Name: Spatchcocked Chicken with Sweet & Spicy BBQ Rub
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 105 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons chili powder; 4 teaspoons packed brown sugar; 1 tablespoon ground cumin; 1.5 teaspoons salt; 0.75 teaspoon smoked paprika; 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder; 0.25 teaspoon ground ginger; 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1 4- to 4 1/2-pound chicken

Spatchcocked Chicken with Sweet & Spicy BBQ Rub

5.0

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1 Review

In this whole grilled chicken recipe, the backbone is removed and the chicken is flattened then grilled under the weight of 2 bricks--which enables it to cook quickly and evenly. The homemade rub recipe makes enough to prepare 2 pounds of boneless chicken or 4 pounds of bone-in chicken, but you can easily double or triple the recipe and store the extra in an airtight container for up to 3 months so you can have it on hand throughout the grilling season.

By David Bonom

Updated on May 31, 2017

Cook Time:

15 mins

Additional Time:

1 hr 30 mins

Total Time:

1 hr 45 mins

Servings:

Yield:

6 servings

Nutrition Profile:

Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Healthy Aging Healthy Immunity High-Protein Low Carbohydrate Low-Calorie

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

2 tablespoons chili powder
4 teaspoons packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 ½ teaspoons salt
¾ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 4- to 4 1/2-pound chicken

Directions

To prepare rub: Combine chili powder, brown sugar, cumin, salt, paprika, garlic powder, ginger and cayenne in a small bowl.
To prepare chicken: Remove giblets from chicken and trim any excess skin and fat. Using kitchen shears, cut the chicken down one side of the backbone, through the ribs. Make an identical cut on the opposite side to remove the backbone completely; discard. Place the chicken cut-side down and flatten with the heel of your hand. Rub the dry rub mixture under the skin onto the breast meat and leg meat and rub a little on the skin. Let stand at room temperature for at least 10 minutes and up to 30 minutes.
To grill chicken: Place 2 foil-wrapped bricks on the grill rack. Preheat a gas grill to medium-high or build a two-zone fire (coals on one side of the grill) in a charcoal grill and let it burn down to medium-high heat (about 450 degrees F).
If using a gas grill, turn off one burner (leaving 1 to 2 burners lit, depending on your grill). Oil the grill rack (see Tip). Wearing oven mitts, remove the hot bricks and set the chicken on the rack, skin-side down, over the unlit portion of the grill. Place one brick on each half of the chicken, close the lid and grill until the skin is well marked and golden around the edges, 28 to 30 minutes. (If using a charcoal grill, add 10 coals after the first 30 minutes to maintain the heat.)
Wearing oven mitts, carefully remove the bricks. Using a large spatula, carefully turn the chicken over. Replace the bricks, close the lid and grill until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F, 28 to 30 minutes more. Transfer the chicken to a clean cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes before removing the skin and carving.

Tips

Make Ahead Tip: Store the rub, airtight, for up to 1 month.

Equipment: 2 bricks

Once the grill is heated, oil a folded paper towel, hold it with tongs and rub it over the hot rack right before placing the chicken on the grill.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

232	Calories
8g	Fat
5g	Carbs
33g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Serving Size 3-4 oz. chicken
Calories 232
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 5g	2%
Dietary Fiber 1g	5%
Total Sugars 3g
Added Sugars 3g	6%
Protein 33g	65%
Total Fat 8g	11%
Saturated Fat 2g	11%
Cholesterol 98mg	33%
Vitamin A 1032IU	21%
Vitamin C 0mg	0%
Folate 8mcg	2%
Sodium 755mg	33%
Calcium 36mg	3%
Iron 2mg	12%
Magnesium 33mg	8%
Potassium 336mg	7%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.