Spatchcocked Chicken on Bread with Herbs and Lemon

(70)
Prep Time:
25 mins
Total Time:
1 hrs
Yield:
4 to 6 Serves

Spatchcocking a chicken means scissoring it down the back (we leave the meaty backbone attached) and then flattening it. Smear it with butter, season with chunky sea salt, and place it on a platform of bread to absorb the juices for the fastest, easiest no-waste roasted chicken ever. While it's still hot, scatter fresh herbs over it and squeeze on some lemon juice for a fresh sauce that basically makes itself.

Ingredients

  • 1 whole chicken (3 ½ to 4 pounds)

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature

  • 1 ½ teaspoons chunky sea salt

  • 6 slices rustic bread (from about ½ loaf), ¾ inch thick

  • 1 cup fresh Thai or regular basil leaves

  • 1 cup fresh mint leaves

  • 1 lemon, halved

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Cut chicken along backbone on 1 side with kitchen shears and open it like a book. Turn over and press to lay flat. Slather with 2 tablespoons butter; season all over with salt.

  2. Spread remaining tablespoon butter on 1 side of bread slices. Place side by side, buttered side up, on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet and lay chicken on top. Roast until chicken is golden brown and a thermometer inserted into thickest part of breast (do not touch bone) reaches 160 degrees, 30 to 35 minutes.

  3. Remove chicken from oven; let rest on baking sheet 10 minutes. Scatter with herbs; squeeze lemon juice over chicken. Cut chicken and bread into serving pieces; place on a platter. Pour pan juices over chicken and serve.

    spatchcock-chicken-0014-md110429.jpg
    Marcus Nilsson

Variations

Add paprika and minced garlic with the salt. Use sliced potatoes instead of bread.

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