Butterfly chicken with lemon recipe

Butterflied Chicken with Lemon

prep time
cook time
total time
makes
8 servings

We can’t rave enough over our recipe for grilled butterflied chicken with lemon. Whole chickens are so much less expensive than buying chicken breasts, and while we think the picture speaks for itself, the results are moist and flavorful like nothing we’ve ever tasted.

The seasonings are simple and the caramelized lemon gives this dish a pop of brightness without being overwhelmingly citrusy. We also had a laugh to learn that butterflying a whole chicken is also referred to as ‘spatchcocking’ in the industry—hey, we never claimed to be the most mature bunch!

To ensure a juicy bird, make sure to let the chicken rest for a bit after you pull it from the grill. The resting period will complete the very last part of the cooking process while locking in all of the succulent flavors you expect from a perfectly-grilled chicken.

Butterflied Chicken with Lemon Recipe

what you'll need
  • 4 - 4 1/2 lb chicken, whole chicken
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • garlic powder
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 lemons, halved
Nutrition Facts
Butterflied Chicken with Lemon Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 242 Calories from Fat 63
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g 11%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.3g
Monounsaturated Fat 3g
Cholesterol 132mg 44%
Sodium 384mg 16%
Potassium 18mg 1%
Total Carbohydrates 1g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0.3g 1%
Sugars 0.3g
Protein 47g 94%
Vitamin C 9%
Calcium 0.3%
Iron 8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
let's do it
  1. Preheat outdoor grill to medium heat. Place chicken breast-side-down on cutting board. Remove backbone by cutting along both sides using a pair of sharp kitchen shears. Turn chicken skin-side-up then lay flat on cutting board. Press it firmly against the board to flatten the chicken.
  2. Pat chicken dry then rub skin side with olive oil, making sure to rub oil into all of the creases. Season generously on both sides with garlic powder, salt and pepper.
  3. Place chicken skin-side-down on grill and allow to cook undisturbed for 15–18 minutes until the skin is crispy, golden and well-marked. Turn chicken and continue grilling until the internal temperature in thickest part of thigh registers 150 degrees on a meat thermometer—about 20–30 minutes, depending on size of chicken.
  4. Remove chicken from grill then cover with foil. Allow chicken to rest, covered, for at least 10 minutes. Meanwhile, place lemon halves cut-side-down on grill and cook until they achieve grill marks and are well-caramelized.
  5. Carve chicken into pieces and serve hot with grilled lemon for squeezing.
One Last Thing

Butterflying the chicken allows the entire surface of chicken to come into contact with grill for even cooking!

Butterfly chicken with lemon recipe