GRILLED CHICKEN UNDER A BRICK

Top-Shelf Chicken Under a Brick (Grill Method)

Hands-on Time Total Time Yield

45 Mins 1 Hour 50 Mins Makes 4 servings

By SOUTHERN LIVING December 2018

Crispy chicken and cast-iron skillet potatoes work together in this juicy brick chicken recipe that’s perfect for weeknight dinners and supper club, alike. Using the weight of a cast-iron skillet filled with potatoes, the dish uses a “chicken under a brick” technique to push the chicken flat against your hot grill grates. This method not only cuts your cooking time in half, but it also helps sear in the chicken’s flavor and juices while creating a perfectly brown, crispy skin. Better yet, there’s no juggling three pans on the stove while the chicken is on the grill with this recipe. Your side dish will cook at the same time. Now that just might give new meaning to the phrase, “two birds, one stone,”.

   Ingredients

1 pound small red or Yukon gold potatoes, halved

3 teaspoons kosher salt, divided

How to Make It

Step 1 Bring potatoes, 1 tsp. salt, and water to cover to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer 5 to 7 minutes or until potatoes are just tender. Drain.

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 1 (3- to 4-lb.) whole chicken

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided

2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

12 fresh herb sprigs (such as thyme, rosemary, sage, or tarragon)

2 lemons, halved

Step 2 Heat 1 side of grill to 300° to 350° (medium) heat; leave other side unlit. Remove and discard giblets and neck from chicken. Place chicken, breast side down, on a cutting board. Cut chicken, using kitchen shears, along both sides of backbone, separating backbone from chicken; discard backbone. Open chicken as you would a book. Turn chicken, breast side up, and press firmly against breastbone with the heel of your hand until bone cracks. Tuck wing tips under. Rub with 1 Tbsp. oil. Sprinkle chicken with black pepper and remaining 2 tsp. salt

Step 3 Heat a 12-inch cast- iron skillet on lit side of grill 10 minutes. Add remaining 1 Tbsp. oil to hot skillet; place potatoes, cut side down, in skillet. Transfer skillet to unlit side of grill.

Step 4 Place chicken, breast side down, over lit side of grill; top with herbs. Place cast-iron skillet with potatoes on chicken to flatten. Grill, covered with grill lid, 10 to 15 minutes or until chicken is browned. Remove skillet. Transfer chicken to unlit side of grill. Place cast-iron skillet on chicken. Grill, covered with

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grill lid, 45 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted in thickest portion of breast registers 165°. Remove chicken from grill, and let stand 5 minutes. (For crisper skin, place chicken on lit side of grill, and grill, without grill lid, 5 minutes or until crisp.)

Step 5 Meanwhile, place lemons, cut side down, on lit side of grill, and grill, covered with grill lid, about 5 minutes or until charred and softened. Serve chicken with potatoes and charred lemon.