Roast

Spatchcocked Chicken with Maple-Glazed Squash

by:
January 24, 2019
3.5
2 Ratings
Spatchcocked Chicken with Maple-Glazed Squash
Photo by Rocky Luten
  • Prep time 45 minutes
  • Cook time 45 minutes
  • Serves 4 to 6
Author Notes

This simple sheet-pan recipe draws its inspiration from my time living and working in the southwest of France, where roast chicken is a staple. To enhance the flavors, I used an herby compound butter under the chicken's skin, roasted delicata squash (you can use any squash in season) in a maple glaze, and used the chicken's backbone to make a savory pan sauce. It not only makes a great Sunday supper, but is also an impressive dinner party dish you can prepare ahead of time. —Palak Patel

Test Kitchen Notes

This recipe is featured in the story, Roast Chicken Gets an Upgrade With 5 Clever Tricks, sponsored by BOU. —The Editors

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • For the glazed squash and chicken:
  • 2 medium delicata squash (about 4 pounds)
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided (2 tablespoons melted, 4 tablespoons softened)
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 2 BOU Vegetable cubes, divided
  • 1 teaspoon plus 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided (plus more to taste)
  • 1 (4 1/4-pound) whole chicken
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1-2 tablespoons neutral-flavored oil, such as canola or vegetable
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspon kosher salt, divided (plus more to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • For the sauce:
  • 1 tablespoon neutral-flavored oil, such as canola or vegetable
  • 1 BOU Vegetable cube
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into cubes
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Directions
  1. Cut the top off the squash and scoop out the seeds. Cut the squash into 1 1/2-inch-thick rounds. In a bowl, whisk together the 2 tablespoons melted butter, maple syrup, and 1 Bou cube. Toss the squash with the butter mixture. Arrange the squash on a baking sheet. (Optional: If you don’t want the squash to cook in the chicken fat, prepare the pan first with a wire rack.)
  2. Place your oven rack in the upper-middle position and preheat the oven to 450°F.
  3. Remove the spine from the chicken using a pair of sharp kitchen shears or a heavy knife. Then cut the spine into 1-inch-long pieces (there should be about 5 to 6 pieces total) and save for later. Place the chicken skin-side up on the cutting board and flatten it by applying firm pressure to the breastbone. For the most even cooking, allow the chicken to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before roasting.
  4. Meanwhile, make the flavored butter. In a small mixing bowl, combine 4 tablespoons softened unsalted butter and 1 Bou cube, along with the parsley, lemon juice, garlic, lemon zest, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1 pinch black pepper (about 1/8 teaspoon). Mash with a fork for a couple of minutes until the lemon juice is mostly incorporated into the butter. Spread the mixture under the chicken skin evenly.
  5. Drizzle the chicken with the neutral oil. In a small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon kosher salt, baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper. Sprinkle all over the chicken. (Adding baking powder will make the chicken skin extra crispy.) Place the chicken on top of the squash rounds.
  6. Roast the chicken for about 45 minutes in the oven, or until thickest part of the breast near the bone registers 150°F on an instant-read thermometer and the joint between the thighs and body registers at least 175°F. Don't over-bake or the breast will be dry. Keep in mind the internal temperature will rise another 5 to 10 degrees after it comes out of the oven.
  7. Meanwhile, make the pan sauce. Heat the oil in a small saucepan over high heat until shimmering. Add the chicken spine pieces you saved earlier and cook, stirring often, until they are well browned (about 3 minutes). Add the Bou cube and 1 cup water, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Reduce the heat to low to maintain a simmer and cook for about 20 minutes. Remove the reserved chicken spine pieces. Take the pan off the heat and whisk in the butter and lemon juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  8. Once the chicken reaches the correct temperatures, remove it from the oven and transfer to a cutting board. Tent the chicken loosely with foil, and allow it to rest 10 minutes before carving. Serve with the sauce and a simple cucumber salad, if you like.
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3 Reviews

alexisfromtexas
alexisfromtexas November 18, 2020
I took a lot of liberties with this recipe. As a solo diner, I used just 1/2 chicken breast on the bone with skin and 1 delicata squash. I skipped the compound butter to put under the skin, just sprinkled the breast with sea salt before putting uncovered in the refrigerator in the morning. At dinner time, I preheated the oven, prepared the squash and made the maple butter glaze with crushed red peppers so it wouldn't be so sweet. After seasoning the squash, I brushed them with the glaze, topped with the chicken and placed in the over. After 20 minutes, the skin was brown and starting to crisp. Only then did I add the maple glaze. I cooked for another 5 minutes before removing it. I let it rest for about 8 minutes before devouring. It was delicious and so easy. Thanks for the inspiration!
 
alexisfromtexas
alexisfromtexas November 18, 2020
I took a lot of liberties with this recipe and it was delicious. As a solo diner, I used a 1/2 chicken breast on the bone with skin. I salted the chicken in the morning and put in the refrigerator uncovered until cooking to dry out the skin. I used one delicata squash, cut as directed. For the glaze, I used equal amounts of butter and maple syrup, then added crushed red pepper flakes. After seasoning the squash in the baking dish, I added the glaze, then topped with the chicken. I didn't glaze the chicken until about 20 minutes in, for fear of burning the maple syrup. I cooked the chicken about another 5 minutes, then let it rest before eating. The skin was crispy, the meat was juicy and tender and the squash was delicious from the chicken fat and maple glaze.
 
NXL
NXL February 8, 2020
The compound butter under the skin, of course, made for very moist and delicious chicken. I found that the baking powder remained weirdly white on the skin and did not make the skin crispy.