This Chili Crisp Mayo Spatchcock Chicken is a game-changer! With crispy, flavorful skin and juicy, tender meat, it’s a must-try on your Kamado Joe. Smoking it over indirect heat using the Half-Moon Heat Deflectors ensures perfectly rendered skin and tender meat, while locking in moisture for a restaurant-quality roast with minimal effort.
A spatchcock chicken is a whole chicken that has been butterflied and flattened out This preparation method allows the chicken to cook faster and more evenly since more of the skin is exposed to the heat Spatchcocking makes the chicken ideal for grilling or roasting. If you want to cook this style of chicken at home, you first need to know where to buy a spatchcock chicken.
Understanding Spatchcock Chicken
Before diving into where to source a spatchcock chicken, let’s make sure we understand exactly what it is.
A spatchcock chicken starts with a whole chicken To spatchcock, the backbone is removed and the breastbone is pressed down to flatten out the bird This allows the chicken to lie flat.
The benefits of spatchcocking a chicken include:
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Cooks faster—Because there is more surface area, the meat cooks faster and more evenly. A spatchcock chicken can be cooked in half the time of a regular roast chicken.
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Crispy skin – The flattened bird gets maximum contact with the hot pan or grill, resulting in deliciously crispy skin.
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Easy to cut: The chicken is easier to cut after the backbone is taken out and the breastbone is flattened.
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Flavorful – Spatchcocking allows seasonings and marinades to better penetrate the meat for more flavor.
Now that we know what a spatchcock chicken is, let’s look at the best places to buy one.
Check Your Local Grocery Store
The first place to check for spatchcock chicken is your regular grocery store. Many major chains like Kroger, Safeway, Whole Foods, etc. carry them, usually in the fresh poultry section.
When shopping the poultry case, look for the label “spatchcock chicken.” These will be fresh, never frozen birds that have already been spatchcocked and are ready to cook. They are often sold in packs of 2 chickens.
The benefit of buying spatchcock chicken from the grocery store is convenience – no need to do the butterflying yourself. The drawback is there may be limited availability. If your store doesn’t stock them, you may need to special order them.
Ask Your Local Butcher
Your local butcher shop or meat market is the next best place to find spatchcock chicken. If you ask, a good butcher will have whole, fresh chickens on hand that they can spare ribs for you.
Simply ask the butcher if they are able to spatchcock a chicken to order. Many butchers are happy to provide this service. Allow them some advance notice, such as a day ahead, so they can accommodate your request.
If you have a butcher spatchcock the chicken, you can choose the exact size bird you want. Additionally, you can pick whether you want the chicken to be air-chilled or wet-chilled.
The only potential drawback is the butcher may charge a small fee for doing the spatchcocking. But this is usually minimal compared to the convenience.
Check Specialty Grocery Stores
Some high-end grocery stores like Whole Foods Market or Sprouts Farmers Market have in-house butchers who can spatchcock chickens upon request. This gives you the best of both worlds – one-stop shopping convenience combined with the ability to customize your chicken.
When I’m looking for spatchcock chicken, I often check the butcher counter at my local Whole Foods. I simply ask them to spatchcock an organic chicken to the size I want. The extra cost is worth it for me to get air-chilled birds.
Just keep in mind that the butcher counter may not always have spatchcock chickens in stock. I recommend calling ahead to check availability and ensure they can accommodate your request that day.
Purchase from Local Farms or Markets
Searching out locally raised chickens from nearby farms, farmers markets or food co-ops is another potential source.
Many small poultry farms sell fresh chickens at farmers markets and local food stores. Ask the vendors if they are able to sell you a spatchcocked chicken.
Some may already have spatchcocked chickens for sale. Others may be willing to custom cut you a chicken if you request it in advance.
The benefit of local chickens is you can get high quality, humanely raised birds. And you will be supporting local agriculture. Just be prepared to pay a premium price.
Order Online
For ultimate convenience, consider ordering spatchcock chickens online. A few options include:
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ButcherBox – This popular meat delivery service offers spatchcock organic chickens in their boxes. You can customize the size.
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Local pastured poultry farms – Many small farms sell poultry online and will spatchcock upon request. Use Google to find farms near you.
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Specialty online grocers – Retailers like Thrive Market and FreshDirect have spatchcock chickens available for delivery in some regions.
Ordering online allows you to skip the trip to the store. Just factor in shipping costs and delivery time. Make sure the retailer packs the chicken with plenty of ice or freezer packs to ensure safety.
Spatchcock a Chicken Yourself
Of course, you always have the DIY option of buying a whole chicken and spatchcocking it yourself at home. This requires a little skill and labor, but gives you complete control.
You’ll need a sharp pair of kitchen shears or strong chef’s knife to cut out the backbone. With a firm press on the breastbone, you can flatten the chicken.
I recommend watching tutorial videos to learn the proper spatchcocking technique before attempting it yourself. It’s easy once you get the method down.
The advantage of DIY spatchcocking is that you can buy whatever whole chicken you want, whether it’s fresh from the market or frozen from the store. Just make sure you have time to prep it before cooking.
Key Tips for Buying Spatchcock Chicken
When searching for spatchcock chickens, keep these buying tips in mind:
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Check freshness – Look for chickens within 2-3 days of packaging. Avoid any with tears, leaks or off odors.
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Get the right size – Allow 1 pound of chicken per person. Common sizes are 3-4 pounds.
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Select your preferences – Decide if you want air vs water chilled, organic, kosher, etc.
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Buy ahead – Purchase 1-2 days before cooking to allow time for thawing if frozen.
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Keep it cold – Transport in an insulated bag and refrigerate immediately.
Popular Recipes for Spatchcock Chicken
Once you’ve sourced your spatchcocked bird, you’ll want some amazing recipes. Here are a few of my favorite ways to cook spatchcock chicken:
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Grilled – Classic BBQ spatchcock is simple to make and full of flavor. Brush on your favorite bbq sauce during the last 5-10 minutes of grilling.
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Herb Roasted – Coat the chicken with a mixture of fresh herbs, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper before roasting in the oven.
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Mediterranean – Marinate the bird in a blend of lemon juice, garlic, olive oil and Mediterranean spices. Roast with lemon slices.
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Peruvian – Rub a spicy Peruvian seasoning under and on top of the skin before roasting. Serve with a tangy green sauce.
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Jerk – Make crispy jerk chicken on the grill. Use store-bought or homemade jerk seasoning.
The possibilities are endless with spatchcock chicken. Have fun picking out your bird and experimenting with global flavor profiles. Enjoy the quick cooking time and juicy, crispy results.
Why Spatchcock Chicken Cooks Better: Faster, Juicier, and Crispier Results
Spatchcocking is hands down the best way to cook a whole chicken if you want faster cooking, juicier meat, and crispy skin every time. By removing the backbone and flattening the bird, you create an even surface that allows for more consistent heat distribution, whether youre roasting or grilling spatchcock chicken. This method reduces cooking time significantly, meaning your chicken stays moist and tender without drying out. Also, because the whole skin is exposed to direct heat, you get chicken with a golden, crispy skin that’s full of flavor. If you want to roast a juicy chicken with the best texture and flavor, spatchcocking it is the best way to do it, whether you’re using a charcoal grill, gas grill, or smoker.
Will a spatchcock chicken fit on the Kamado Joe Jr?
FAQ
Can you buy a spatchcocked chicken?
Trader Joe’s negates this negation by providing a fully Spatchcocked Chicken, ready to grill or roast. In addition to being “butterflied,” it has already been seasoned with garlic, rosemary, parsley, lemon slices, and extra virgin olive oil. It has been soaked in a brine with orange and lime juices.
Will Whole Foods spatchcock a chicken?
Pick out a whole chicken from behind our case — and we’ll handle the prep work for you. If you want it broken down into breasts and thighs, we can do that. If you want it spatchcocked, where the backbone is removed and chicken is flattened, we can do that.
Which supermarket sells spatchcock chicken?
Sainsbury’s Piri Piri Spatchcock British Chicken 1.26kg | Sainsbury’s.
Does Trader Joe’s have spatchcock chicken?
In TJ’s BBQ Seasoned Spatchcocked Chicken, the chicken is already butterflied and flattened, and it has been marinated in a mix of apple juice, maple syrup, honey, mustard, coffee, and a tasty blend of peppery BBQ seasonings. It is ready to cook right away.