Foodie Phrase: How to Spatchcock a Chicken
If nothing gets your culinary juices flowing like a succulent, crispy-skinned chicken, piping hot and fresh out of the oven then this week's Foodie Phrase is definitely for you! While at first listen the word spatchcock might sound somewhat, well, offensive, its meaning is, I assure you, completely innocuous and oh sooooooo delicious!
Spatchcocking is the process of removing the backbone of a chicken so it can then be flattened out and cooked. Also known as butterflying, which is not nearly as much fun to say, spatchcocking is a relatively easy technique to perform. All it requires is a set of very sharp kitchen shears (we positively love these from Cutco), an uncooked bird + a spirit of culinary adventure.
This technique is helpful for two main reasons: (1) a spatchcocked bird roasts much faster than a non-spatchcocked bird, and (2) a spatchcocked bird cooks more evenly as well, no more dried out breast meat waiting for the luscious dark meat to cook. A spatchcocked bird (can you tell I like using that word?) is ideal for roasting on a sheet pan but you can also cook it on the grill if you prefer.
And once you've successfully spatchcocked your bird, feel free to season it any way your heart desires (i.e. lemon and thyme, buffalo sauce or tradish poultry seasoning). For a delightful "one-pan" meal, go ahead and add your favorite ingredients to the roasting pan with it. Mushrooms? Sure! Onions? Of course! Potatoes? Why the hell not! You can really make it your own using whatever leftover veggies you have in the fridge or flavor combination you're craving. One of our favorites is our Burgundy-inspired Rosemary Roasted Chicken with Mushrooms and Caramelized Onions - total and complete YUM!
In addition to chicken, you can spatchcock virtually any type of poultry. If you're feeling super adventurous, you could even spatchcock the Thanksgiving turkey! Something to think about. Ever since I discovered this technique, I almost never roast a chicken the traditional way unless I want to stuff it. And while I highly encourage you to try this technique at least once yourself, you can always ask your butcher to do it for you. Just be careful, he might think you're propositioning him.
I hope you enjoy experimenting with the delicious technique and to check out more of our Foodie Phrases, please click here. Also, what's YOUR favorite part of a roasted chicken - white meat, dark meat, crispy skin? Please let me know in the Comments section below!
HOW TO SPATCHCOCK A CHICKEN
Pat your bird dry + place it breast side down on a cutting board that’s placed on top of a kitchen towel to prevent slipping.
Using your super sharp shears, cut a parallel line up one side of the bird's backbone from the tail all the way up to the neck, making sure to cut all the way through. You may have to put a little back into to it, but don’t be afraid - you can DO THIS!
Repeat the same process on the other side until the entire backbone is free + can be separated from the body. You can then either reserve the backbone for making stock or toss it, depending on how you roll.
Lastly, place the freshly spatchcocked bird on the roasting sheet or pan and firmly press down on the center of the breast so the chicken lies as flat as possible. You may hear a slight “crack” while doing this which means you did it right! Now see, wasn’t that easy-peasy?