Spatchcock Chicken
Spatchcock Chicken roasts quickly with crackling skin and juicy meat, perfumed by tarragon, paprika, and bright lemon. Flattening the birds promotes even browning and keeps the flesh succulent, while citrus tucked under the skin infuses gentle tang. Ideal for a weeknight dinner or casual gathering where bold aroma and speedy roasting shine.
- Prep10 mins
- Cook35 mins
- Serves8
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Spatchcock Chicken, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 63 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 12 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 93 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 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.
- 55
- Heart Health
- 74
- Metabolic
- 19
- Digestive
- 34
- Inflammatory
- 57
- Performance
- 51
- General Wellness
- 1
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with foil.
- 2
Place the chicken breast-side down on a work surface. Starting at the tail end, use kitchen shears to cut along both sides of the backbone. Remove the backbone.
- 3
Hold both sides of the chicken and open it like a book. Turn it breast-side up. Press down on each side of the breast with your hands until you hear it crack. Flatten the chicken and move it to one short end of the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the second chicken.
- 4
Mix the salt, tarragon, paprika, and pepper in a small bowl. Stir in the oil. Slide your fingers under the chicken skin and rub the tarragon paste under the skin. Tuck the lemon slices under the skin in a single layer.
- 5
Roast until the skin is crisp and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast reads 165 degrees F, about 35 to 40 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before cutting each chicken into 8 pieces.
- Calories 119.1 kcal Moderate 6%
- Protein 18.46 g Good Source 37%
- Carbohydrate 2.98 g 1%
- Total Fat 4.18 g Moderate 5%
- Saturated Fat 0.32 g Low Source 2%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 61.24 mg High 20%
- Sodium 181.45 mg Moderate 8%
- Dietary Fiber 1.31 g Low Source 5%
- Total Sugars 0.98 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 16.14 mg Low Source 1%
- Iron 0.23 mg Low Source 1%
- Potassium 63.48 mg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin A 1.98 mcg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin C 14.73 mg Moderate 16%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Citrus 🍊
About This Recipe
Spatchcock Chicken is made with 7 ingredients and serves 8. It takes about 45 mins and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Dried Tarragon, Lemon, and Olive Oil. Each serving provides about 119.1 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Spatchcock Chicken made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Dried Tarragon, Lemon, Olive Oil, Paprika. The full list of 7 is above.
- How long does it take to make Spatchcock Chicken?
- About 45 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 35 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 119.1 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Spatchcock Chicken easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 7 ingredients and 5 steps.
- Is Spatchcock Chicken healthy?
- Spatchcock Chicken has an easyChef Pro health score of 55/100. Per serving, it provides 119.1 calories and 18.46 g of protein, or 37% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 181.45 mg (8% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. 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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