Spatchcocked Greek Chicken Recipes

SPATCHCOCKED GREEK CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 °F, 220 °C.
• Spatchcock the chicken: Using a sharp knife or kitchen shears, cut along the backbone and remove it. Save it for chicken stock in a freezer-safe bag in the freezer.
• Cut the breastbone so that the chicken lays flat.
• Cut the wing tips or tuck them under while roasting so that they do not burn. Many times, the chicken is sild with the tips already trimmed.
• Marinate the chicken: Combine the marinade ingredients and mix together. Pour over both sides of the chicken.
• Season the chicken: Combine all of the spices and mix them together. Season both sides of the chicken.
• Chill the chicken in the refrigerator for 3-4 hours so that the marinade can flavor the chicken. If you do not have time, just roast the chicken straight away, the marinade and spices are very flavorful.
• Transfer the chicken and all of the marinade and spices to a cast-iron skillet.
• Add the onion to the skillet and bake in the center of the preheated oven (uncovered) until the internal temperature reaches 165 °F. About 55 minutes.
• For extra golden and crispy skin, turn the broiler element on for the final 5-6 minutes. Keep a close eye on the chicken so that it does not burn.
• Remove from the oven and set aside for 10 minutes so that it stays juicy.
• Serve the spatchcocked chicken with lemony roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes, salad, or Mediterranean rice pilaf.

GREEK SPATCHCOCK CHICKEN WITH LEMON & GARLIC

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 390 F.

GRILLED SPATCHCOCKED GREEK CHICKEN

Steps:

• Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, garlic, rosemary, and tarragon together in a measuring cup.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Place chicken on a rimmed baking sheet. Pour 1/2 of the oil mixture over the chicken and reserve the remaining 1/2. Using your hands, massage the oil mixture into the chicken skin. Season with salt and pepper.
• Grill chicken skin-side up over indirect heat for 50 minutes. Move chicken over direct heat and grill 5 minutes. Carefully flip chicken over skin-side down and grill until skin is brown and crispy, about 5 more minutes. Transfer chicken to a serving platter and let rest for 10 minutes.
• Drizzle reserved oil mixture over the chicken. Carve and serve.

GREEK SPATCHCOCKED CHICKEN

Steps:

• 1. Working on a large cutting board, use kitchen shears or scissors to spatchcock the chicken (see below instructions). Place the flattened chicken skin-side up in a wide baking dish large enough to accommodate it with a little room on all sides. 2. Combine 120ml/½ cup of the olive oil, 120ml/½ cup of the wine, 60ml/ ¼ cup of the lemon juice, the mint, oregano, salt, garlic, and bay leaves in a blender and purée until smooth. Pour the sauce over the chicken, turning to coat. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to overnight. 3. When ready to cook the chicken, preheat the oven to 220°C (425°F/ gas 7). 4. Place the potato wedges on a rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, toss to coat, then arrange them in an even layer, clustered together in the center of the baking sheet. 5. Uncover the chicken and remove it from the marinade, letting the excess drip back into the baking dish; reserve the marinade. Lay the chicken skin-side up on top of the potatoes. Roast until golden brown and crisp and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the breast meat registers 71°C (160°F), 55 minutes to 1 hour. 6. Meanwhile, pour the marinade into a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook, stirring, until slightly thickened, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and pour the sauce through a fine-mesh strainer into a medium bowl. 7. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let rest for 15 minutes. 8. Scrape the hot potatoes into a serving bowl and pour over the sauce and the remaining 1 tablespoon wine and lemon juice. Toss to coat and let stand to soak in the sauce. 9. Cut the chicken into quarters, transfer to a serving platter, and sprinkle with the parsley and sea salt. Serve hot, with the roasted potatoes alongside. How to spatchcock a chicken: Spatchcocking is the act of flattening a whole chicken, which makes it perfect for the barbecue or for roasting in half the normal time. It also exposes more of that marinade-soaked skin, which will crisp up nicely when roasted. 1. To spatchcock, turn your chicken breast-side down. 2. Cut along one side of the backbone with sharp kitchen shears or scissors. 3. Cut along the opposite side to free the backbone. 4. Remove the backbone and discard or save for stock. 5. Flip the chicken back over and flatten the breastbone with the heel of your hand (yep, you'll hear it crack). 6. After that it's ready, steady, go!

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.