This recipe is the opposite of ambitious — it’s not lazy or uninspired, it’s just resourcefulness at its best. This Roasted Cilantro Chile Lime Spatchcock Chicken recipe came about because I wanted a super simple, quick-ish way to roast a whole chicken (thank you, spatchcocking) with flavors that could go with all my favorite foods (hello there, Cilantro Rice or Mango Feta Avocado Salad). So, here it is: a recipe I roast when it’s cooler out, grill when it’s hot, and keep on hand for pretty much any and all occasions where too ambitious just isn’t needed.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
If you are craving a typical home cooked dinner but in the middle of summer, you wouldn’t normally think of chicken first, but this cilantro chile lime chicken is something different that will hit just the right spot.
Recipe Ingredients
These are the ingredients that you’ll need to make this recipe:
- Chicken
- Serrano chiles
- Garlic cloves
- Freshly squeezed lime juice
- Finely grated lime zest
- Kosher salt
- Olive or coconut oil
- Fresh cilantro leaves
How To Make This Recipe
These are the instructions that you’ll need to follow to make this recipe:
- Prepare The Oven: Heat oven to 400°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Remove necks and any innards from the cavities and discard.
- Spatchcock The Chicken: To spatchcock, use a sharp pair of poultry shears or kitchen scissors to cut along the backbone; remove and discard. Score along the breastbone then flip chicken, placing it breast-side up, and pressing down to flatten until it is lying completely flat.
- Season The Chicken: Combine half of the lime zest with remaining ingredients in a small bowl and mix until evenly combined. Season and adjust flavor as desired. Loosen the skin from the breast and legs of the chicken and, using your clean hands, spread the mixture underneath. Rub the remaining mixture all over the outside of the chicken. Set aside while oven heats up.
- Roast The Chicken: Drizzle a few spoonfuls of the oil into a large cast iron pan, roasting pan, or baking dish and rotate to coat the bottom. Lay chicken breast-side down then roast until breast is golden brown and opaque. Remove from oven, carefully flip, then continue to roast, basting every few minutes, until thigh juices run clear and an instant read thermometer inserted into the thigh registers 165°F.
- Set chicken aside and rest 5 to 10 minutes before carving. Serve garnished with remaining lime zest, cilantro, and with pan juices spooned over the top.
Now, go stock up on all your cooking essentials, then head into the kitchen, make this, and share it with us by tagging @saltandwind and #swsociety on social!
Roasted Cilantro Chile Lime Spatchcock Chicken Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 (5 pound) chicken
- 5 medium serrano chiles seeded and minced
- 5 medium garlic cloves grated or minced
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 1/2 tablespoons finely grated lime zest divided plus more limes for garnish
- 5 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons olive or coconut oil plus more for drizzling
- Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare The Oven: Heat oven to 400°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Remove necks and any innards from the cavities and discard.
- Spatchcock The Chicken: To spatchcock, use a sharp pair of poultry shears or kitchen scissors to cut along the backbone; remove and discard. Score along the breastbone then flip chicken, placing it breast-side up, and pressing down to flatten until it is lying completely flat.
- Season The Chicken: Combine half of the lime zest with remaining ingredients in a small bowl and mix until evenly combined. Season and adjust flavor as desired. Loosen the skin from the breast and legs of the chicken and, using your clean hands, spread the mixture underneath. Rub the remaining mixture all over the outside of the chicken. Set aside while oven heats up, at least 20 minutes.
- Roast The Chicken: Drizzle a few spoonfuls of the oil into a large cast iron pan, roasting pan, or baking dish and rotate to coat the bottom. Lay chicken breast-side down then roast until breast is golden brown and opaque, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven, carefully flip, then continue to roast, basting every few minutes, until thigh juices run clear and an instant read thermometer inserted into the thigh registers 165°F, about 15 to 20 minutes more (about 45 to 50 minutes total).
- Set chicken aside and rest 5 to 10 minutes before carving. Serve garnished with remaining lime zest, cilantro, and with pan juices spooned over the top.
