Spatchcock Chicken Recipe with Cajun Spices

This Spatchcock Chicken Recipe with Cajun Spices is one of our favorites.  It’s perfectly seasoned with a generous amount of kosher salt and a Cajun spice blend of (garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, dried thyme) that will make this your-soon-to-be  go-to chicken recipe for any day of the week.  It’s simple enough to prepare for a weeknight dinner and special enough to serve as a weekend dinner.

Although Spatchcock sounds like a fancy word, it really isn’t.  It refers to a specific way of preparing the chicken so it cooks quicker.  It simply requires that you flatten the chicken by removing the backbone of the chicken.  It’s not a difficult process what-so-ever, in fact, I’ll describe in more detail below.

HOW TO SPATCHCOCK A CHICKEN

• Turn the whole chicken with breast side down
• Using sharp kitchen shears, cut along the chicken’s backbone on both sides until you’re able to remove the backbone
• After removing the backbone, take the palm of your hand and press until the chicken is completely flat

TIP: DO NOT THROW THE BACKBONE AWAY INSTEAD PLACE IN A FREEZER BAG AND USE TO MAKE CHICKEN STOCK AT A LATER DATE.

HOW TO MAKE A SPATCHCOCK CHICKEN RECIPE WITH CAJUN SPICES

• Remove the backbone of the chicken and flatten
• Season both sides of chicken liberally with salt
• While chicken is breast side up, season entire surface of chicken liberally with your Cajun spice blend and gently press spices into chicken
• Allow chicken to come to room temperature
• Add grapeseed oil to cast iron skillet over medium high heat
• When hot, place chicken breast side down and sear until a brown crust forms
• Turn chicken over so now breast side up
• Add a cup of chicken broth to skillet
• Place in 400 degree oven and baste chicken with pan juices throughout cooking process

The following oven-proof vessels can be used for cooking this Spatchcock Chicken Recipe:

• Cast iron skillet
• Dutch oven
• Roasting pan

Or, you can cook over a grill for a nice BBQ flavor.

For this recipe, I prefer using my cast iron skillet.  Cast iron skillets always make a great sear and adds to the crusty outer coating of the chicken.  I’ve been completely obsessed with my cast iron skillets, and I think it’s the perfect vessel for roasting the best spatchcock chicken recipe.

If you do not have a cast iron skillet, do not worry, this Spatchcock Chicken Recipe will be great in a simple roasting pan.

If spatchcock chicken is your thing, check out my Oven Roasted Butterflied Chicken.

Looking for side dishes to pair with this Spatchcock Chicken Recipe, you’ll love these:

Healthy Coleslaw Recipe (No Mayo)

Oven Roasted Broccolette Recipe

Roasted Asparagus With Garlic | Whole30

Vegetable Salad with Lettuce | Whole30

Oven Roasted Potatoes

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~Cree

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Spatchcock Chicken Recipe with Cajun Spices

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

50 mins

Resting

15 mins

Total Time

1 hr

 

This Spatchcock Chicken Recipe is perfectly seasoned with a generous amount of kosher salt and a Cajun spice blend of (garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, dried thyme) that will make this your-soon-to-be  go-to chicken recipe for any day of the week.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy, garlic powder, onion powder, roast, sear, smoked paprika, thyme, weeknight dinner

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 524 kcal

Author: CookingwithBliss

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken
• 3 tbsp grapeseed oil avocado or extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 tbsp kosher salt salt generously however use less if you're following a low sodium diet
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp dried parsley for garnish
• 1 cup low sodium chicken broth

Cajun Spice Blend

• 1/2 tbsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tbsp onion powder
• 1/2 tbsp paprika
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper add more for extra heat

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Add Cajun spices to a small bowl and mix. Set aside.

2. Remove the insides of the the whole chicken (neck, giblets, etc). Wash chicken and pat dry with paper towels.  Using sharp kitchen shears, cut along the backbone on both sides and remove backbone.  Using the palm of your hand, press until the chicken is flatten.
   

3. Season both sides generously with kosher salt. With breast side up, season liberally with Cajun spice blend and gently press spice blend into chicken skin.  Allow chicken to come to room temperature.
   

4. Add grapeseed oil to cast iron skillet over medium high heat.  When hot, add chicken breast side down and sear for about 8 minutes or until nice brown crust  appears on surface of chicken.  (Resist the urge of flipping chicken over to0 soon). 
   

5. Flip chicken so breast side is up.  Add 1 cup of chicken broth to skillet and place in oven.  Place in 400 degree oven and baste chicken with pan juices throughout cooking process.

6. Chicken is done when thickest part of chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degree fahrenheit.  Remove chicken from oven allow to rest.  Carve and serve. Garnish with dried parsley (optional).
   

Recipe Notes

**Please note: Nutritional values serve as a guide only as values may vary.

 

So, do you wash your chicken or NOT?  Some have recommended that you do not wash your chicken due to possible contamination or chicken juice splattering on your kitchen counter tops.  Ever since I can remember, I've always washed my chicken; however, when I do I'm extra careful of not cross-contaminating.  I always disinfect my kitchen sink afterwards.

Nutrition Facts

Spatchcock Chicken Recipe with Cajun Spices

Amount Per Serving

Calories 524 Calories from Fat 351

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 39g 60%

Saturated Fat 9g 45%

Cholesterol 142mg 47%

Sodium 1030mg 43%

Potassium 444mg 13%

Total Carbohydrates 3g 1%

Protein 37g 74%

Vitamin A 16.1%

Vitamin C 4.1%

Calcium 3.2%

Iron 13.9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.