Herb Roasted Spatchcock Chicken Recipe

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Delicious and easy to make, this herb roasted spatchcock chicken recipe is a family favorite. Seasoned with lemon and fresh herbs, this oven-roasted butterflied chicken is succulent, juicy, and full of flavor.

An oval dish with roasted whole chicken with lemon slices and fresh herbs sitting on a wooden table with cutlery and side dishes.

My mama is an excellent cook! I learned from her the trade of making something out of nothing, and for a while, even supplemented my income with it.

Table of Contents

1) 📃 Why it Works

2) 🛒 Ingredients and Notes

3) 🤔How to Spatchcock Poultry?

4) 🔪 Instructions

5) 🍽 How To Serve It

6) ❓ Frequently Asked Questions

7) Herb-Roasted Spatchcock Chicken Recipe

One of her best meals (and my favorites!) is this simple crispy spatchcock roast chicken with lemon and herbs, and I'm so excited to share it with you!

Mama's meals are always the best, no matter how old or how good of a cook you are!

For more poultry recipes, be sure to check out my Sheet Pan Mediterranean Herb Chicken and Colombian Chicken Stew, or this Serbian Baked Sauerkraut with Smoked Turkey.

📃 Why it Works

Easy to prep: A delicious roast chicken doesn't take long to prep, so it's great option if you don't have hours to spend in the kitchen,
Simple ingredients: I love this dish because of it's simplicity. Just a few basic ingredients and you have one tasty dinner on your hands.
Gluten and dairy-free: A great recipe for those with dietary restrictions.

🛒 Ingredients and Notes

Chicken: I love to make this recipe with a spatchcocked bird; the results are always so good. You can also make this recipe with separate parts (boneless breast and leg quarters) and even with a whole bird, although the cooking times will vary.
Fresh herbs: I like to use a mix of fresh sage, thyme, and rosemary for the best flavor. You can just use one or two herbs if you prefer.

🤔How to Spatchcock Poultry?

You can ask your butcher to spatchcock your poultry for you, but it's easy to do yourself.

Place the chicken breast side down.
Starting at the thighs, cut along one side of the backbone with kitchen shears.
Cut along the other side of the backbone.
Turn it over and open it up.
Press firmly down on the breast bone to flatten it.

🔪 Instructions

Rinse the bird and pat dry with paper towels, then spatchcock it (see instructions above). Coat it with olive oil using your hands. Set in a roasting pan, skin side up. Squeeze the juice of one lemon over the bird; season with salt and pepper. Scatter with herb twigs and lemon slices.
Roast at 400 F for about 45 minutes, depending on size, or until juices run clear.

Allow the meat to come up to room temperature before roasting it. This will help it to cook evenly through. I like to take it out of the fridge 30 minutes to an hour before I'm ready to cook it.
Ensure that the chicken is covered all over with the oil, so it browns and crisps. I like to use my hands to do this to make sure it's fully coated.
Use an instant-read thermometer to check that your roasted spatchcock chicken is fully cooked through. An inserted thermometer in the thickest part of the meat (not touching bone) should register at 165F.
Let it rest for 15 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute.

🍽 How To Serve It

Spatchcock roast chicken is great to serve alongside vegetable, rice, and potato sides. Try it with:

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Why spatchcock a chicken to roast it?

Whilst I love to cook whole chickens, and you can certainly use a whole bird for this recipe, I find that spatchcocking the bird is a foolproof way to get juicy meat every time.

Because the bird is flattened, the air can't circulate inside, meaning that the thighs and breasts cook simultaneously. You will never get dry meat roasting poultry this way.

Can you make it ahead of time?

This herb-roasted spatchcock chicken is best served straight out of the oven, but you can prep it the day before and keep it covered in the fridge. Just let it come up to room temperature before roasting it.

If you have leftovers, remove the meat from the bones and keep covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. Leftovers can be used in soups and stews or use cold in salads and sandwiches. Take care only to reheat cooked meat once.

Pieces of roasted chicken in an oval platter on a table

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