Description
This Lemon Garlic Spatchcock Chicken is a vibrant and flavorful dish featuring a whole chicken flattened for even roasting. Infused with zesty lemon, aromatic garlic, and a fresh herb medley, it delivers a juicy, crispy, and tender result perfect for any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 4-5 pound whole chicken
- salt and pepper to taste
Herb Butter Mixture
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- zest and juice from 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
- additional lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) to ensure it’s hot and ready for roasting the chicken.
- Prepare Chicken: Spatchcock the chicken by removing the backbone with kitchen shears or a sharp knife, and press firmly on the breastbone to flatten it out evenly for uniform cooking.
- Make Herb Butter: In a small bowl, combine the softened butter, minced garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, parsley, rosemary, and thyme. Mix well to create the flavorful herb butter mixture.
- Season Chicken: Pat the chicken dry with paper towels, then season generously with salt and pepper on both sides. Spread the herb butter mixture all over the chicken, making sure to coat under the skin and on the skin for maximum flavor.
- Roast Chicken: Place the chicken skin-side up on a baking sheet or roasting pan. Arrange additional lemon slices on top for garnish and extra flavor. Roast in the preheated oven for about 60 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the skin is golden and crispy.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute for a moist, tender result.
Notes
- Spatchcocking the chicken allows it to cook evenly and faster than a whole roasted chicken.
- Make sure to dry the chicken skin thoroughly before applying the butter mixture to help achieve crispiness.
- Fresh herbs can be substituted with 1 teaspoon each of dried herbs if fresh are not available.
- Lemon slices added on top during roasting add bright flavor and a pleasant aroma.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is perfectly cooked to safe temperature.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 384 kcal
- Sugar: 0.04 g
- Sodium: 104 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 129 mg
