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    Home » Product Reviews and Guides » How To Spatchcock Chicken Step By Step

    How To Spatchcock Chicken Step By Step

    Published: Jul 12, 2024 · Modified: Aug 20, 2024 by Jenna Passaro · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Want to spatchcock a chicken? Watch this spatchcock video so you can cook a whole chicken evenly. This simple guide on how to spatchcock chicken step by step will help you prepare a whole chicken for dinner.

    Roasted, grilled, bbq or sous vide spatchcocked chicken comes out with very moist meat and crispy skin when prepared this way. So roll up your sleeves and let’s get to it!

    spatchcocked chicken for sous vide cooking

    Table of Contents

    Toggle
    • See the spatchcock video to prep for sous vide, BBQ, roasting
    • How to Spatchcock a Whole Chicken Step by Step
    • Different ways to cook spatchcocked chicken
    • Spatchcocking chicken for sous vide
    • Spatchcocking chicken for BBQ
    • Spatchcocking then roasting chicken in the oven
    • What will you do with your chicken?
    • Get better at sous vide cooking…

    See the spatchcock video to prep for sous vide, BBQ, roasting

    For many cooking techniques, spatchcocking a chicken allows you to cook a whole chicken in almost half the time as cooking a whole chicken that’s intact.

    But that’s not why it’s a classic way to cook chicken. You see, once you butterfly chicken, you can cook it a million different ways. The people you feed will be forever grateful.

    Feeling intimidated by spatchcocking? See this video on how to spatchcock a whole chicken.

    How to Spatchcock a Whole Chicken Step by Step

    steps to spatchcocking a whole chicken

    Step 1. Clean the chicken and place it chicken breast side down on a cutting board.

    demonstrating how to spatchcock a whole chicken

    Step 2. Use sharp kitchen shears to cut from top to bottom along the backbone.

    demonstrating how to cut spatchcocked chicken

    Step 3. Repeat on the other side to fully remove the backbone from the chicken.

    Tip. This didn’t make it into the video for spatchcocked chicken, but you can get the chicken to work even harder for you by saving the part you cut off. Often, I’ll add the backbone to a bag in the freezer labeled “chicken stock”. If that’s not for you, just discard it.

    steps to spatchcock chicken

    Step 4. Push down to flatten spatchcocked chicken completely. 

    You need to know how to flatten spatchcocked chicken completely, because the more even the width of the chicken, the better and more even it will cook in the sous vide bath, smoker, grill, oven, etc.

    sous vide spatchcocked chicken finished in the oven broiler
    How gorgeous! This sous vide spatchcocked chicken finished in the oven broiler is just glowing.

    Different ways to cook spatchcocked chicken

    There are so many ways to enjoy the bird prepared this way.

    1. Sous vide style
    2. On the BBQ/grill
    3. Roasted in the oven
    spatchcocked sous vide chicken with sous vide cookbook

    Spatchcocking chicken for sous vide

    As a sous vide enthusiast and author of The Home Chef’s Sous Vide Cookbook – I’m a big fan of sous vide whole chicken. It comes out super moist with tender meat when sous vide then grilled.

    The trick I’ve found is to vacuum seal a whole chicken already spatchcocked.

    Spatchcocked sous vide chicken cooks evenly since it’s flattened out with no air pocket. The difference is that an intact chicken has a hole in the center cavity, which fills with air and causes issues with maintaining the temperature.

    Did you know you can freeze then sous vide chicken – and it tastes amazing?

    Spatchcocking chicken for BBQ

    Grilling spatchcocked chicken is such a tasty option. To do this, make sure the chicken is “breast side up” – with the rib bones touching the grill.

    You can even put a brick on top to flatten spatchcocked chicken more.

    Use a reliable meat thermometer to make sure the chicken is cooked thoroughly to a safe temperature, which takes about an hour.

    With BBQ spatchcocked chicken, you’ll want to make sure you’re marinating the chicken regularly so it stays nice and juicy. The key is to balance marinating it, with keeping the grill covered so the chicken cooks evenly.

    It’s a delicate balance to BBQ spatchcocked chicken – but it comes with a delicious reward.

    See how to make smoked whole chicken on the Traeger.

    Showing moist chicken breast from spatchcocking then roasting chicken in the oven

    Spatchcocking then roasting chicken in the oven

    Once you learn how to spatchcock a whole chicken, you’ll love roasting chicken this way. It shaves off about 15-20 minutes to spatchcock chicken before roasting.

    What will you do with your chicken?

    The options for making a chicken dinner with butterflied chicken are pretty endless.

    In addition to cooking it with different techniques, try various spice combinations, sauces, brines, and marinades.

    And when in doubt, throw some green on the bird. Add huge flavor to spatchcock chicken with fresh herbs from your very own culinary garden. See these tips on how to grow herbs at home for cooking.

    Have you ever thought of cooking a whole chicken sous vide style? Well I have a recipe that’s just perfect for a holiday like Christmas or Easter or a special occasion. See my guide to making sous vide roasted chicken.

    Get better at sous vide cooking…

    I’m here to help you put together delicious meals, right at home. If you have any questions, drop them in the comments. 

    Follow for new recipes on Instagram and subscribe to the SipBiteGo on YouTube.

    Chat soon – Jenna

    See more sous vide recipes…

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