Ingredients
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1 cup kosher salt or 1/2 cup table salt (for brine)
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1/2 cup sugar
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1 whole chicken (3 1/2 to 4 pounds)
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3 tablespoons garlic butter, for, placing, under, skin, optional
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2 1/2 lbs russet potatoes, peeled and sliced 1/4-inch thick (4 to 5 medium)
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vegetable oil cooking spray
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1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
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3/4 teaspoon salt (for potatoes)
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black pepper
Instructions
- Dissolve salt and sugar in 2 quarts cold water in large container.
- Immerse chicken and refrigerate until fully seasoned, minimum 1 hour, maximum 4 hours.
- If you're planning on cooking immediately adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 500 degrees.
- Line bottom of broiler pan with aluminum foil and spray with spray.
- Remove chicken from brine, rinse with water.
- Butterfly chicken, flatten breastbone and smeer on flavored butter.
- Place chicken on the top of the broiler pan.
- For the crispest skin the bird should be placed, uncovered in the fridge for 8 hrs or overnight, Toss potatoes with oil, salt, and pepper in medium bowl.
- Spread potatoes in even layer in foil-lined broiler pan bottom.
- Place broiler pan rack with chicken on top.
- Rub chicken with remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil and sprinkle with pepper.
- Roast chicken until spotty brown, about 20 minutes.
- Rotate pan and continue to roast until skin has crisped and turned deep brown-- 20-25 minutes longer.
- A thermometer should registers 160 degrees in thickest part of breast Transfer chicken to cutting board and tent with foil.
- Remove HOT broiler pan rack; soak up excess grease from potatoes with paper towels.
- Carefully peel back foil, using a metal spatula to help scrape potatoes off foil as needed.
- With additional paper towels, pat off remaining grease.
- Cut chicken into serving pieces and serve with potatoes.