Harissa and Lemon-Butter Spatchcock Chicken

By Rian Worm

If you haven’t yet gotten on board with the whole spatchcock thing, this recipe is the perfect excuse to try it.

The name simply means to butterfly the whole chicken, which helps with even cooking, crispier skin and (most importantly) a much faster cook time.

We recommend asking your local butcher to take care of the prep, but it’s also something you can do at home with some handy kitchen shears. Once you’ve got your chicken ready, next comes the fun part. The marinade for this recipe combines harissa paste and lemon. Harissa is a flavorful blend of chiles, oil and spices, and usually comes in a variety of heat levels. You can, as they say, “pick your poison” depending on your spice tolerance. No matter which way you go, you’re left with an incredibly juicy, flavor-packed chicken that will be the star of your dinner table. We love a good cast iron skillet for roasting chicken, but a simple baking sheet or roasting pan will do the trick. Just be sure to load up on aromatics under the chicken, which adds a ton of flavor. Feed the whole crew or roast off the chicken early in the week and have it ready for sandwiches and salads, like ourChicken Salad with Grapefruit Vinaigrette.

Watch the dish →

Ingredients

- 4-5 lbs whole chicken, backbone removed
- 2 sprigs thyme
- 2 sprigs rosemary
- 1 head of garlic, cut in half
- 1 red onion, cut into 8 wedges
- 1 lemon, cut into thick slices
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Harissa Lemon-Butter (recipe below)
- Chopped parsley, garnish

HARISSA LEMON BUTTER
- 2 tbsp harissa paste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder

Instructions

STEP 1

Spatchcock is a technique that removes the backbone so that the chicken can lay flat, essentially butterflying. It helps to achieve a more even cook, crispier skin, and also cuts the cooking time down significantly. The easiest way, and the way we’d recommend you prep your chicken, is to simply ask your butcher to handle it. If you are planning to prep your chicken at home, you’ll need a good pair of kitchen shears. Orient the chicken so that the legs and back bone are facing you. Using your kitchen shears, carefully cut along each side from tail to neck. Once the backbone is removed, place your hands on each of the wings to press down until it flattens out.

STEP 2

Make the Harissa Lemon Butter by combining all ingredients in a food processor or mashing with a fork.

STEP 3

Pat the chicken dry and generously season with salt and pepper. Using your hands or a rubber spatula, massage the Harissa Lemon Butter all over the chicken, including under the skin. Allow the chicken to sit in the marinade and come to room temperature.

STEP 4

Preheat the oven to 425.

STEP 5

In a cast iron skillet, create a layer of lemon slices, red onion wedges and garlic halves. Arrange the rosemary and thyme near the center. Transfer the chicken to the cast iron skillet on top of the aromatics, breast side up. Be sure to lay the chicken out as flat as possible.

STEP 6

Bake in the oven for 50 minutes, then increase the heat to broil and cook for another 5 minutes to crisp up the skin. Remove the chicken from the oven and check that the internal temperature of the meat is 165 and the juices run clear. Allow to rest for 15-20 minutes before carving.

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Harissa and Lemon-Butter Spatchcock Chicken

The name simply means to butterfly the whole chicken, which helps with even cooking, crispier skin and (most importantly) a much faster cook time.

Ingredients