Be sure to read through and watch the video below.
If you’re looking to pull out all the stops for an impressive barbecue, this grilled whole chicken is the answer!
Most people, including myself, opt for something like grilled chicken thighs or souvlaki. But my friend Adam who is our “grill guru” showed me that cooking a whole chicken on the grill is not that much harder.
Here is what you can expect from this easy recipe: whole chicken that is flavor-packed and juicy + perfectly crispy skin!
Sure, you need a little bit more time to cook a whole chicken on the grill, but it takes three main steps.
Three steps to the best grilled whole chicken
Spatchcock Chicken Grill
Often times, cooking a whole chicken on the grill produces results that are less than exciting–overcooked and dry in some parts, or under-cooked in others. The answer? Spatchcock! We’ve talked about spatchcock chicken in detail before. It means to basically split or butterfly a chicken so that it is flattened. First, you’ll remove the backbone, then break breastbone by pressing down on the wings to flatten the bird. Spatchcock or butterflied chicken is ideal for grilling. By being able to lay the chicken flat on the grill, it easily chars and absorbs smoke’s flavor, and the skin will crisp up while the chicken remains nice and juicy on the inside. Some supermarkets actually sell whole chicken already butterflied, and you can also ask your butcher to do it for you.
The chicken marinade
Now, let’s talk flavor! It’s all in the magical Mediterranean-style marinade. For grilling a whole chicken, rather than a yogurt chicken marinade, I go for a garlic and citrus marinade with quality extra virgin olive oil and a combination of warm spices and bold herbs like oregano and thyme. The olive oil in the marinade plays a big role in imparting color and helping the chicken skin crisp up. Here’s what’s in the marinade (exact measurements in the print-friendly recipe below):
Extra virgin olive oil. I used Private Reserve Greek extra virgin olive oil. Juice and zest of 2 lemons. Dry oreganoFresh thyme CorianderPaprikaCuminBlack pepperCayenne pepper Garlic cloves. Fresh garlic cloves are best here. I used 12 garlic cloves, peeled and minced.
Tip: For best flavor, allow the chicken to marinate in the fridge for 2 to 4 hours before grilling.
How long does it take to grill whole chicken?
We used an outdoor gas grill for this recipe. Once spatchcocked, our grilled chicken will take about 45 minutes to 1 hour over indirect heat.
While the grill is heated to 400 degrees F, the burner (or burners) directly below the chicken will be turned off, the other burners surrounding it will be on. That’s what we mean by indirect heat here (be sure to watch the video below to see exactly how Adam places the chicken on the grill).
Why indirect heat? Grilling whole chicken over indirect heat is the secret to juicy, well-cooked chicken. The indirect heat essentially roasts the chicken to perfect doneness without dealing with flare-ups, burnt chicken skin, or underdone meat.
How to grill a whole chicken?
Remember to have already spatchcocked the chicken (as detailed earlier) or you can ask the butcher to do that bit for you! Then follow these steps (print-friendly recipe and video below):
- Season the chicken well. I like to salt the chicken first on all sides with kosher salt, and it’s important to get underneath the skin as well with some salt. TIP: You can even do this step one-night in advance and let the chicken air-chill in the fridge to allow the salt to season and tenderize the chicken.
- Marinade the chicken. Mix together the olive oil, lemon juice, spices, herbs, and loads of fresh garlic in a small bowl. Whisk to combine well. Apply the marinade particularly underneath the chicken skins and all over. Set the chicken in the fridge for 2 to 4 hours to allow the marinade a chance to impart flavor.
- Grill over indirect heat. Preheat gas grill to 400 degrees F (grates oiled). Place the chicken on the grill and turn off the burner or burners directly below it, leaving the burners around it on (so the chicken will grill over indirect heat). Grill for about 45 minutes to 1 hour or until the chicken’s internal temprature at the thickest part reaches 165 degrees F. You’ll see in the video below, my friend Adam uses a meat thermometer similar to this one (affiliate link). Tip: Check every 15 minutes, and if the chicken looks browned on one side, rotate it at about 90 angle. The side of the chicken closest to the direct heat will begin to brown quickly, rotation will allow for a more evenly browned skin.
- Allow the chicken to rest before serving. Remove the whole grilled chicken from the heat and allow it to sit for 10 minutes before slicing to serve. This will allow the juices to redistribute, making for a more succulent, juicy chicken.
What to serve along?
To me, the perfect accompaniment to this whole barbecue chicken is a bit of my whipped toum (garlic sauce) to dip; I’m not shy with my garlic! And there is no shortage of options for Mediterranean mezze, sides, and salads to complete this amazing barbecue me. I’ve made a few selections to get you started: Salads: Panzanella, Shirazi salad; lemony arugula salad Sides: Greek oven fries; asparagus with Mediterranean Salasa; or grilled vegetables! A couple more whole chicken recipes you might like: Roast Spatchcock Chicken , Easy Oven Roasted Whole Chicken, and Baked Cornish Game Hen. For all recipes, visit us here. JOIN MY FREE E-MAIL LIST HERE.
