Herb-Roasted Spatchcock Chicken

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Chef Tyler Florence of Wayfare Tavern in San Francisco gets as much crispiness as possible when roasting chicken by spatchcocking or butterflying — removing the backbone and flattening the bird so that more of the skin is exposed to direct heat. (Your butcher can do this for you.) He serves his kale Caesar alongside, tossing the caramelized roasted garlic from the chicken into the salad. Recipe from Food & Wine cookbook Chefs' Easy Weeknight Dinners

Herb-Roasted Spatchcock Chicken
Photo: © Fredrika Stjärne
Active Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
1 hr
Yield:
4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 (4-pound) chicken

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon chopped oregano

  • 1 tablespoon chopped thyme

  • 2 teaspoons chopped rosemary

  • Kosher salt

  • Freshly ground black pepper

  • 4 garlic cloves, crushed

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Using poultry shears, cut along each side of the chicken backbone and remove it. Turn the chicken breast side up and press on the breastbone to flatten the chicken. Rub the chicken all over with the olive oil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary. Generously season with salt and pepper.

  2. Transfer the chicken to a large rimmed baking sheet, skin side up, and tuck the garlic underneath it. Roast for 45 minutes, until the skin is browned and an instant-read thermometer inserted in an inner thigh registers 160°F. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

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