Spatchcock Barbecue Chicken Recipes

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.

GRILLED SPATCHCOCKED GREEK CHICKEN

Steps:

• To spatchcock the chicken, use strong kitchen scissors or poultry shears and cut down either side of the spine. Pull out the spine, turn the chicken over and press down on the breast of the chicken to flatten it out to one thickness.
• Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice and zest, garlic, oregano, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl. Put the chicken in a gallon-size resealable plastic bag in a rimmed dish. Pour in half of the marinade, reserving the rest for serving later. Seal the bag and rotate it around to evenly distribute the marinade. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the marinade. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and season generously all over with salt and pepper; let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Prepare a grill for medium indirect heat: For gas grills (with 3 or more burners), turn all the burners to medium-high heat; after about 15 minutes turn off one of the middle burners and turn the remaining burners down to medium. For charcoal grills, bank one chimney starter-full of lit and ashed-over charcoal briquettes to one side of the grill. Set up a drip pan on the other side to avoid flare-ups. (Be sure to consult the grill manufacturer's guide for best results.)
• Place the chicken skin-side up on the indirect side of the grill with the legs facing the hotter side. Cover and cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh (avoiding the bone) reads 150 to 160 degrees F (almost cooked through), about 50 minutes.
• Move the chicken over to the direct-heat side of the grill. After 2 minutes, flip the chicken to char and crisp up the skin side, another 3 or 4 minutes. Check that the temperature in the thigh is now at least 165 degrees F. If it is not, then move the chicken back to the indirect side, cover and cook until the final temperature is reached. Remove from the grill; let rest 20 minutes before carving.
• Stir the scallions and dill into the reserved marinade. Drizzle over the chicken or serve on the side.

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 CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil.
• Place chicken, breast side down, on a work surface. Starting at the tail end, cut along both sides of backbone with kitchen shears. Remove backbone. Grabbing hold of both sides of the chicken, open it like a book. Turn breast side up. Push down on each side of breast with your hands until you hear it crack. Flatten chicken and transfer to one short end of the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the second chicken.
• Combine salt, tarragon, paprika, and pepper in a small bowl. Stir in oil. Run your fingers under chicken skin and rub tarragon paste under skin. Slide lemon slices under skin, in a single layer.
• Roast until skin is crisp and an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of breast reads 165 degrees F, about 35 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting each chicken into 8 pieces.

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:

• 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.