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Crispy Spatchcock Chicken

Course Main dishes, Poultry
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 5 people

Ingredients

  • 4 lb whole chicken
  • salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp allspice
  • 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp sweet paprika
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg ground
  • extra virgin olive oil

Optional

  • 8 campari tomotoes
  • 1 large vidalia onion peeled and quartered
  • a handful of green olives

Instructions

  • Spatchcock (butterfly) the chicken. Place the chicken on a cutting board with its backbone facing you. Using a pair of sturdy kitchen shears like this one, cut out the backbone by cutting along both sides of the spine, and remove it. Push down on the breasts to flatten the chicken. Flip the bird over and remove the wingtips. (See the step by step tutorial in the post showing how to spatchcock chicken.) You can also ask your butcher to do it.
  • The salt chicken one night before you cook it. Place the chicken, breast side up, on a large cutting board. Push down on the breastbone. Generously season with salt (and I mean generously) on both sides. Place the chicken, breast side up, on a shallow roasting dish. Refrigerate, uncovered, overnight.
  • One hour before you plan to roast it, pull the chicken out of the fridge, and set at room temperature.
  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F, and adjust an oven rack right in the middle.
  • In a small dish, mix the spices. Season the chicken on both sides. Pull its skin up, and apply some of the spice mix underneath as well.
  • In a 12-inch cast iron skillet, add just enough extra virgin olive oil to coat the bottom. Heat on medium-high. As soon as the oil is shimmering, add the chicken, breast side down. Brown for 6-8 minutes, then flip over and brown on the other side another 5 minutes or so.
  • Transfer the cast iron skillet to the heated oven middle rack. Slide it all way to the back of the oven, with the handle of the pan facing left.
  • After 20 minutes, using oven mitts, carefully, turn the skillet 180 degrees so that the handle is now pointing right. Push to the back of the oven again. Roast for another 30 to 45 minutes, until the chicken is brown all over and the juices run clear or until chicken is done and its internal temperature registers 165 degrees F. Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before carving.
  • Optional. If you like, about 20 minutes or so before you pull the chicken out of the oven, add the tomato and onion to a small roasting dish. Toss with olive oil and salt. Place on the lower rack of the oven to roast. When done, add a handful of spicy green olives to the roasted veggies and serve with the chicken. (see more ideas for what to serve along)

Notes

crispy spatchcocked chicken recipe

Succulent, juicy spatchcock chicken with the crispiest skin ever! All thanks to a few tricks including salting the chicken in advance and air-chilling in the fridge. You'll love the Eastern Mediterranean flavors here, but you can also change them up! Be sure to watch the video just above this recipe card and check out my step-by-step tutorial for how to spatchcock chicken.
NOTES
  • Cook's Tip: If you don't have time to salt the chicken and refrigerate overnight, do this as early as possible the day of. Pat the chicken dry with paper towel before continuing on.
  • Cook's Tip: It's easy to spatchcock chicken, if you need a visual, see the step-by-step tutorial for how to spatchcock chicken in the post above.
  • What to serve along: Homemade Tahini Sauce to drizzle on top. And for sides, Fattoush salad; Greek Green Beans; Greek Roasted Potatoes; Italian Roasted Veggies
  • Visit Our Shop to browse olive oil bundles and all-natural and organic spices including Allspice sweet paprika, and nutmeg. SAVE! Try our Ultimate Mediterranean Spice Bundle! Or create your own bundle with our all-natural and organic spices!
  • Recipe adapted from Salt Fat Acid Heat