Butterflied Roast Chicken is perfect for busy nights as it can be quickly prepared. It is so easy to prepare, making it ideal for entertaining! Enjoy the traditional flavours of a Roast Chicken in less time – no advanced preparation is necessary. We will show you how to prepare the butterflied chicken, also known as Spatchcock Roast Chicken. You’ll love the tender, juicy chicken and crispy skin – this is a crowd-pleasing recipe.
This would have to be my favourite recipe for Spatchcock Chicken! It’s on constant repeat for dinner at our house and we absolutely love it! Super easy to prepare and cook.
– Carla
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
- There are few meals more comforting than a traditional roast, but many can be time-consuming, and not suitable for busy weeknights. However, with a spatchcock chicken, also known as a butterflied chicken, you can have a roast dinner on the table in about one hour.
- If you have not previously tried a Spatchcock Roast Chicken, it is easier than you may think and we have a detailed description to help you achieve it.
- The chicken is flattened so it cooks quickly and evenly.
- All of the skin is exposed meaning that it all becomes golden and crispy.
- It cooks in less time than a traditional roast chicken.
- You can adjust the herb and spice seasoning to suit your taste.
- It is easy to carve.
- You can make a one-pan meal by cooking it on a sheet pan along with squash, peppers, cubed potatoes or other veg of your choice, tossed with a little additional olive oil.
Recipe Inspiration: I love my Dry Brine Roast Chicken, but when I am looking to save a little time, I turn to a spatchcock roast chicken.
Ingredients and Substitutions:
Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.
- Chicken – my preference is a free-range chicken, of medium size, about 2 kg (4.4 pounds) which will feed 4 people.
- Olive oil – use good quality olive oil for the best flavour. The oil helps keep the chicken flesh moist and the skin to become crispy.
- Dried oregano – we have chosen a simple herb flavouring, but you could switch it up by using other herbs or blends.
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper – to season the chicken.
- Brown/yellow onion – for extra flavour, we sit the spatchcock chicken on some sliced onion.
Variations:
Lemon – sit the chicken on some thin slices of lemon for an extra flavour infusion.
Vegetables – add some celery and carrot to the pan along with the onion – a delicious combination.
How To Make a Butterflied Roast Chicken:
Please see the recipe card further along in the post for exact quantities of ingredients and the full method.
1 – Prepare the chicken:
Remove the chicken from the fridge about 15 minutes before you prepare it to bring it to room temperature. This will help it to cook quicker and more evenly.
Preheat your oven and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with non-stick baking paper. Add sliced onion to the centre of the tray for the chicken to lay on.
Now, let’s butterfly or “spatchcock” the chicken.
2 – Remove the backbone:
On a chopping board, place the chicken breast-side down with the legs toward you.
Using poultry shears, cut along each side of the backbone. Remove the backbone and set it aside for another use.
3 – After the backbone has been removed:
Your chicken will look like this once the backbone has been removed.
4 – Flatten the chicken:
Turn the chicken over and spread the legs. Place the palm of your hand across the centre of the breast and press down hard so the chicken lays flat.
Tuck the wings under the breast and pat the chicken dry using paper towel.
5 – Season the chicken:
Drizzle the chicken with olive oil and rub it into the skin. Sprinkle the skin with combined dried oregano, sea salt and black pepper and rub into the skin.
Roast the chicken in the preheated oven for about 50 minutes.
Remove from the oven and transfer to a cutting board. Cover loosely with foil and set the chicken aside to rest for about 10 minutes.
6 – Serve:
Serve the Spatchcock Roast Chicken with side dishes or your choice, and enjoy!
Hint: to spatchcock a chicken, you do need a good pair of kitchen shears. However, if you have good, sturdy, sharp scissors, they may do the job in a pinch but will require more effort. Alternatively, your butcher may do it for you.
Tips for Success, Storage and FAQs:
Leftover cooked chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. It should be discarded if it has been at room temperature for more than two hours.
To spatchcock (or butterfly) a chicken means that the bird is flattened when cooking. This ensures that all the skin is exposed. The skin becomes golden and crisp all over and the flesh cooks evenly. As well, the meat cooks in less time than a traditional roast chicken, making it perfect for busy nights. There is no need to truss the chicken to hold its shape, and it is easier to carve.
Don’t discard it. Put it in a freezer-safe bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Keep it until you have enough chicken pieces or the carcass from your spatchcocked chicken, and make stock to use in soups, stews or sauces.
Yes, you can prepare a fresh chicken up to two days in advance. Store it in the refrigerator, well covered in cling wrap and remove it from the fridge about a half-hour before you intend to cook it.
You can add flavour by cooking the chicken on top of sliced lemon, sprigs of herbs or garlic cloves. As well as sliced onion, I sometimes add some carrot and celery under the chicken. Or, use the herbs of your choice, such as Italian or Greek spice blends or fresh rosemary.
Top Tip:
One of the great advantages of a Spatchcock Roast Chicken is that it cooks faster and more evenly than a traditional roast chicken.
In this recipe, a 2 kilo (4.4 pound) chicken cooks in about 50 minutes, making it ideal for days when time is short, yet providing the flavours we enjoy.
Serving Suggestions:
Serve our delicious Butterflied Roast Chicken alongside one or several of these tasty side dishes:
- Honey Roasted Parsnips and Carrots (as shown in the photos)
- Crispy Smashed Roasted Potatoes
- Baked Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Rocket, Pear and Parmesan Salad
- Buttery Steamed Peas
- Or, serve alongside a delicious bowl of Roasted Cherry Tomato Pasta.
- Enjoy leftovers in our Creamy Chicken Pasta or Chicken and Broccoli Pasta Bake. It also is the perfect filling for a sandwich!
Our Butterflied Roast Chicken is a perfect family meal or ideal for easy entertaining. It is a comforting dish, ideal for family meals or suitable when entertaining as it is always a crowd-pleaser. And having learned this technique, you can use it for all poultry, from quail to turkey. Be sure to let me know what you think in the comments below!
Alex xx
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Butterflied Roast Chicken (How To Spatchcock a Chicken)
Equipment
- Strong Poultry Shears – or sturdy kitchen scissors
Please note:
For accuracy, when weights are provided, we recommend weighing your ingredients. This will produce the best results. All oven temperatures listed are for fan forced.
Ingredients
- 2 kg (4.4 lb) whole chicken See Note 1
- 1 tablespoon olive oil See Note 2
- 1 ½ teaspoon dried oregano See Note 3
- 1 teaspoon coarse kitchen salt See Note 4
- ½ teaspoon black pepper – freshly ground
- 1 medium brown/yellow onion – peeled and sliced into ½ cm (¼ inch) pieces
Instructions
- Remove the chicken from the fridge about 15 minutes before you prepare it so that it cooks quicker and more evenly. Preheat your oven to 200 degrees C (400 F).
- Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with non-stick baking paper.Add the sliced onion to the centre of the tray for the chicken to lay on.
- On a chopping board, place the chicken breast-side down with the legs toward you.As a cutting guide, you may like to use a sharp knife to score the chicken skin before you start.
- Using poultry shears, starting from the end of the chicken nearest you, cut each side of the backbone, positioned in the centre of the back. You will be cutting through bones from the tail to the neck. Remove the backbone and set it aside for homemade chicken stock.
- Turn the chicken over and spread the legs. Place the palm of your hand across the centre of the breast. Place your other hand on top of your first hand and press down hard. You will hear a cracking sound. If not, repeat and press harder.The chicken should lay flat so that the meat cooks evenly.
- Tuck the wings under the breast and pat the chicken dry using paper towel.Lay the flattened chicken on top of the onion slices.
- Drizzle the chicken with olive oil and rub it into the skin.In a small bowl, combine the dried oregano, sea salt and black pepper.Sprinkle over the skin and gently rub evenly into the skin.
- Roast the chicken in the preheated oven for about 50 minutes.To test for doneness, insert the tip of a sharp knife between the thigh and the breast. If the juices run clear, the chicken is cooked. Alternatively, insert a thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh. It is cooked when it registers 75 degrees C (165 F).
- Once cooked, remove from the oven and transfer the chicken to a cutting board. Cover loosely with foil and set the chicken aside to rest for about 10 minutes. Carve and serve.
- If there should be any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also freeze leftovers in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.Keep the carcass to make homemade chicken stock.
Video
Notes
- Chicken: you can use a chicken smaller or larger than the one we have used – adjust the cooking time accordingly. To check that the chicken is cooked, insert a thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh. It is cooked when it registers at 74 degrees C (165 F).
- Tablespoon: we use a standard Australian tablespoon which is 20 ml (4 teaspoons). For readers located elsewhere in the world, please use 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon for each tablespoon listed.
- Herbs: use another herb, or combination of herbs if you prefer.
- Salt: use coarse cooking sea salt. Fine table salt is not suitable as it is too concentrated.
- Make-ahead: you can butterfly a fresh chicken two days in advance. Store it in the refrigerator, well covered in cling wrap and remove it from the fridge about a half-hour before you intend to cook it.
- Storage: leftover roast chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. It should be discarded if it has been at room temperature for more than two hours.
Nutrition Estimate:
Nutritional Disclaimer:
The nutritional information is an estimate only, and is derived from online calculators. For accurate results, we recommend calculating the nutritional information based on the ingredients and brands you use.
Carla Condello
This would have to be my favourite recipe for Spatchcock Chicken! It’s on constant repeat for dinner at our house and we absolutely love it! Super easy to prepare and cook. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Alexandra Cook
Thank you so much, Carla!
I am so happy that you enjoy this recipe and make it regularly 🙂
Alex xo
Dave
Thanks for that; appreciate the lesson. Dave.
Alexandra
Hi Dave, thank you so much for your feedback. I am so delighted to hear that you liked our post on Spatchcock Chicken. 🙂