The Best Lemon Garlic Chicken
About this recipe
Get ready for a delicious twist on a classic dish with this Lemon Garlic Chicken recipe from Sam the Cooking Guy. This version not only features a flavorful lemon garlic butter that infuses the chicken with zest and aroma, but it also comes with a fun surprise: crispy potato balls made from leftover mashed potatoes!
The spatchcocking technique ensures that the chicken cooks evenly and stays juicy, while the addition of soy paste in the butter mixture adds a unique umami flavor that elevates the dish. It's a simple yet impressive meal that’s perfect for any occasion.
Ingredient notes
- Use a whole chicken for the best results.
- For the butter mixture, make sure the butter is softened to avoid difficulty mixing in the other ingredients.
- Leftover instant mashed potatoes work great for the potato balls.
Tips from SAM THE COOKING GUY’s video
- Spatchcocking the chicken allows for even cooking and a crispy skin, so don't skip this step!
- When zesting the lemon, use a microplane to get the most flavor from the skin.
- Mix the butter mixture well to ensure all the flavors are incorporated before coating the chicken.
Good to know
- How long does it take to make this Lemon Garlic Chicken?
- The total time for this recipe is 1 hour.
- What is spatchcocking and why is it used?
- Spatchcocking involves removing the backbone of the chicken so it lays flat, allowing for even cooking.
- What can I use instead of soy paste?
- The video does not mention any specific substitutes for soy paste.
- How do I prepare the potato balls?
- Form the seasoned mashed potatoes into small balls, dip them in egg, and coat with corn flake crumbs before deep frying.
No life story here — the video and the recipe are the whole point. All credit to SAM THE COOKING GUY: watch the original on YouTube.
The recipe
Ingredients
Steps
- 1
Start by making the lemon garlic butter. In a bowl, combine softened butter, minced garlic, thyme, rosemary, kosher salt, pepper, and chopped parsley.
- 2
Zest the lemon and add the zest to the butter mixture. Mix well to combine all ingredients.
- 3
Prepare the chicken by spatchcocking it. This involves removing the backbone so the chicken lays flat for even cooking.
- 4
Season the chicken with the lemon garlic butter mixture, ensuring it is well coated.
- 5
Preheat the oven and prepare a cast iron pan for baking the chicken.
- 6
Bake the chicken until fully cooked and golden brown.
- 7
While the chicken is baking, prepare the mashed potatoes. Use leftover instant mashed potatoes and season with garlic powder, salt, pepper, and parsley.
- 8
Form the seasoned mashed potatoes into small balls or tots.
- 9
Set up a breading station with eggs and corn flake crumbs. Dip the potato balls in egg and then coat with corn flake crumbs.
- 10
Deep fry the potato balls until golden brown and crispy.
- 11
Serve the baked chicken alongside the crispy potato balls.
Heads up — we had to guess a little:
- The quantity of garlic cloves was inferred based on typical usage for flavor.
Credit where it’s due: this recipe was transcribed from SAM THE COOKING GUY’s original video on YouTube. Follow them there — it’s their dish.
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