Grilled Whole Chicken

1. Prepare the Chicken

Using poultry shears or a sharp knife, carefully remove the backbone from the chicken. Press down on the breastbone until the chicken lies flat.

2. Season the Chicken

Brush the entire chicken generously with olive oil. Season the chicken liberally with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Optionally, marinate the chicken with fresh herbs, grated lemon zest, and crushed coriander seeds. Place the chicken in the refrigerator to rest overnight.

3. Prepare for Grilling

An hour before grilling, take the chicken out of the refrigerator to reach room temperature. Prepare the grill by lighting the coals until they are medium-hot and covered with white ash. Set the grill grate about 5 or 6 inches above the coals.

4. Grilling the Chicken - First Side

Place the chicken on the grill, bone side down, and grill for about 10 to 15 minutes until the bone side is nicely browned.

5. Grilling the Chicken - Second Side

Turn the chicken over and continue grilling for another 10 to 15 minutes, allowing the skin to become brown and crispy.

6. Finish Grilling

Keep grilling and turning the chicken every 5 minutes for an additional 30 to 40 minutes, using tongs to handle it carefully. Check for doneness by slicing into the thigh; the juices should run clear. Move the chicken to a cooler part of the grill if it cooks too quickly.

7. Rest and Serve

Once perfectly grilled, let the chicken rest for about 10 minutes before serving. Optionally, brush your favorite sauce on the chicken about 10 minutes before it finishes grilling.