This easy Spatchcock Chicken recipe is a quick and easy way to cook a whole chicken. Perfectly cooked, the meat is wonderfully juicy with perfectly crispy skin.
Cut your cooking time in half the next time you want to cook a whole chicken!
This spatchcock chicken is loaded with flavor and it’s so easy to prep! It comes out perfectly every time and it’s perfect to serve for any family feast. By spatchcocking the chicken, you cut the cooking time in half and you won’t end up with any dry meat!
This chicken recipe was inspired by the Boston Market Garlic Parmesan chicken that is covered with cripsy breadcrumbs and sauce. We love it so much!
Be sure to save the leftovers for my Creamy Rotisserie Chicken Salad!
How to make Garlic Parmesan Spatchcock Chicken
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Combine ¼ cup olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, and black pepper in a bowl. Stir until incorporated.
- Spatchcock the chicken by removing the backbone and any excess fat, cracking the breast bone, and flipping the chicken so it lays flat.
- Season all sides of the chicken with olive oil mixture, making sure the seasoning gets under the skin.
- Place chicken in a cast-iron skillet or sheet pan, laying the chicken on it’s back, breast side up. Bake in preheated oven for 40-45 minutes.
- When your chicken has about 10 minutes left, Add 2 Tbsp oil and breadcrumbs to a small bowl.
- Remove chicken from oven and cover with breadcrumb mixture. Return to the oven and cook for the remaining 10 minutes or until chicken is done.
- Meanwhile, prepare your Garlic Parmesan sauce. Place heavy cream and garlic is a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring mixture to a low simmer and allow to simmer for about 5 minutes, whisking occasionaly.
- Remove from heat and stir in parmesan cheese.
- Pour the sauce over chicken before serving.
How to spatchcock a chicken
If you get your chicken from a butcher, you can ask them to spatchcok it for you. It’s pretty easy to do by yourself, you just need a good pair of kitchen scissors.
- Place chicken breast-side down, with the legs towards you.
- Using sturdy scissors cut up along each side the backbone to remove it, cutting through the rib bones as you go.
- Cut off any excess fat. Use a sharp knife and cut a slit into the white cartilage in the middle of the breast. Turn the chicken over and pull the breast and wings upward while pushing down the middle of the breast, until it lays flat. This will make sure your meat is all one thickness.
Why spatchcock a chicken?
By removing the backbone, you can open out and flatten the chicken meaning that it cooks much quicker. When you cook the chicken whole without spatchcocking, the breasts can often end up dry as they take longer to cook than the thighs. This way, you end up with wonderfully juicy chicken that is cooked evenly.
To get your chicken super flat, score the sternum that is located in between the breast, crack the breast, and then flip and push down the breast. I usually just skip this step and cook it as is. The key is removing that huge backbone that you’re not going to eat.
What do you serve it with?
This chicken is wonderful to serve up with potato and veggies sides for a full feast. It makes a great Thanksgiving turkey alternative and is perfect for Christmas, Easter and family dinners. Try it with:
- Easy Recipe for Gravy without Drippings
- Southern Candied Sweet Potatoes
- Sautéed Yellow Squash
- Marinated Air Fryer Vegetables
- Garlic Mashed Potatoes
How to store
If you have any leftovers, keep them in an airtight container. You can add the shredded chicken to salads, chilis, sandwiches and stews. You can also use the carcass to made homemade chicken stock.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- The chicken should be at room temperature before placing it in the oven. I like to take it out of the fridge about half an hour before I cook it.
- Let the chicken rest for at least 15 minutes before carving so that the juices redistribute.
More Easy Chicken Recipes
- Nashville Style Hot Chicken Tenders (Air Fryer Recipe)
- Sticky BBQ Air Fryer Chicken Legs
- Air Fryer Whole Chicken (Peruvian Style)
- Instant Pot Jamaican Jerk Chicken Soup
Garlic Parmesan Spatchcock Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken about 5lbs, the backbone removed
- ¼ cup olive oil + 2 Tbsp
- 1 ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup of Italian breadcrumbs.
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 clove garlic crushed
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Combine ¼ cup olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, and black pepper in a bowl. Stir until incorporated.
- Spatchcock the chicken by removing the backbone and any excess fat, cracking the breast bone, and flipping the chicken so it lays flat.
- Season all sides of the chicken with olive oil mixture, making sure the seasoning gets under the skin.
- Place chicken in a cast-iron skillet or sheet pan, laying the chicken on it’s back, breast side up. Bake in preheated oven for 40-45 minutes.
- When your chicken has about 10 minutes left, Add 2 Tbsp oil and breadcrumbs to a small bowl. Remove chicken from oven and cover with breadcrumb mixture. Return to the oven and cook for the remaining 10 minutes or until chicken is done.
- Meanwhile, prepare your Garlic Parmesan sauce. Place heavy cream and garlic is a medium saucepan over medium heat. When the mixture starts to bubble, remove from heat and stir in parmesan cheese. Pour the sauce over chicken before serving.
Notes
- The chicken should be at room temperature before placing it in the oven. I like to take it out of the fridge about half an hour before I cook it.
- Let the chicken rest for at least 15 minutes before carving so that the juices redistribute.