Spatchcock roast chicken is a whole chicken with the backbone removed and flattened for even cooking. It’s dry-brined for extra flavour, roasted until crispy, and served with a grape pan sauce made from sautéed eschalots, garlic, wine, and stock. Juicy, crispy, and a little bit fancy.
Category
Dinner
Servings
4
Prep time
20 minutes
Cook time
40 minutes
Spatchcock roast chicken is a whole chicken with the backbone removed and flattened for even cooking. It’s dry-brined for extra flavour, roasted until crispy, and served with a grape pan sauce made from sautéed eschalots, garlic, wine, and stock. Juicy, crispy, and a little bit fancy.

Ingredients
- 1.6kg whole chicken
- coarse sea salt
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 4 eschalots, finely sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 cup seedless red grapes, halved
- ½ cup (125ml) dry white wine
- 400ml chicken stock
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
Directions
Remove backbone from chicken and carefully cut ribs out.
- Press down on the sternum to flatten out chicken.
- Rub chicken all over with coarse sea salt and place on a rack over a tray.
- Refrigerate chicken overnight to dry brine.
- Preheat the oven to 180C fan forced (200C conventional).
- Remove chicken from the fridge and dry off any liquid with a paper towel.
- Heat half the oil in a heavy based roasting tray or frying pan over medium high heat on the stovetop.
- Place chicken, skin side down in pan and press down with a protein press.
- Cook for 7-10 mins, then transfer to the oven for 25-30 mins, until the internal temperature reaches 65C.
- Transfer chicken to a resting rack.
- Place the roasting tray on the stovetop over medium heat.
- Add eschalots and garlic, cook for 4-5 minutes, until softened.
- Add grapes and wine, bring to a simmer and cook until almost absorbed.
- Pour in stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 8-10 mins, until thickened.
- Carve chicken and transfer to a serving platter. Spoon over grape sauce to serve.
Recipe notes
Prep this the day before so you can brine the chicken overnight.