Cranberry Orange Spatchcock Chicken is sure to be a holiday favorite! With step-by-step instructions on how to spatchcock a chicken, this chicken recipe is easier than you think. Basted in a cranberry orange glaze, the chicken is juicy, loaded with flavor and perfect for the holidays!
This post and recipe is sponsored by Smart Chicken. All words and photographs are my own. Thank you so much for supporting the brands that make KJ & Company possible!
What Sets Smart Chicken Apart
Ok, listen up, if you’re purchasing chicken, it needs to be Smart Chicken! And that’s something that I don’t even have to be paid to say! My family and I have been using and cooking with Smart Chicken for YEARS. Literally: it’s all my Grandma and Mom will use, and now me! We can even go as far as saying that we have family friends who were farmers for Smart Chicken. I can remember watching my Mom in the kitchen unwrap the chicken with the classic blue packaging growing up, or my Grandma sharing with all of us when she found a grocery store when it went on sale. To say it’s a family favorite is an understatement.
So, what does set Smart Chicken apart? Let me tell you!
Air Chilled:
Did you know that other chicken companies submerge the chicken in a water bath solution to chill the meat? And that the meat absorbs 8-12% of that liquid? No thank you! Smart Chicken goes above and beyond to pay extra attention to detail by using a 100% Air-Chilled Process. That means the end result is a pure product that has exceptional taste, texture and quality without any yucky stuff added. You can read more about their process here!
No Antibiotics:
Want to know what else is great? NO antibiotics are ever added! Here’s what they have to say about the matter:
“Smart Chicken® has never changed its position on antibiotics; the company does not administer antibiotics to chickens that become Smart Chicken and never has. Antibiotics are simply not part of our equation for producing wholesome, high-quality chicken and, in line with that philosophy, all Smart Chicken products are USDA Process Verified no antibiotics ever.”
How great is that?! They have a wealth of knowledge if you want to read more about their commitments to creating the highest-quality products that they can.
All in all, Smart Chicken is the only way to go!
How to Spatchcock a Chicken
A spatchcock chicken: what in the world is it, you ask? Well, let me tell you! A spatchcock chicken is a whole chicken that has been butterflied by removing the back bone. This is done with a pair of sharp kitchen scissors – that’s all you need! Let’s walk through the steps:
- Unwrap the Smart Chicken Whole Chicken and pat dry with a paper towel and place on a cutting board.
- Flip the chicken over so that the back-side is up and the breast-side is down on the cutting board. Run your finger down the middle of the chicken to locate the back bone.
- Use a pair of sharp kitchen scissors to cut alongside both sides of the backbone to remove it completely. It can be discarded or saved and used to make homemade chicken stock if desired.
- Flip the chicken back over and try to lay as flat as possible. Use both hands to press down in the center of the chicken breasts to flatten the breast bone. You should hear a pop. This will allow the chicken to lay even more flat and butterflied.
See? That wasn’t so bad! As long as you have a sharp pair of scissors and give yourself a little bit of grace the first time around, it will be easier than you think to spatchcock a chicken.
Cranberry Orange Glaze
After the chicken has been spatchcocked (butterflied) it’s time for the glaze! Cranberry sauce is mixed together with orange zest, fresh rosemary and fresh thyme. Just the glaze alone smells like a holiday candle!
Season the chicken with salt and pepper and generously baste with the cranberry orange glaze. The fresh, comforting flavors of the glaze will infuse the chicken with wonderful flavor and help keep it nice and juicy.
How to Serve
One of the best things about this chicken recipe is that it can easily take center stage at a holiday table setting, or be perfect for a weeknight family dinner. It is very versatile and doesn’t disappoint either way! Consider it a hassle-free holiday show-stopper, or a fun dinner to set down on the table. Either way, it will fill your home with comfort and joy.
Looking for other recipes that use Smart Chicken? Check these out!
Chicken Parmesan Casserole
Lemon Herb Roasted Chicken
Chicken Alfredo
Recipe Video:
Cranberry Orange Spatchcock Chicken
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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- Total Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
Cranberry Orange Spatchcock Chicken is sure to be a holiday favorite! With step-by-step instructions on how to spatchcock a chicken, this chicken recipe is easier than you think. Basted in a cranberry orange glaze, the chicken is juicy, loaded with flavor and perfect for the holidays!
Ingredients
- 4–6 pound Smart Chicken Whole Chicken
- Salt and pepper
- 1 cup cranberry sauce
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 3 oranges, sliced into 1/4 inch slices
- 1 large onion, quartered
- 12 oz fresh cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Unwrap the Smart Chicken Whole Chicken and pat dry with a paper towel and place on a cutting board. Flip the chicken over so that the back-side is up and the breast-side is down on the cutting board. Run your finger down the middle of the chicken to locate the back bone. Use a pair of sharp kitchen scissors to cut alongside both sides of the backbone to remove it completely. It can be discarded or saved and used to make homemade chicken stock if desired.
- Flip the chicken back over and try to lay as flat as possible. Use both hands to press down in the center of the chicken breasts to flatten the breast bone. You should hear a pop. This will allow the chicken to lay even more flat and butterflied.
- In a small bowl, combine the cranberry sauce, orange zest, rosemary and thyme. Set aside 1/4 cup of the glaze for later use (not to be contaminated by raw chicken). Arrange the orange slices, onion and fresh cranberries on a baking sheet and drizzle with the olive oil.
- Place the spatchcocked chicken on top of the prepared baking sheet, season with salt and pepper and glaze with the prepared glaze, saving the 1/4 cup for later. Roast the chicken for 1 hour, 15 minutes, or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat reads 165 degrees.
- Use a clean baster to baste the chicken with the saved 1/4 cup glaze that was set aside. Carve and serve.
Notes
- If the chicken skin starts to cook too quickly, gently tent with foil to continue baking.
- Nutritional information for this recipe is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 610
Keywords: Cranberry Orange Spatchcock Chicken
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Affiliate Links
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Hi, I’m KJ!
Here you’ll find simple, delicious recipes for the home cook. I strive to make wholesome meals with easy-to-find ingredients that you feel comfortable making in your own kitchen—but I won’t shy away from a few indulgences! (I see you: butter, bacon, cookies!)
