Five tips to cook your Spatchcock Chicken to perfection

Spatchcocking is a tried and true method to make delicious, evenly cooked chicken. The basic process is pretty straightforward: You need to remove the chicken’s backbone before flattening the bird.

Chickens that are spatchcocked roast more quickly and are easier to coat with delicious rubs and marinades. This is why spatchcocking is especially popular with those who grill or BBQ their poultry. You’ll also get crispier, juicer skin. If you’ve never tried it before it can seem a little intimidating, however, once you get the hang of it, you’ll wonder why you didn’t learn the method sooner!

Tip 1) Don’t waste money on expensive gadgets for spatchcock chicken.

No special knowledge or equipment is required as you can use what’s already in your kitchen. All you really need is a plastic cutting board, a chef’s knife, and a pair of easy-to-clean kitchen shears. Shears are useful in the kitchen because they’re sturdy, easy to clean, and can be taken apart to allow thorough cleaning.

Tip 2) Pat dry the chicken before spatchcocking.

Use kitchen roll to dab away any excess moisture from the meat. Then put the chicken breast-side down and use the shears to cut along either side of the backbone. Remove the backbone then flip the bird to flatten it.

Tip 3) Use the heel of your palm.

First, pull out each side of the chicken breast. Then use the heel of your hand to press down on the breast with enough force to break the breastbone. This will flatten out the chicken.

Tip 4) Make slits in the breastbone.

Cutting two small slits on either side of the breastbone will allow the chicken to lay even flatter. The flatter your chicken is, the faster and more evenly it will cook.

Tip 5) Keep the backbone.

Don’t let the backbone you’ve removed to go to waste. Place it in a sealed bag in the freezer and save it to use in stock at a later date.

Halal Chicken for Spatchcocking from Tariq Halal

Visit the UK’s favourite halal butcher to buy spatchcock chicken and ingredients for spatchcock chicken marinade. We also sell a wide range of other halal meats, products, and delicacies. Take a look at our online meat shop or look for our products on the shelves at major shops like Sainsbury’s.