If you love grilling, then you know there are several ways to cook a chicken. In this article, I’m going to show you how to cook a spatchcock chicken on a Pit Boss pellet grill. I’ll also share, my mistakes, and what I learned.
How to Cook A Spatchcock Chicken on a Pit Boss Pellet Grill
Clean the chicken, spatchcock the chicken, season it with your favorite seasoning. Pull the grill out and top it off with the right pellets, preheat it, and throw the chicken on the grates. Then sit back and let the grill do the work, while you monitor the internal temperature.
If you have a wi-fi meat thermometer, you don’t have to worry about sitting near the grill. You can go about doing other things, while the chicken cooks.
An instant-read thermometer will require a little more work on your part, but it still won’t require a lot of effort. So, here’s how to get started, but first, let’s look at what it is.
What Is a Spatchcock Chicken?
A spatchcock or spatchcocked chicken is a chicken with the backbone removed, which allows the chicken to lie flat. This allows the chicken to lay open like a book which makes it easier and quicker to cook thoroughly.
This post will further discuss the difference between spatchcock and normal chicken.
Spatchcock chicken is perfect for grilling, but it can also be baked or broiled. Unlike a whole chicken, it takes less time to cook a spatchcocked chicken, and it cooks more evenly.
Here’s how to cook chicken breast on a Pit Boss pellet grill in just 30 minutes.
Which results in juicier legs, thighs and breast. If you’re short on time and want to prepare a whole chicken, but don’t want to wait hours, consider spatchcocking it.
How to Spatchcock a Chicken
Cutting out the backbone of a chicken or spatchcocking may seem challenging, however, these tips will help you out. Simply follow these steps to prep your chicken before throwing it on the grill.
You will want to invest in some sharp kitchen shears that will be able to cut through the bone on a chicken. We use the Cutco kitchen shears, but these work just as good.
- Cut the bird. After washing the bird, place it on a large cutting board, breast side up and the cavity facing you. Grab your kitchen sears and cut a straight line from the tail end to the neck of the right side of the backbone.
- Repeat on the opposite side. Repeat the process by cutting from the tail to the neck on the left side of the chicken.
- Remove the backbone. Remove the chicken bone completely. You can either discard it, or save it and use it the next time you make chicken stock.
- Break the breastbone. Flip the bird over so the bones are on the cutting board and the breast side is facing up. Lay the bird flat, and press down on the breast with the heels of your hands, until the chicken is lying flat on the cutting board.
- Tuck the wings. Tuck the tips of the wings behind the shoulder to prevent them from burning before the legs have time to cook.
Congratulations! You’ve just spatchcocked a chicken! If you want to see the process of cooking and spatchcocking a chicken, watch this video tutorial.
Spatchcock Chicken on a Grill
Once you have spatchcocked the chicken, cooking it on a pellet grill, makes a wonderfully flavored chicken, especially, if you use the right pellets and set the perfect setting on the Pit Boss.
Even though this tutorial was written for the Pit Boss grill, the process is similar for any pellet grill, regardless of brand.
If you’re looking for a smoky flavor, I’d recommend smoking the chicken for 30 – 60 minutes and then increasing the temperature to 400 degrees. We opted not to smoke ours, and just cooked it at 400℉.
Spatchcock Seasoning
We used the Traeger Pork and Poultry seasoning, but if you don’t have any in your pantry, substitute it with any flavoring you like.
One of our favorite seasoning combinations we always use is kosher salt, pepper, and olive oil. Most people already have those ingredients in their kitchen pantry.
You can also opt for other seasonings such as McCormick chicken seasoning, or prepare your own. The great thing is you can season your spatchcock chicken with whatever you like.
Chicken goes great with just about any type of spices, herbs, and heat (paprika, black pepper, cayenne pepper). Here’s a great adobo seasoning you can try for your next grilled chicken.
For a more flavorful chicken, season it the night before, or at least 1-2 hours before grilling it. It will allow the meat to soak up the seasoning, which will make it more flavorful.
What Temperature to Smoke a Spatchcock?
Set your Pit Boss at 350 – 400 degrees. If you want the skin to be crispy, turn the pellet grill on high for at least 30 minutes before the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165℉.
How Long Does It Take to Cook A Spatchcock Chicken on A Pit Boss?
It will take about 45 – 60 minutes to cook. However, the time it takes can fluctuate depending on the grills temperature, and the weather.
That’s why it’s important to ensure you’re using a meat thermometer to help you monitor the internal temperature.
How to Put the Spatchcock Chicken on The Grill
Place the spatchcock chicken on the grates with the breast side facing up. Do you flip the spatchcock chicken? If you want the grill marks on the top of the chicken, you can flip the chicken after letting it cook for 20 minutes.
We opted not to flip the bird, and it came out just fine. It’s a personal choice on whether you flip the spatchcock chicken halfway through the cooking process.
Monitor the Temperature
Regardless of whether you flip the bird or not, it needs to continue cooking until the thickest part reaches an internal temperature of 165℉.
Remove the Chicken and Let It Rest
Once the chicken has finished cooking, remove it from the grill and let it rest for 10-15 minutes. Cover it lightly with aluminum foil, to prevent the heat from escaping.
After it’s done resting, carve it up and serve it with your favorite sides.
What to Serve With Spatchcock Chicken?
Chicken goes good with anything, that’s what makes it one of our family’s favorite dish.
If you’re having trouble coming up with a side dish, search the Internet. There are several cooking websites that will help you come up with some creative ideas on how to serve chicken.
What’re the Best Pellets for Spatchcock Chicken?
Fill your Pit Boss hopper with mild pellets such as; apple, cherry, or the competition blend. If you’re not using the Pit Boss pellets, opt for mild hardwood whenever cooking chicken.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this guide shows you how easy it is to cook a spatchcock chicken on a Pit Boss or any pellet grill. If you love grilling chicken, but hate how long it takes, consider spatchcocking your chicken.
It takes half the time than a whole chicken, and it cooks more evenly!
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