Spatchcock Chicken

Serves 6

My daughter and I had some fun preparing this chicken and vegetable dish together- I love one-pan meals. It came together beautifully, and easily made enough to have for lunch the next day.

Ingredients for Chicken:

• 4 1/4 lb whole chicken
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp black pepper

Ingredients for Flavored Butter:

• 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tbsp olive oil, plus more to drizzle
• 1 tbsp parsley, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 tsp lemon zest
• 1 tbsp lemon juice 
• 1 tsp salt, plus more for vegetables
• 1/8 tsp black pepper

Ingredients for Vegetables:

• 2 lbs medium red potatoes
• 3 medium carrots
• 8 oz Brussels sprouts

Instructions:
1. Place chicken breast-side down with the wings/ neck facing towards you. To remove the spine, use kitchen shears to cut through the ribs right next to the spine along both sides. Open rib cage and use a heavy knife to score down the sternum. This will help pop out the breast bone and flatten chicken. Season inside the chicken with 1/2 tsp salt and a pinch of black pepper.

2. Flip the chicken over, breast side up, and set on parchment-lined, rimmed baking half sheet. Using the palm of your hand, push firmly over the breast bone, forcing the chicken to lay completely flat. Use your thumbs to separate the skin from the meat over breast, thigh and drumstick areas.

3. Preheat oven to 425˚F. In a small mixing bowl, combine the flavored butter ingredients. Mash with fork for a couple of minutes until the lemon juice is mostly incorporated into the butter. Spread 2/3 of mixture under the chicken skin and and dot/spread remaining butter all over chicken.

4. Prepare vegetables- scrub the potatoes and cut them into quarters. Peel the carrots and cut them into quarters. Trim the Brussels sprouts and cut them in half.

5. Place prepared vegetables all around the chicken and drizzle everything with olive oil. Sprinkle chicken and vegetables generously with salt and black pepper.

6. Bake uncovered at 425˚F for 45 min or until instant read thermometer reads 160˚F when inserted into thickest part of chicken breast. Remove from oven and rest uncovered for 10 minutes on a cutting board before serving.