Chef John's Chicken Under a Brick

Recipesfull introduces to you: Chicken Recipes. (Chef John's Chicken Under a Brick). You should use a big cast iron pan for this, but it will also work in a high-quality, heavy-duty stainless steel pan, or other oven-proof skillet. The key is to heat it very well before the chicken goes in. Other than that, there's really no way to screw it up, unless you under or overcook it, which won't happen, since you're going to check it with the thermometer.

Brief

Prep 10 mins

Cook: 40 mins

Additional: 20 mins

Total: 1hr10 mins

Servings: 6

Yield: 1 whole chicken

Chef John's Chicken Under a Brick

Ingredients

1 (3 1/2) pound whole chicken

wings removed

salt and ground black pepper to taste

1 pinch herbes de Provence

or to taste

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

or as needed

2 heavy clay bricks

wrapped tightly in aluminum foil

Dinner

Directions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

Step 2

Use kitchen shears to cut down both sides of the backbone. Remove backbone and discard. Cut through breastbone from the inside until chicken folds out like a book and lays flat.

Step 3

Season chicken all over with salt and black pepper and sprinkle herbes de Provence on the inside. Let chicken sit for 20 to 30 minutes at room temperature; pat dry with paper towels. Brush skin-side of chicken with oil and season again with salt and black pepper.

Step 4

Heat an oven-proof cast iron skillet over high heat until very hot about 5 minutes. Place chicken skin-side down in hot skillet and place bricks evenly on top to weigh down chicken.

Step 5

Roast chicken in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove bricks turn chicken over and continue roasting until juices run clear and meat is no longer pink at the bone 5 to 15 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

Step 6

Preheat the oven's broiler and broil the chicken until skin is crispy and golden 1 to 3 minutes.

Nutritional Information

Chef John's Chicken Under a Brick

Servings Per Recipe:6

Calories: 302.9

% Daily Value *

Protein: 43.1g 86%

Fat: 13.3g 21%

Saturated Fat: 3.4g 17%

Cholesterol: 132.5mg 44%

Vitamin A Iu: 78.9IU 2%

Niacin Equivalents: 22mg 170%

Vitamin B6: 0.7mg 44%

Folate: 8.9mcg 2%

Calcium: 22.3mg 2%

Iron: 1.8mg 10%

Magnesium: 37.2mg 13%

Potassium: 361.7mg 10%

Sodium: 153.8mg 6%

Thiamin: 0.1mg 10%

Calories From Fat: 119.7

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

**Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-)Nutrition information is provided for reference only. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.