This Trader Joe's spatchcocked chicken made in the air fryer is easy and delicious. The pre-seasoned whole chicken is cooked until the skin is perfectly crispy and the meat is juicy and flavorful. It is ready in under an hour and you can pair it with any side you choose. It is a simple and delicious dinner.

The Trader Joe's Spatchcock lemon and rosemary chicken is a time saver. The chicken comes pre-seasoned and already flattened and butterflied, so the only thing you need to do is put it into the air fryer and serve 45 minutes later. Super easy! You can find it in the refrigerator section of your local store.

The chicken is marinated in a brine made of orange and lime juices, extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, garlic, rosemary, parsley, and lemon slices. Because the chicken is marinated, it is hard to dry it out, ensuring juicy and tender meat.

If you have an air fryer, you will have a delicious and easy dinner in no time. This lemon rosemary chicken is ideal in the air fryer because it takes less time to roast than a whole chicken and the results are perfect. Because the chicken is flattened it has more opportunity to be exposed to the hot circulating air, which ensures that the chicken is getting cooked evenly. In the end, you will have very crispy skin without drying out the meat. It's perfect.

How to make Trader Joe's spatchcocked chicken in air fryer

Open the package and carefully take the bird out. Don't forget to pull out lemon slices. Lay chicken in the air fryer basket breast side up. Push legs down a little bit if they stick out too much. A regular air fryer should fit one spatchcocked chicken in it with no problem.

Cook for about 45 minutes. Check the internal temperature every once in a while. The thickest part of the chicken (usually thigh or breast) should be at least 165 degrees when fully cooked. Stay away from the bone when checking the temperature because bones are much hotter than the meat.

How much does it cost

The price of the Trader Joe's Spatchcocked Lemon Rosemary Chicken depends on the store and how big the bird is. It is roughly $3.99 - $5.50 per pound, making each pack around $15. Trader Joe's is very affordable for most people, so even though this chicken is a little on the high side you get a whole preseasoned chicken out of the deal - which is a win in my book!

Is spatchcock a type of bird and what does it mean in cooking

Spatchcocking is not a type of bird, but a method for preparing chicken to be grilled or baked. If you are familiar with a 'butterflied' chicken breast, where you split the breast in half so it lays flat, spatchcocking is pretty similar.

In a spatchcock chicken, the backbone is removed allowing the whole chicken to lay flat. This way of cooking the chicken allows it to cook more evenly, and reduces the overall cooking time. It also allows the whole chicken to be fully submerged into whatever marinate you are using, which helps the meat to be even more flavorful.

How to bake Trader Joe's lemon rosemary chicken in the oven

If you don't have an air fryer and would rather use your oven to make the chicken, here's how.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Without rinsing off the marinade, place the chicken in a shallow baking dish skin side up with the lemon slices on top. Bake for 60 - 75 minutes or until the skin is well browned.

If are unsure if the meat is done, use a meat thermometer. Insert it into a thick part of the meat, you are looking for an internal temperature of at least 165F.

Recipe Notes and Tips

• Spatchcock is a method for preparing chicken where the backbone is removed. This allows the chicken to cook evenly.
• Cooking the Trader Joe's spatchcock chicken in the air fryer, ensures that the skin is brown and crispy while still keeping the meat inside tender and juicy, in a shorter amount of time.
• If you don't have an air fryer you can roast the chicken in the oven for 60 - 75 minutes.
• If you are unsure if the meat is completed cooked through, use a meat thermometer to check. Insert it into the thickest part of the meat away from the pan or air fryer basket. The minimum safe internal temperature for chicken is 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Side dishes

I like to serve any chicken dishes with rice or potatoes. Potatoes can be prepared in a variety of ways like boiled, mashed, roasted, you name it! Poultry is also delicious when served with green salad or any other green fresh vegetables. Healthy and dinner friendly.

You can go different route and make french fries in the oven or onion rings to serve with chicken. Kids would definitely love it.

Leftovers

Store leftovers in the air tight container or a bowl with a flat lid on in the fridge for up to 5 days. To reheat, place back in to your air fryer and reheat on 350 degrees for 3-4 minutes. You can also freeze chicken leftovers. Use a freezer safe bag or container and keep in the freezer for up to 6 months. If you seal the bag or container very well it can be in the freezer for even longer. Thaw in the fridge overnight.

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I hope you enjoy this recipe. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions and leave a star rating, if you tried it!