking juices and continue to cook 10 minutes. It should be golden in color.
• When the chicken is cooked, cut it into pieces and serve, with the drippings on the side.

ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Put a cast-iron skillet on a low rack in the oven and heat the oven to 500 degrees. Rub the chicken all over with the oil and sprinkle it generously with salt and pepper.
• When the oven and skillet are hot, carefully put the chicken in the skillet, breast side up. Roast for 15 minutes, then turn the oven temperature down to 350 degrees. Continue to roast until the bird is golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the meaty part of the thigh reads 155 to 165 degrees.
• Tip the pan to let the juices flow from the chicken's cavity into the pan. Transfer the chicken to a platter and let it rest for at least 5 minutes. Carve and serve.

SKILLET ROAST CHICKEN WITH CARAMELIZED SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Pat the chicken dry and season it on all sides with salt and pepper.
• In a large (12-inch) oven-proof skillet, working in batches as needed to avoid crowding, add the oil, then add the chicken pieces, skin-side down. Turn the heat to medium-high and cook, undisturbed, until the skin is crisp and releases easily from the skillet, and the fat is rendered, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate and repeat with additional chicken pieces as needed.
• Add the shallots to the skillet, season with salt and pepper and arrange so most are cut-side down. Cook, undisturbed, until browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Flip the shallots and repeat until browned on the other side, another 5 minutes.
• Add the vinegar and scrape the bottom of the pan to release any browned bits. Add the chicken, skin-side up, on top of the shallots. Roast until the shallots have collapsed and the chicken is cooked through, about 45 minutes. Check the chicken halfway through. If the skillet looks dry, add a few tablespoons of water. Serve the chicken and shallots with the pan juices.