grilled goat cheese and spinach stuffed spatchcock chicken
The stuffing keeps the grilled chicken moist and adds so much extra flavor to traditional grilled chicken. This dish presents beautifully for a special dinner for family and friends. Spatchcocking a chicken is so much easier than it sounds!
Blue Ribbon Recipe
The combination of spinach, goat cheese, and roasted sun-dried tomatoes stuffed into this grilled chicken is scrumptious. We loved the combination of tangy goat cheese, sweet sun-dried tomatoes, and earthy spinach. The whole chicken is juicy, cheesy, and filled with flavor. Brushing with sun-dried tomato oil and sprinkling with paprika gives the skin a nice golden color and crisps it. Since the chicken is spatchcocked, it makes for an impressive dish.
prep time
15 Min
cook time
1 Hr
method
Grill
yield
4 serving(s)
Ingredients
- 4 ounces sun-dried tomatoes in oil
- 6 ounces fresh baby spinach, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest, divided
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
- 3 pounds whole chicken
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 small lemons, quartered
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme for garnish
How To Make grilled goat cheese and spinach stuffed spatchcock chicken
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Step 1Prepare the grill to medium heat. Drain and chop the sun-dried tomatoes, reserving the drained oil. Use a paper towel to remove excess oil from the chopped tomatoes.
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Step 2In a medium bowl, combine the chopped sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, garlic, goat cheese, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, and thyme leaves.
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Step 3Spatchcock the chicken by using poultry shears to cut down both sides of the backbone and remove it. Open the chicken (like a book) and skin-side down, use a paring knife to gently cut out the breastbone and white cartilage.
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Step 4Turn the chicken back over and, starting at the neck, gently insert fingers under the skin and between the meat to loosen the skin over the breast and the top portions of the legs.
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Step 5Gently stuff and distribute equally the goat cheese and spinach mixture under the skin.
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Step 6Brush the reserved oil from the tomatoes over the chicken. Season all over with the salt, paprika, and pepper.
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Step 7Brush the vegetable oil over the grill grate. Place the chicken on the grill (cut side down first) and grill over direct heat for 20 minutes per side and the internal temperature inserted into the thickest portion of the thigh reaches 180 degrees F.
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Step 8Transfer the chicken to a serving platter. Sprinkle the chicken with the reserved lemon zest and garnish with the sprigs of fresh thyme. Serve with the quartered lemons to be squeezed on each serving.
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Nutrition Facts
(per serving*)
calories: 584 kcal, carbohydrates: 16 g, cholesterol: 136 mg, fat: 42 g, fiber: 5 g, protein: 39 g, saturated fat: 13 g, sodium: 912 mg, sugar: 2 g, unsaturated fat: 29 g
*Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Nutrition information is estimated.
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