Baked Spatchcock Chicken (Roasted Butterflied Chicken)

This one-pan baked spatchcock chicken is made with potatoes, baby zucchini, and Egyptian magic red sauce! If you’ve never tried roasted butterflied chicken, it’s so easy to make. This roasted one-pan chicken dish is tender, juicy, and perfect for a weeknight meal.

We normally make some rice to go along with this dish, however, it can be eaten as is (like I did when making this exact meal today). The Egyptian magic red sauce with roasted chicken is finger-licking good.

The chickens in Abu Dhabi are smaller than in the US, so I’ve included a few adjustments for larger chickens in the recipe card.

How to Spatchcock (Butterfly) A Whole Chicken

It’s very easy to spatchcock a chicken. All you need are some good kitchen shears or a sharp knife. I’m using kitchen shears in the picture below to spatchcock the chicken.

1. Turn the chicken over with the backbone on top.
2. Cut on either side of the backbone.
3. Flip the chicken back over and press the breast down to flatten out.

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Ingredients You’ll Need

• Whole Chicken: If you are planning to make this roasted spatchcock chicken, buy a whole chicken. You can also make this dish with a whole chicken already cut up into individual pieces. I’ve also made this dish with chicken thighs, chicken breasts, and chicken legs. I prefer to have the skin on (for that extra crisp at the end), but all of these options are just fine. As the chicken slowly cooks in the red sauce, the flavors will blend together in an amazing way.
• Egyptian Magic Red Sauce: This red sauce is made from fresh tomatoes, onions, garlic, olive oil, and salt. It doesn’t take very long to make, and it’s freezer friendly. I always have a batch in the freezer on hand to make Bamia or this chicken and potatoes a one-pan meal.
• Potatoes: I use golden potatoes, Yukon potatoes, russet potatoes, or any other type of white potato.
• Baby Zucchini: In the Middle East the word for this is cousa. In Abu Dhabi, they call it marrow. I don’t know what it’s really called in the US, to be honest. If all you can find is a regular zucchini, that will work too.

What Is a Spatchcocked Chicken?

A spatchcocked chicken is a whole chicken that is butterflied flat. The whole chicken is one piece and takes less time to cook.

Tips for Roasted Butterflied Chicken

1. Make the Egyptian magic red sauce. This sauce is the main flavor for the roasted butterflied chicken meal. It’s quick to make, and a little goes a long way.
2. Slice the potatoes and zucchini thinly. This allows the vegetables to cook quickly as well as absorb more of the sauce flavor.
3. Use a dutch oven. My favorite dutch oven is made by Le Creuset, and I’ve had it for 10 years. I like that I can use the dutch oven on the stovetop and inside the oven with or without the lid.
4. Bake at 350 ℉ (175 ℃) covered. Add the spatchcocked chicken to the vegetables, cover the dutch oven, and place it in the oven. The cook time will vary depending on the size of the chicken.
5. Roast uncovered at 400 ℉ (200 ℃). Once the chicken and vegetables have cooked, roast uncovered to crispen up the chicken.
6. Add 1/2 cup of water or chicken broth. I add a little bit of liquid to the pot before covering and sticking it in the oven. This makes sure that nothing dries out.

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Try These Side Dishes

• Lebanese Vermicelli Rice in an Instant Pot
• Shredded Cabbage Salad
• Killer Fatoush Salad
• Tabouli with Quinoa

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