Chef John’s Chicken Under a Brick

May 09, 2023May 9, 20230 1

Chef John's Chicken Under a Brick recipe

by The Chefin Main

Prep

10 min

Cook

30 min

Ready In

40 min

Level

Easy

Rating

Ingredients

	1 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

Nutrision Information

Servings Per Recipe

Calories

220

Sugar

Fat

14g

Chef John's Chicken Under a Brick is a classic recipe that has been enjoyed for generations. Flattening the chicken and cooking it under a brick is a technique that has its roots in Italian cuisine. The heavy bricks help to press the skin down onto the heat source, which results in perfectly crispy skin and evenly cooked meat. This recipe is a great way to jazz up your weekday meals, and it's a crowd-pleaser for entertaining guests too.

Instructions

1.	Remove the chicken's backbone using kitchen shears, then flatten the chicken by pressing down on the breast bone.
2.	Season the chicken with salt, black pepper, and herbes de Provence.
3.	Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
4.	Place the chicken skin-side down in the skillet and place the wrapped bricks on top of the chicken.
5.	Cook for about 15 minutes, then remove the bricks and flip the chicken over.
6.	Continue to cook the chicken, skin-side up, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, approximately 10-15 minutes.
7.	Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

PROS

Chef John’s Chicken Under a Brick recipe is a quick and easy way to cook a whole chicken.

The bricks help the chicken cook evenly, resulting in crispy and juicy meat.

This recipe is perfect for a family dinner or meal prep for the week.

CONS

One drawback of this recipe is that it requires the use of an oven-safe skillet and two heavy bricks, which may not be readily available in every kitchen.

Another potential con is that the chicken skin may stick to the skillet if the heat is too high or the skillet is not properly seasoned.

HEALTH & BENEFITS

Chicken is a great source of lean protein and is low in fat, making it a healthy choice for those watching their calorie intake.
The herbes de Provence in this recipe may have antioxidant properties and may also have anti-inflammatory benefits.