Spatchcock Chicken

nola saints smoker · Mar 26, 2010

I want to cook a spatchcock chicken tomorrow, however there are so many posts with different grill temps. I want a chicken that is juicy and tender, so it seems like the slow and low method would not work. I've seen posts that show 240* for 4 hrs and some that show 350 for an hour. Which temp is correct?

5lakes · Mar 26, 2010

Hi,

When I do mine, I put the rub under the skin then drape bacon over it. Cook it around the 240 mark and it comes out incredibly moist.

Jerry

mballi3011 · Mar 26, 2010

Ok do you have to spatchcock your bird or do you just want to do it. Now if you just leave the bird alone and smoke it whole I would smoke it at about 295-310 or so and then pull it around 165° (in the breast) and you will have a done and very juice bird. I do them all the time here. But if you want to spatchcock the bird them someone else will have to tell you how cause I haven't done one yet. Now cutting the backbone out of a bird usually a turkey is for when it's too big (over 12lbs) to get to the safe cooking temp rule of: 40° to 140° in four hours.

txbbqman · Mar 26, 2010

I generally Smoke mine around the 240* range, not sure how long it takes...never really paid attention. You want to get it to 165* internal.

Some times smoking them slow and low will give you a skin that is rubbery,
to fix that problem I throw mine on the gas grill for 10-15 minutes and it will crisp the skin right up

Good Luck and let us know how it turns out

nola saints smoker · Mar 27, 2010

First time butterflying a chicken Removed the backbone and the cartilage that seperates the breast. Can't remember the name. Rubbed it down wit a little EVOO and seasoned the bird with Adreneline chicken seasoning. Also added a couple pats of butter under the chicken to keep it from drying out. Put in the fridge for a few hours and will be smoking later today. Hopefully it will come out tender and juicy.

rbranstner · Mar 27, 2010

That would be the spatchcock method. I have yet to do one but really want to try it with that method.

pineywoods · Mar 27, 2010

I don't find that I have moisture problems going low and slow at 225 or hot and fast at 325 what I find is a difference in the amount of smoke it takes in and the way the skin comes out. Low and slow tends to give the most smoke flavor but the skin usually comes out kind of like rubber. Hot and fast the smoke flavor is not quite as much but the skin comes out crisp. I do usually brine my poultry but I have draped bacon over the breasts a few times. I have also just smoked the bird after just a rinse and dry then rub. Personally I find the brined birds to be the juiciest but I wouldn't say any of them have been dry.

nola saints smoker · Mar 27, 2010

The weather is nice here in south Louisiana (about 75*) so I may do the low and slow approach. I may crank the temps to 275* just to try and get the skin a little on the crispy side.

nola saints smoker · Mar 28, 2010

Here are a few pictures from my first Spatchcock chicken. It took about 1:45 min to get the breast to 170. The legs and thighs were just right. Overall, it was a successful cook. Looking forward to more smoking.

chefrob · Mar 28, 2010

nice job!!!!!!!!

mballi3011 · Mar 28, 2010

Now your bird looks great and I bet it tasted good too.

tjohnson · Mar 31, 2010

I love grilled chicken

Looks awesome!

Todd

caveman · Mar 31, 2010

What temp did smoke yours? I am having some vegetarians over on the 11th of April & they want chicken. I was going to do the same thing. Your chicken looks great. Thx for the view. But what was the temp, please?

nola saints smoker · Mar 31, 2010

Caveman, I smoked the chicken at 275 until the breast temp was 170. I would have liked to get the temp to 250 but still learning how to regulate the temps on my KEG.

birdman · Apr 4, 2010

I'm doing 2 birds today and gonna try spatchcock method for the first time. Do you cook breast down for awhile then flip or just lay it on breast up and leave it till done? Good looking bird BTW!!

miamirick · Apr 4, 2010

Heres one i did a couple months ago

caveman · Apr 4, 2010

Thanks. I am sure you will get it with enough practice. The bird looks good.

wingrider1 · Apr 11, 2010

Looking good,,,,my to do list is getting longer.

njsmoker83 · Apr 12, 2010

I made one two weeks ago, got temp to 170 and it was pink inside, which im learning is not unusual. My wife wouldnt touch it cause she thought she was going to get sick.

schaydu · Apr 12, 2010

thanks for all the info. i am actually in the process of brining my chicken as i type. I spatchcocked mine as well, and i was going to do cook it at 300+ but i have changed my mind now. i reckon now i will try to cook it at 250 or so. how long did it take it take for it to cook?

Spatchcock Chicken

Smoke Blower

Meat Mopper

Gone but not forgotten. RIP

Smoking Fanatic

Smoke Blower

Smoking Guru

SMF Hall of Fame Pitmaster

Smoke Blower

Smoke Blower

Master of the Pit

Gone but not forgotten. RIP

Smoking Guru

Master of the Pit

Smoke Blower

Newbie

Master of the Pit

Master of the Pit

Smoke Blower

Meat Mopper

Meat Mopper

Similar threads

Hot Threads