Chef John's Brick-Pressed Chicken
Chef John's Brick-Pressed Chicken delivers ultra-crispy, evenly browned skin with juicy, tender meat throughout. A hint of herbes de Provence and simple seasoning let the chicken’s natural richness shine, while the brick ensures beautiful contact with the hot pan. Serve for a relaxed weekend dinner or a casual gathering when you want impressive results with minimal fuss.
- Prep10 mins
- Cook40 mins
- Serves6
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chef John's Brick-Pressed Chicken, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 52 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 92 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 30
- Heart Health
- 53
- Metabolic
- 10
- Digestive
- 34
- Inflammatory
- 54
- Performance
- 43
- General Wellness
- 1
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
- 2
Using kitchen shears, cut along both sides of the backbone. Remove and discard the backbone. Cut through the breastbone from the inside so the chicken opens like a book and lies flat.
- 3
Season the chicken all over with salt and black pepper. Sprinkle herbes de Provence on the inside. Let it rest at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes; pat it dry with paper towels. Brush the skin side of the chicken with oil and season again with salt and black pepper.
- 4
Heat an ovenproof cast iron skillet over high heat until very hot, about 5 minutes. Place the chicken, skin-side down, in the hot skillet and set bricks evenly on top to weigh it down.
- 5
Roast the chicken in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove the bricks, flip the chicken, and continue roasting until the juices run clear and the meat is no longer pink at the bone, 5 to 15 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh, near the bone, should register 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
- 6
Preheat the oven's broiler and broil the chicken until the skin is crispy and golden, 1 to 3 minutes.
- Calories 333.42 kcal Moderate 17%
- Protein 63.08 g Good Source 126%
- Carbohydrate 0.0 g 0%
- Total Fat 9.28 g Moderate 12%
- Saturated Fat 0.32 g Low Source 2%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 211.95 mg High 71%
- Sodium 561.28 mg High 24%
- Dietary Fiber 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Total Sugars 0.0 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 0.0 mg Low Source 0%
- Iron 0.0 mg Low Source 0%
- Potassium 0.0 mg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin A 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin C 0.0 mg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
No known allergens listed for this recipe. Always double-check ingredients for your needs.
About This Recipe
Chef John's Brick Pressed Chicken is made with 4 ingredients and serves 6. It takes about 50 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Herbes de Provence, Salt & Pepper, Vegetable Oil, and Whole Chicken. Each serving provides about 333.42 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John's Brick-Pressed Chicken made of?
- The main ingredients are Herbes de Provence, Salt & Pepper, Vegetable Oil, Whole Chicken. The full list of 4 is above.
- How long does it take to make Chef John's Brick-Pressed Chicken?
- About 50 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 40 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 333.42 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John's Brick-Pressed Chicken easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 4 ingredients and 6 steps.
- Is Chef John's Brick-Pressed Chicken healthy?
- Chef John's Brick-Pressed Chicken has an easyChef Pro health score of 48/100. Per serving, it provides 333.42 calories and 63.08 g of protein, or 126% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 561.28 mg (24% of the Daily Value). Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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