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Butterflied Chicken Italian-Style

If you’ve never been to Italy before I suggest you start cooking this recipe. You’ll feel like you’re in the old country in no time. This is a real hit with my wife and my girls.
Serves: 6
Prep Time: 30 min
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 min

Ingredients

Butterflied Chicken

1 whole chicken, 4 kg
4 tbsp butter, room temperature
4 tbsp basil, fresh, chopped
or
2 tsp basil, dried
3 cloves garlic, finely-chopped
4 tbsp Asiago cheese, grated
4 tbsp breadcrumbs
2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper, freshly ground

Sauce

2 cups chicken broth
1 tbsp lemon juice
kosher salt, to taste
black pepper, to taste

Food Safety

Before you start, wash all surfaces and your hands with soap and warm water, and remember to wash your hands, utensils and cutting boards after they touch raw meat or eggs. Avoid cross-contamination by using a different cutting board for your meat and other ingredients. Make sure you’re cooking to safe temperatures and chilling any leftovers within two hours. For more food safety tips, visit our Food Safety at Home Section.

Steps

  1. In a bowl, combine the butter, basil and garlic. Season with salt and black pepper. Set aside.

  2. In separate bowl, combine the Asiago and breadcrumbs. Set aside.

  3. Using kitchen shears or using a chef’s knife, cut through the back along one side of the backbone. Repeat with other side.

  4. Turn the chicken over, open it and press to flatten. Using care gently work your fingers under the skin of the breast and legs, loosening it without tearing. Pat the chicken dry and spread ¾ of the butter mixture evenly under the skin.

  5. Rub the chicken with the remaining butter. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with the Asiago and breadcrumb mixture pressing down so it adheres to chicken.

  6. Place the chicken on a cookie sheet with a wire rack. Roast in 180° C (350º F) preheated oven for about 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a thermometer reads 78° C (170º F) when inserted into the thigh.

  7. Remove chicken when done and allow to rest for 10 to 15 minutes.

  8. Meanwhile prepare the sauce; deglaze the roasting pan with the stock scraping the bottom of the pan to free up any brown bits.

  9. Pour into a small saucepan, bring to a boil and reduce by half.

  10. At the end of the reduction add the lemon juice and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes. Strain into a sauceboat, adjust seasoning as desired and serve with roasted chicken.

Helpful Tip

If the thermometer touches the bone it will record a higher temperature as the bone is inclined to be hotter than the meat.

Nutrition Info

Per 770 g serving Amount
Calories910
Protein146 g
Fat30 g
Saturated Fat11 g
Carbohydrate5 g
Sugar1 g
Cholesterol490 mg
Sodium1310 mg
Per 770 g serving % Daily Value
Potassium47
Calcium15
Iron35
Vitamin A15
Vitamin C30
Vitamin B6161
Vitamin B12128
Folate24
Zinc116