Grilled Spatchcocked Chicken

Name: Grilled Spatchcocked Chicken
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 480 min
Ingredients: 1 medium onion, peeled and cut in half; 1 large garlic clove, peeled; 0.333 cup packed fresh herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, parsley, and sage leaves; 0.25 cup extra-virgin olive oil; 0.5 lemon, zest removed in strips with a peeler; 1 chicken (3 ½ to 4 pounds), spatchcocked (see instructions, below); Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

3.4

(111)

3 Reviews

By

Martha Stewart Test Kitchen

Updated on November 29, 2022

Prep Time:

30 mins

Total Time:

8 hrs

Servings:

4

Spatchcocking (or butterflying) lets you grill a whole bird, because it enables you to cook the meat evenly. If your grill is big enough, double the recipe. Leftovers are delicious over salad.

Ingredients

1 medium onion, peeled and cut in half
1 large garlic clove, peeled
⅓ cup packed fresh herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, parsley, and sage leaves
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
½ lemon, zest removed in strips with a peeler
1 chicken (3 ½ to 4 pounds), spatchcocked (see instructions, below)
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions

Prep: Puree onion, garlic, herbs, oil, and zest in a food processor. Rub some puree under skin of chicken breast. Rub remaining puree over rest of bird. Refrigerate at least 6 hours and up to 8 hours. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Wipe off most of rub; season with salt and pepper.
Grill: Heat grill to medium-high, or set up for indirect heat. Grill chicken, breast side down, covered with vent open, until nicely charred, 10 to 15 minutes. Flip; cook 30 minutes more. Flip again; grill until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees in thickest part of breast, 5 minutes more. Let rest 10 minutes.

Cook's Notes

To spatchcock a chicken, cut along each side of the backbone with shears. Remove the backbone, and reserve it for stock (it can be frozen up to three months). Turn the bird breast side up; flatten it with your palm.