Spatchcocked chicken is a pretty way to cook a whole chicken, but even better is, it is moister everywhere, and you won’t dry out the breast while waiting for the slower thighs to be cooked through.

 

Although to the eye, the chicken looks fancy and difficult, it really isn’t at all.  I like to prepare my chicken several hours before roasting it, and put in in the refrigerator uncovered so it can rest in the rub right on the baking sheet and absorb the flavors. This also allows the skin to dry out when exposed to air, so it is extra crispy!!!

Spatchcocked Rosemary Lime Roasted Chicken

Ingredients:

1 – 5 to 6 pound whole chicken

Zest of 2 Limes

3 Tablespoons of Olive Oil

1 Tablespoon of Sea Salt

1/2 Teaspoon of Black Pepper

1 1/4 Teaspoon of Crushed Rosemary

1 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Ginger

Directions: Mix the olive oil and seasonings together for your Rosemary Lime Rub and set aside.

Now let’s spatchcock the chicken. It takes a little elbow grease, but trust me, it is easier than it looks! Much easier than cutting up a whole chicken! You will need a sharp knife or poultry scissors.

Place the chicken on a prepared baking sheet. Turn the chicken over onto its back, and starting on one side of the back bone, cute through the back. Now, do the same thing on the other side, and remove the backbone completely from the chicken. (You can use the backbone and giblets to make stock.)

That was the most difficult part. Turn the chicken over so the breasts face up, and with the palms of your hands, flatten the chicken by pressing on the breast area and splaying out the legs. It should look like this.

Rub the chicken all over front and back with the Rosemary Lime Rub.

 

Place the chicken uncovered in the refrigerator a few hours, or as long as overnight. This step before roasting makes the chicken skin very crispy! You can skip it if you don’t have time, or you want chicken right away.

When you are ready to roast your chicken, Preheat the oven to 325º degrees and roast the chicken for one hour.

Test the thigh to make sure it has reached 165º degrees. Remove from the oven, and let the chicken sit for ten minutes to retain the juices before carving.

Enjoy this juicy recipe!