Cutting a whole chicken is easy! Video tutorial on how to cut up a whole chicken! Save money and use the carcass for the homemade chicken stock! | natashaskitchen.com

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Cutting a whole chicken is easier than you think! Watch the video tutorial for how to cut a whole chicken and learn how to debone a chicken! You will save money and have a carcass left over for the most incredible chicken bone broth! It is absolutely worthwhile to buy a chicken and cut it yourself.

All you need to cut a whole chicken in a sharp knife, and a chicken of course (and don’t worry, you don’t have to go hunting. Every grocery store (except maybe the gas station) sells whole chickens. I would not recommend shopping for chickens at a gas station. lol.

Natasha Kravchuk standing in a kitchen with a cut up whole chicken in front of her

I love to buy the double packs at Costco – they are bigger (more meat!) and the best price I have found for organic whole chickens. I buy them, slice them up, just like in the video below, then seal and store the parts in the freezer until I need them.

Watch How to Cut a Whole Chicken:

How easy is that?! Did you know the fat lines in a chicken serve as a roadmap for where you should cut? You’ll be slicing up your chicken like a pro in no time! If you’re curious, this is the knife set that we use and love (Amazon affiliate link).

If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to our Youtube Channel and you will be the first to see our new recipes and tutorials!

How to Cut a Whole Chicken:

Here is a quick visual reference on how to debone a chicken.

DON’T WORRY! Our chicken was not harmed in the making of this video. She’s still running around happily and laying eggs. Our chickens are for eggs and Costco supplies our whole chickens for cooking. 😉

Cutting a whole chicken is easy! Video tutorial on how to cut up a whole chicken! Save money and use the carcass for the homemade chicken stock! | natashaskitchen.com

1 whole chicken yields 10 chicken pieces:

2 chicken breasts
2 chicken wings
2 drum sticks
2 thighs
1 back bone and 1 breast bone (used for homemade bone broth)

Cutting a whole chicken is easy! Video tutorial on how to cut up a whole chicken! Save money and use the carcass for the homemade chicken stock! | natashaskitchen.com

Print-Friendly Tutorial for How to Debone a Chicken:

Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

How to Cut Up a Whole Chicken (VIDEO)

4.93 from 41 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
Cutting a whole chicken is easy! Video tutorial on how to cut up a whole chicken! Save money and use the carcass for the homemade chicken stock! | natashaskitchen.com
Cutting a whole chicken is easier than you think! Learn how to cut a whole chicken and debone a chicken! You will save money and have a carcass left over for the most incredible chicken bone broth!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 10 pieces from a whole chicken
  • 1 whole chicken
  • 1 sharp knife

Instructions

  • Pat dry chicken with paper towel. Place chicken breast-side-up and first remove the whole legs (drumsticks with thighs attached). Make a slit just behind the drumstick separating the drumstick and the breast, just cutting through the skin to expose the meat underneath. Pull leg away from the chicken and pop hip bone out of it's socket just below the breast. Cut with a knife just past the joint, getting as much meat as possible including small meaty "oyster" section next to the tail.
  • To separate drum from thigh, cut along the fat line and you should cut right between the joints - if you feel resistance, shift your knife around until it slides through fairly easily.
  • Place breast side up with wings away from you. To remove the wings: feel for the joint then cut through the skin and through the joint (not the bone) - shift knife around slightly if you get resistance until it goes through easily. Pull wing up away from chicken for greater control while cutting.
  • To remove the chicken breast: Turn chicken on it's side and cut along fat line on the side of chicken carcass with kitchen shears, snipping right through the ribcage. To debone chicken breast, cut through center of the skin over the chicken breast - locate the breastbone and cut the chicken away from the bone with long strokes (not a sawing motion) and cut all the way down which should completely debone the chicken breast.
Course: How to
Cuisine: American
Keyword: How to Cut Up a Whole Chicken
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $

If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen

 

Did this tutorial give you any “AHA!” moments? If you’ve never given it a go, I hope you’re excited to cut your first chicken after watching this.

If you have any tutorial requests, let us know and we’ll do our best to get your burning cooking questions answered! 😉

P.S. Thank you so much for watching our videos and subscribing to our YouTube Cooking Channel (and clicking that bell icon for updates). Video is the most challenging and time intensive part of our blog (hands down!) but it is also the most rewarding because of you. Thank you for liking our videos on Youtube and commenting – we always love to hear from you!

A close up of a logo that says love Natasha in cursive

Cutting a whole chicken is easy! Video tutorial on how to cut up a whole chicken! Save money and use the carcass for the homemade chicken stock! | natashaskitchen.com

Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.

Read more posts by Natasha

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




Comments

  • Heather
    April 15, 2023

    Just saw the video for cutting up a whole chicken and I can’t wait to try it.
    Thank you for such great ideas and recipes!

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      April 15, 2023

      You’re welcome, Heather!

      Reply

As Featured On

Never Go "Hangry" Again!

Get weekly updates on new recipes, exclusive giveaways plus behind the scenes photos.