Easy Keto Spatchcock Chicken

This low-carb spatchcock chicken is a great option for any time you want to cook a whole chicken quickly. It’s great for busy weeknights.

Most people would agree that making whole roasted chicken at home is comfort food at its best.

Unfortunately, The only problem is that it takes so long to cook an entire bird. This is why it’s usually reserved for the weekends when you have more time in the kitchen.

Well, I have a solution for this that will up your roast chicken game to winning status.

Enter the spatchcock method of cooking chicken. If you are not familiar with spatchcock cooking, it’s butterflied chicken that produces the juiciest chicken.

An entire chicken can be cooked in under an hour because it’s cooked at a higher temperature.

You’ll love this method of cooking poultry, and I predict it will become your new favorite way.

I have a complete list of  Keto Chicken Recipes that, if you’re a fan of chicken meals you should check out to help you with your weekly meal planning.

Keto Spatchcock Chicken

I prepared a spicy mustard marinade to flavor this keto chicken recipe.

The flavor of spicy mustard, apple cider vinegar, Italian herbs, and a little heat kick from sriracha come together for a very tasty chicken recipe.

Ingredients Needed To Make A Spicy Spatchcock Mustard Chicken

The following are all the ingredients needed to make a keto spicy mustard spatchcock chicken. The full printable recipe card is at the very bottom of the page.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

• Large roasting chicken, allow to come to room temperature for best results.

Spicy Mustard Marinade

• Spicy brown mustard 
• Apple cider vinegar
• Olive oil
• Sea salt
• Black pepper
• Sriracha sauce, a couple of tablespoons, or 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Feel free to reduce it to a milder spice option.
• Cumin powder
• No-salt Italian seasoning

What Is Spatchcock Cooking?

Spatchcock, also known as shuttlecock, is a way to prepare poultry for roasting or grilling. The whole backbone of the chicken is removed, which allows for the chicken to lay flat in your roasting pan.

In essence, you’re butterflying the chicken for easy cooking. This technique results in a gorgeous chicken with crispier skin.

Reasons To Spatchcock A Chicken

Wondering why you should consider spatchcocking a whole chicken? There are many great reasons, the following are my favorite.

• What I love about spatchcocking chicken is that it allows the skin to be super crisp while still keeping the meat moist. Plus, you can cook the chicken in about half the time it takes to roast a whole bird. Juicy chicken is basically guaranteed.
• For one, it cuts the cooking time in half, which translates into a juicer bird. Less time in the oven means that your meat is less likely to dry out.
• Spatchcock is a simple technique that will get you in and out of your kitchen faster.
• Besides roasting a whole chicken in half the time, it makes a more elegant presentation and makes carving a chicken much easier.
• One of the benefits of cooking your chicken this way is the extra flavor. More of the chicken’s surface is exposed, allowing the marinade to really adhere to the chicken. Removing the breastbone allows for even baking.

How To Spatchcock Chicken

First, rinse your chicken with water and then pat dry with paper towels. Next, lay your chicken on a cutting board that can accommodate your whole bird.

Open the cavity of your chicken and remove the neck, gizzards, and heart. You can freeze these and use them when making chicken broth.

To spatchcock your chicken, carefully cut out both sides of the backbone of the chicken using a pair of kitchen shears.

The best way to do so is to find the backbone and cut along each side of the backbone. What you want is to separate it from the ribs. 

It’s key to cut as close as possible to the spine so as not to remove too much of the chicken meat.

Alternatively, you can remove the spine by cutting from the neck hole instead.

If you are having trouble removing the entire spine, it may help to rotate the chicken so that the tailbone is facing you and then cut through this end.

Don’t toss the backbone. Reserve the spine for the next time you make chicken stock. Trust me, you don’t want to miss out on the flavor the neck bones provide.

By removing the spine of your chicken, you can now flatten your bird easily and allow it to cook evenly.

I find that cutting a small incision to the cartilage on the back of the breastbone makes it easier to then press your chicken flat.

So cut the cartilage, then transfer your chicken bone side down unto the cutting board. Using both your hands, give a firm push to make the chicken lay flat.

Your chicken will now be ready to be marinated and baked.

Prepping And Seasoning Your Keto Spatchcock Chicken

One way I save time is by prepping my keto spatchcock chicken ahead of time so that I can have my chicken ready to roast when pressed for time.

This way, I can easily meal plan my keto meals for the week.

Prepare your marinade by mixing all the ingredients into a small bowl and combining well.

Once your chicken has been spatchcocked, you can easily baste the chicken with the marinade on both sides using a pastry brush, being sure to coat the chicken well.

Be careful not to tear the skin. You want the skin intact so that it can produce tasty, crispy skin and so that the marinade doesn’t dry out.

Before you place your chicken into the oven, make sure you tuck the wings underneath the bird to prevent them from overcooking.

At this time, you can either bake your chicken immediately or allow it to be marinated for up to 24 hours in your refrigerator.

After you learn how to spatchcock a chicken, you’ll be looking for other poultry to spatchcock.

Tools You’ll Need To Make A Spatchcock Chicken

The most important tool you’ll need when you want to spatchcock a chicken is a pair of good kitchen shears.

You want a sturdy pair that can handle cutting through the chicken easily. You can of course also use a sharp chef’s knife, but kitchen shears make for a much easier process.

I also recommend a meat thermometer so that the chicken is cooked properly.

• Rimmed Baking Sheet or large roasting pan
• Kitchen Shears or sharp chef knife.
• Large Cutting Board
• Meat Thermometer an instant-read thermometer

How Long Do You Cook A Spatchcock Chicken?

To cook your chicken, place the seasoned chicken on a large rimmed baking sheet, breast side up. Remember to tuck the wings underneath the chicken.

I like cooking spatchcock chicken in a preheated 450 F oven.  A 5-pound roasting chicken can take anywhere from 50-60 minutes to cook.

Be sure to allow the chicken to rest for about 10 minutes before serving so that the juices in the chicken do not escape.

How Do You Know When Spatchcock Chicken Is Done?

The simplest way to tell when your spatchcock chicken is ready is to use a meat thermometer.

Once the thermometer registers 165 degrees F in the thickest part of the chicken thigh, it’s safe to eat.

You do not want to overcook the chicken, as it will not be as juicy and flavorful.

Other Keto Whole Bird Recipes You Can Spatchcock

The following whole bird recipes can be spatchcocked with great success. Just keep in mind that the baking time will be reduced.

Keto Cuban Mojo Chicken

Keto Harissa Sumac Chicken

Keto Cuban Mojo Turkey

Keto Jerk Chicken

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Doing so is what encourages this girl to keep sharing and perfecting her recipes.

Consider visiting also visiting our Amazon Store for recommendations. You might be surprised by how many great keto options are at your disposal.

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