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Ultimate Lemon Herb Spatchcock Chicken for Crispy Skin

A whole, perfectly roasted spatchcock chicken with golden-brown, herb-crusted skin resting on a white plate.
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Learn the simple technique to spatchcock a whole chicken for fast, even cooking. This recipe delivers incredibly juicy meat and perfectly crispy skin using a bright lemon herb seasoning, ready in under an hour.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 whole chicken (about 4 pounds)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon dried thyme
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 lemon, halved

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Place an oven rack in the center position.
  2. Place the chicken breast-side down on a sturdy cutting board. Locate the backbone running down the center of the chicken.
  3. Using strong kitchen shears, cut along one side of the backbone, from the tail end up to the neck cavity. Repeat this cut on the other side of the backbone to remove it completely. Discard the backbone or save it for stock.
  4. Flip the chicken over so it is breast-side up. Press down firmly on the center of the breastbone until you hear a crack and the chicken lies flat.
  5. Tuck the wing tips underneath the body of the chicken.
  6. In a small bowl, mix the olive oil, oregano, thyme, salt, pepper, and garlic powder to create the herb rub.
  7. Rub the herb mixture all over the chicken, making sure to get some under the skin over the breast meat. Place the lemon halves inside the cavity opening.
  8. Place the flattened chicken skin-side up on a rimmed baking sheet or a sturdy roasting pan.
  9. Roast for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
  10. Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest on a cutting board for 10 minutes before carving.

Notes

  • To spatchcock, you need sharp kitchen shears to cut through the rib bones easily.
  • For extra crispy skin, place the chicken on a wire rack set inside the baking sheet so air circulates underneath.
  • If you want to cook vegetables, add them to the pan around the chicken during the last 25 minutes of roasting.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://delicerecipe.com/spatchcock-chicken-lemon-herb-crispy-skin-recipe/