Overhead view of Spatchcock Chicken with Salsa Verde on a wooden cutting board with blue and white napkin and plates

Spatchcock Chicken with Salsa Verde

Learning how to make a whole roasted chicken is a fantastic, healthy way to get dinner cooked for a small crowd or in bulk if it’s just two people in a home. You can eat off a whole roasted chicken for a few days as is, make chicken salad sandwiches out of it, add it to fresh green salads, or use it in a multitude of ways. If you want to eat it as is, I recommend spatchcocking the chicken so that the skin gets evenly crispy and the meat stays juicy throughout. If you’re not familiar with spatchcocking, this Spatchcock Chicken with Salsa Verde recipe will make it easy for you to learn.

First, you want to start with high-quality chicken. I used a whole chicken (about 3 pounds) from Bell & Evans. Their chicken is humanely raised, contains no antibiotics, and is air-chilled. Most chicken is chilled in a water solution, but air-chilling helps to preserve the natural juices in the chicken and is overall a better method. You can read more about the air-chilling method here.

Next, you’ll want to cut the chicken spatchcock-style. What this means is you’re splitting the chicken down the backbone, removing and discarding the backbone (I suggest saving it to make homemade chicken stock) and then spreading out the chicken so it’s flatter and more even, allowing for the skin to crisp up nicely as it cooks.

The salsa verde for this recipe is a must! It complements the chicken well and since the chicken is only seasoned simply with salt and pepper, it helps to add more flavor with the salsa verde. It’s also a great sauce to help save a dried-out chicken, just in case you overcook it a bit or if you reheat leftovers and they get a bit dry.

If you want to try eating healthy or cooking in bulk this year, how to roast a whole chicken is a great technique you should learn.

Get more gluten-free healthy recipes.

Closeup of Spatchcock Chicken with Salsa Verde on a wooden cutting board with fresh herbs and a blue and white checkered napkin in the background

5 from 2 votes
Overhead view of Spatchcock Chicken with Salsa Verde on a wooden cutting board with blue and white napkin and plates
Print Recipe

Spatchcock Chicken with Salsa Verde

Prep Time30 mins
Cook Time45 mins
Rest time10 mins
Total Time1 hr 25 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 658kcal
Author: Gluten Free & More

Ingredients

  • 1 Bell & Evans whole chicken (about 3 pounds)
  • Kosher or fine sea salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 oranges
  • 3 lemons , divided
  • 1 small bunch fresh thyme
  • 1 cup fresh Italian parsley
  • 1 cup fresh cilantro
  • ½ cup fresh basil leaves
  • 3 cloves garlic , smashed, peeled, and coarsely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons rice or white wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons capers , drained
  • 2 anchovy filets
  • ½ - ¾ cup olive oil

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
  • Place the chicken on a large cutting board, breast-side down. Using kitchen shears, cut along each side of the backbone and remove the bone. (Save the bone for making stock at a later date. Place in a freezer bag and freeze.) Flip the chicken over and press firmly in the center of the breasts to flatten. Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper.
  • Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Slice the oranges into ¼-inch slices. Slice two of the lemons into ¼-inch thick slices. Place the orange and lemon slices on the prepared baking sheet to create a “rack” for the chicken to sit on. Top the citrus with the thyme springs. Place the chicken on top of the citrus and herbs, skin side up. Tuck the wings under the breasts. Roast for 45 minutes or until the skin is browned and crispy and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the inner thigh reaches 160 degrees. Remove from the oven, place on a cutting board, and let rest for 5-10 minutes.
  • Place the parsley, cilantro, basil, garlic, vinegar, capers, 1 teaspoon pepper, and anchovies in a food processor. Pulse several times until the herbs are coarsely chopped. With the machine running, drizzle in enough olive oil to make a thick but pourable sauce. Serve with the chicken.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Spatchcock Chicken with Salsa Verde
Amount Per Serving
Calories 658 Calories from Fat 468
% Daily Value*
Fat 52g80%
Saturated Fat 11g55%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 8g
Monounsaturated Fat 30g
Cholesterol 123mg41%
Sodium 239mg10%
Potassium 674mg19%
Carbohydrates 18g6%
Fiber 5g20%
Sugar 8g9%
Protein 33g66%
Vitamin A 2139IU43%
Vitamin C 104mg126%
Calcium 105mg11%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Disclaimer: All nutrition facts on Gluten Free & More are meant only as a guide and may differ depending on product brands used or ingredient substitutions. Some errors may occur, so you are encouraged to confirm the recipe’s ingredient and nutrition suitability for your own diet.
Have you tried this recipe? Give it a star rating and let us know your thoughts in the Ratings & Reviews section below.
Tags: Bell & Evans Chicken Healthy Roasted Salsa
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  1. Sahni
    January 27, 2022

    It’s looking very tasty. Thanks for sharing this great recipe to us. I am really glad to read this article.

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