How to BBQ Spatchcock Chicken

We’ve all experienced the long wait when cooking a chicken and just wanting it to be done so we can tuck in. The great thing about spatchcock chicken is that it cooks quicker than a regular whole chicken. 

Spatchcock chicken can be cooked in an oven, but we thoroughly enjoy sticking it on the BBQ for a perfectly charred chicken that bursts with flavours. Our BBQ spatchcock chicken recipe combines the best measurements of flavours and seasonings to spruce your chicken up.  Perfect for sharing with family and friends.  

Cooking Method

  1. Place the spatchcock chicken on a board skin side up and begin to create your seasoning. 
  2. Take the orange and finely grate the zest from the orange. Once grated, take the orange, cut it into wedges and leave to the side for later.
    Using a pestle and mortar, lightly crush the peppers and stir in the orange zest, Chinese five spices, garlic, oil and a generous pinch of salt to combine. Rub the mixture all over the chicken making sure to cover the spatchcock chicken evenly. 
  3. Heat your BBQ to a low heat and take your well-seasoned spatchcock chicken and place it onto the BBQ skin side down. Barbecue spatchcock chicken for 5-10 minutes (or until skin is golden and charred). Once the skin is golden, turn the chicken over and continue to cook for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
    For the best results use a barbecue lid or a large roasting tin.  
  4. Once cooked, remove chicken and place on a board to rest for 10min. During this time, you can barbecue the orange wedges for 10 min. Once rested, carve and serve with the oranges to squeeze over.

The Ingredients

  • 1 large Spatchcock chicken, about 1.8kg
  • 1 large orange
  • 2 tsp. white peppercorns
  • 2 tsp. black peppercorns
  • 1 1/2 tsp. Chinese five spice
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 1/2 tbsp. vegetable oil

What to serve with Spatchcock Chicken

Spatchcock Chicken is versatile and can be enjoyed on a summer’s day or a Sunday roast with the family.  We recommend serving your BBQ spatchcock chicken with a good crunchy salad and potato wedges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Spatchcock chicken is ultimately a whole chicken but with the chicken's backbone removed so that it lies flat. This speeds up the cooking time and helps ensure juicy, evenly cooked meat. Additionally, it allows for more even browning and crispier skin due to the increased surface area exposed to the heat source.

Yes! If you hate waiting for your whole chicken to cook, we recommend trying a spatchcock chicken. Depending on the weight, a spatchcock chicken may cook up to an hour quicker than a whole chicken.

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