Roast Chicken: compare the 2 variations
Time, effort, key ingredients, diets, nutrition and cleanup side by side, so you can pick the one that fits tonight.
Which should I make?
- Fastest Spatchcock Lemon PepperReady in 1 hr 10 min; the other takes 1 hr 50 min.
- Make it ahead Herb ButterSalt the chicken a day ahead and leave it uncovered in the fridge for even crisper skin.
- Dairy-free Spatchcock Lemon PepperThe only one that fits dairy-free, going by the ingredient lines.
Side by side
| Herb Butter | Spatchcock Lemon Pepper | |
|---|---|---|
| Total time | 1 hr 50 min | 1 hr 10 min |
| Prep | 20 min | 15 min |
| Level | Medium | Medium |
| Steps | 11 | 11 |
| Serves | 4 | 4 |
| Key ingredients | whole chicken, lemon and onion | whole chicken, lemons and garlic powder |
| Only in this one | onion, unsalted butter, garlic and fresh thyme leaves | garlic powder and onion powder |
| Dietary | ||
| Calories | 790 | 710 |
| Protein | 59 g | 58 g |
| Carbs | 5 g | 4 g |
| Fat | 59 g | 50 g |
| Cleanup | 4/5 2 things to wash | 4/5 2 things to wash |
| Kid helper | No | No |
Nutrition is per serving. Estimate from USDA FoodData Central; not medical or dietary advice. Dietary: Based on the ingredient list and estimated nutrition; check labels; not medical advice. Cleanup score: 5 means one thing to wash, 1 means six or more. We count pots, pans, bowls and appliances, not the knife, board and spoons.
How we pick
- Fastest: the shortest total time, at least 10 minutes ahead of the next.
- Easiest: the lowest level (easy, medium, hard), then at least 2 fewer steps.
- Lightest: the fewest estimated calories a serving, at least 15% and 40 calories under the next (only when two or more have an estimate).
- Kid helper: the variation where a child can do the biggest share of the steps (no knife, no heat), when that's not all of them equally.
- Least cleanup: the best cleanup score, a point ahead of the next.
- Make it ahead: the only variation whose notes say how to make it ahead.
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free or dairy-free: the variation that fits a diet the others don't, from the ingredient lines.
A pick needs a clear winner; close calls are left out.