Lemon Herb Spatchcock Chicken Recipes

LEMON HERB SPATCHCOCK CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper - you can cook in a cast-iron skillet instead, but you need a very large one
• Zest one lemon and mince the garlic
• Add butter, lemon zest, garlic, salt, pepper, dried parsley, and dried thyme to a small mixing bowl
• Mix to combine thoroughly and set to the side
• Spatchcock your chicken by removing the backbone and laying flat - see instructions and video above for how to do this
• Lay the chicken flat with the breast side up
• Take your butter, lemon, and herb mixture and rub it all over the skin and under the skin of your bird. You can lift the skin on the breasts and the thighs to really pack a lot of the mixture under the skin - this is how the meat gets flavorful and juicy
• Lay your spatchcocked chicken on a lined baking sheet or in the cast iron skillet - I like to add some thick cut carrot and onions to the pan
• Place in the oven to bake for 45-55 minutes - until the thickest section of the thigh meat reads 165F on a meat thermometer. The timing will depend on the size of the bird. Our 4lb chicken took 45 minutes, a 5lb chicken took 55 minutes and a 5.25lb chicken took nearly an hour. Use that as a guide, but the temperature is the best way to know
• Remove from the oven and allow the chicken to rest for about 15 minutes before cutting into parts to enjoy!

SPATCHCOCKED CHICKEN ON BREAD WITH HERBS AND LEMON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Cut chicken along backbone on 1 side with kitchen shears and open it like a book. Turn over and press to lay flat. Slather with 2 tablespoons butter; season all over with salt.
• Spread remaining tablespoon butter on 1 side of bread slices. Place side by side, buttered side up, on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet and lay chicken on top. Roast until chicken is golden brown and a thermometer inserted into thickest part of breast (do not touch bone) reaches 160 degrees, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Remove chicken from oven; let rest on baking sheet 10 minutes. Scatter with herbs; squeeze lemon juice over chicken. Cut chicken and bread into serving pieces; place on a platter. Pour pan juices over chicken and serve.

ROAST SPATCHCOCKED LEMON CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place chicken, breast side down, on a work surface. Starting at thigh end, cut along 1 side of backbone with kitchen shears. Turn chicken around; cut along other side. Discard backbone or save for stock. Flip chicken, and open it like a book. Press firmly on breastbone to flatten.
• Rub chicken with 1 tablespoon oil, and season with 1 tablespoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Brush 1 tablespoon oil in the center of a rimmed baking sheet slightly larger than the size of the chicken, and place half the lemon slices in a single layer on top of oil. Place chicken, skin side up, on lemons. Beginning at the neck end of breast, carefully loosen skin from flesh of breast and thighs with your fingers. Slide remaining lemon slices under skin in a single layer.
• Roast chicken 20 minutes. Toss shallots with remaining teaspoon oil, and scatter around chicken. Continue to roast chicken until a thermometer inserted into thickest part of breast reaches 165 degrees, 25 to 30 minutes more.
• Transfer chicken to a carving board, and let rest 10 minutes. Cut chicken into 8 pieces, and serve with roasted lemons, shallots, and pan juices. If using chicken for soup and salad, let chicken cool completely. Remove and discard skin, lemon under skin, and bones, and shred meat into bite-size pieces. Chicken, roasted lemons, shallots, and pan juices can be refrigerated up to 2 days. Store meat and pan juices in separate containers; lemons and shallots can be stored together.

SPATCHCOCKED CHICKEN WITH HERB BUTTER

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mash together the butter, garlic, parsley, mixed herbs, thyme, rosemary, salt, herbes de Provence, lemon zest, white pepper and black pepper. Rub three-quarters of the mixture all over the chicken, including under the skin. (Reserve the remaining herb butter for serving.) Place the chicken, breast-up, on a rimmed baking sheet and refrigerate it, uncovered, for at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• Heat oven to 450 degrees. Roast chicken until it is just cooked through (the meat will no longer be pink and the juices will run clear; an instant read thermometer inserted into the thigh will read 165 degrees), 40 to 55 minutes. Let the chicken rest on a cutting board for 10 minutes before carving. Serve it topped with the reserved herb butter and lemon wedges.