Easy Oven-Roasted Cajun Chicken (Spatchcock Style)

This roasted Cajun chicken is the kind of dish I make when I want dinner to feel a little special without spending hours in the kitchen. I spatchcock the chicken so it roasts evenly and in less time, then rub a marinade of avocado oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, and my signature Cajun mix under the skin. That simple step makes the meat tender, juicy, and full of flavor.

It's the kind of chicken that works for a Sunday or a weeknight dinner. I usually pair it with something fresh, like my Southern cucumber and tomato salad and crispy oven-roasted potatoes.

When I want a bigger spread, I go with cornbread, collard greens, or green beans with smoked turkey.

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Jump to:

• What does spatchcock mean?
• How to spatchcock a whole Chicken?
• Step-by-Step Instructions
• Flavor notes
• Serving Suggestions
• 📖 Recipe

What does spatchcock mean?

Spatchcock, also known as butterfly, is a technique used to flatten a whole chicken by removing the backbone. This technique allows the chicken to cook quickly, perfect for weeknights.

How to spatchcock a whole Chicken?

Check out the 4 steps below from left to right:

1. Run kitchen shears along the right side of the backbone.
2. Run kitchen shears along the left side of the backbone.
3. Remove the backbone and discard or store it in a ziploc bag and use later for making chicken stock.
4. Flip the chicken so the breast side is up place each thumb on each breast and gently spread apart then press down to flatten.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Once your chicken is spatchcocked, the rest is simple. A quick marinade, a generous rub under the skin, and some oven time is all it takes to bring out Cajun flavor with juicy meat and crispy skin. Here's how to do it:

Flavor notes

This Cajun-style roasted chicken has smoky flavor from the smoked paprika, a citrusy note from the freshly squeezed lemon, and depth from the garlic. Because of the marinade, you get juicy meat inside and golden, crispy skin all over.

Serving Suggestions

If you're making Sunday dinner, try pairing it with my easy one-pot jambalaya or red beans and rice for a true Southern-style dinner.

For another Southern-style chicken recipe that works great for weeknights or Sundays, try my Southern baked chicken drizzled with the most delicious hot honey glaze.

📖 Recipe