Spatchcock Chicken Recipe with Garlic and Herbs

This really is the best spatchcock chicken recipe, and it’s my favorite way to prepare a succulent roast chicken. Loaded with garlic and herbs, this flavorful dish is perfect for entertaining and is sure to impress your guests!

I love making a Sunday supper for friends and family, and it really doesn’t get much better than a roast chicken – it’s always a crowd pleaser! Spatchcocking a chicken is a great way to ensure an even cook, and it’s such an impressive way to serve it to the table!

How to make Spatchcock Chicken Recipe with Garlic and Herbs

How to spatchcock a chicken

• Place the chicken on a work surface, breast side down
• Use a pair of kitchen shears to cut along the right side of the backbone. From tail to neck
• Cut the same way along the left side and remove the backbone
• Turn the chicken breast side up
• Press firmly downwards until chicken is flat and you hear it crack
• Cut off the wing tips of the chicken

How to cook and make the final dish

• Preheat oven at 240C/450F
• Line a sheet pan with baking paper and place chicken in the middle
• Use a sharp knife to thinly slice the baby potatoes halfway through. The potato should have slits but the bottom part should be intact. Add the potatoes on the pan
• Chop off the top ½ inch of the garlic heads. Add them on the pan
• Peel onion then cut in quarters. Add it on the pan
• Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle ground oregano, thyme and rosemary
• Reduce oven temperature to 200C/400Roast for 45 minutes or until golden brown
• Carefully remove tray from the oven. Cover chicken, veggies and potatoes with foil.
• Roast for another 30 minutes
• Let the chicken rest for 10-15 minutes before carving

Why spatchcock a chicken?

This spatchcock chicken recipe ensures perfect results every time! When cooking a whole chicken, it can be very easy for the white meat (the breasts) to dry out by the time that the dark meat has cooked through.  By spatchcocking the chicken, you flatten the bird, so that the breast and legs are at the same level. It cooks more evenly and results in a juicy and succulent roasted chicken.

Why is it called spatchcock?

Spatchcock is also known as butterflying, and it’s a technique where you cut through a caracass to flatten it for cooking. The word ‘spatchcock’ is though to be an abbreviation of ‘dispatch the cock’. Spatchcocking is a term only applied to poultry, such as chicken and quail.

What to serve with a spatchcock chicken

This spatchcock chicken recipe is perfect to serve with all the trimmings! The baby hassle-back potatoes that are cooked with the chicken are a must for me, as is the garlic and onion. This will also be great served alongside Roasted Radishes, Stuffing, Garlic Green Beans and Red Onion Gravy.

Top tips for this Spatchcock Chicken Recipe

• Get a good pair of kitchen scissors to cut the chicken.
• Place the chicken into a pre-heated oven for best results.
• Let the chicken rest for at least 10-15 minutes before serving.
• Keep any unused chicken covered in the fridge for 2-3 days and use in Shredded Chicken Enchiladas or Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili Recipe

Be sure to check out these other chicken recipes that will impress your guests!

Blood Orange Chicken Thighs Recipe (Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs!)

Mexican Chicken Sheet Pan Nachos

Green Chile Chicken Casserole Recipe

Juicy Skillet Chicken Burgers Recipe

If you have tried this spatchcock chicken recipe with garlic and herbs, or any other recipe on my blog, then please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below

4.73 from 11 votes

Spatchcock Chicken with Garlic and Herbs

This really is the best spatchcock chicken recipe, and it's my favorite way to prepare a succulent roast chicken. Loaded with garlic and herbs, this flavorful dish is perfect for entertaining and is sure to impress your guests!

Prep: 30 minutes

Cook: 1 hour 15 minutes

Total Time : 1 hour 45 minutes

Servings: 8 people

Print Rate

Ingredients

• One 4-pound chicken
• 5 whole heads of garlic
• 1 tbsp ground thyme
• 1 tsp ground rosemary
• 1 tsp ground oregano
• ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 6-7 baby potatoes
• 1 onion

Instructions

• Place the chicken on a work surface, breast side down
• Use a pair of kitchen shears to cut along the right side of the backbone. From tail to neck
• Cut the same way along the left side and remove the backbone
• Turn the chicken breast side up
• Press firmly downwards until chicken is flat and you hear it crack
• Cut off the wing tips of the chicken
• Preheat oven at 240C/450F
• Line a sheet pan with baking paper and place chicken in the middle
• Use a sharp knife to thinly slice the baby potatoes halfway through. The potato should have slits but the bottom part should be intact. Add the potatoes on the pan
• Chop off the top ½ inch of the garlic heads. Add them on the pan
• Peel onion then cut in quarters. Add it on the pan
• Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle ground oregano, thyme and rosemary
• Reduce oven temperature to 200C/400Roast for 45 minutes or until golden brown
• Carefully remove tray from the oven. Cover chicken, veggies and potatoes with foil.
• Roast for another 30 minutes
• Let the chicken rest for 10-15 minutes before carving

Nutrition Facts

Spatchcock Chicken with Garlic and Herbs

Amount Per Serving

Calories 390 Calories from Fat 234

% Daily Value*

Fat 26g40%

Saturated Fat 6g38%

Cholesterol 82mg27%

Sodium 84mg4%

Potassium 533mg15%

Carbohydrates 17g6%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 23g46%

Vitamin A 165IU3%

Vitamin C 19.5mg24%

Calcium 62mg6%

Iron 2.3mg13%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Author: Becky Hardin

Course:Main Course

Cuisine:American

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This recipe was contributed by Michaella at Well + Yum.