How to Make Chef John's Chicken Under a Brick - A Step-by-Step Guide

There are few dishes that showcase the simplicity and elegance of Italian cuisine quite like Chicken Under a Brick. This old-world cooking method results in a perfectly crispy, juicy bird with golden brown skin and tender meat. The technique involves pressing a seasoned whole chicken flat on the grill or in a cast-iron skillet with a heavy weight (such as a brick), creating a delicious sear and ensuring even cooking.

Chef John's twist on this classic dish adds a flavorful marinade and...

Read more

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

Information

  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 40 mins
  • Additional Time: 20 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins
  • Servings: 6
  • Yield: 1 whole chicken

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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).
  • Preheat the oven's broiler and broil the chicken until skin is crispy and golden, 1 to 3 minutes.
  • Nutrition

    303 cal.

    • Total Fat: 13g
    • Saturated Fat: 3g
    • Cholesterol: 133mg
    • Sodium: 154mg
    • Protein: 43g
    • Calcium: 22mg
    • Iron: 2mg
    • Potassium: 362mg