At the time I am writing this, the prices of meat are skyrocketing. One thing to save money is to buy a whole chicken and cut it into 8 pieces.
Cutting up a whole chicken into 8 pieces isn’t something to be intimidated by. It is an ingenious way to save money, and with consistent practice, it will only take you a few minutes.
Eddie’s Tip! You will end up with 2 breasts, 2 thighs, 2 drumsticks, and 2 wings.
This article will cover the step-by-step procedure of cutting a whole chicken into eight pieces.
So, let’s jump right into it.
How Do You Cut a Chicken Into 8 Pieces?
Except when you are roasting or grilling the whole chicken at once, you’ll need to cut it into separate parts before you cook it.
What Do You Need?
Before cutting the chicken, here is a list of things you will need.
- The Chicken (of course, LOL!)
- Cutting Board
- Sharp Knives
- A pair of scissors
6 Steps To Cut A Whole Chicken Into 8 Pieces
Below are the six steps you need to cut a whole chicken into eight pieces. Remember to do it in a food-safe way. (1)
Step 1: Lay the Chicken on a Cutting board
Lay the bird on its back with the drumsticks facing you to see where the joints meet the breast.
In this first step, we will tackle the legs. Grab the first drumstick and make a little slice across the skin where you can see the joint is attached. Cut in between the joints till the leg is detached. Repeat for the second leg.
Step 2: Detach the Thighs from the Drumsticks
Take each leg and place it on the cutting board, skin-side down. Find where the drumstick and things are connected using your hands and knife to feel for the ball joint.
You will cut the drumsticks and the thigh in half, right behind the fat line closest to the drumstick.
You can also keep them attached and use them for my grilled chicken leg quarters recipe.
Step 3: Detach The Wings
Turn the chicken on its side to cut off its wings. Wiggle each wing to determine where the joint attaches to the leg, then make a small cut on each side so you can easily pop the wing out.
Use a sharp knife to cut through the ball joint where the wings meet the leg.
Step 4: Remove The Backbone
Use your scissors to cut down the backbone. Start at the head and cut through the rib cage on each side of the spine. This is just a bonus piece that you can use later on for chicken stock.
Step 5: Cut Right Through The Breastbone.
To get the breasts, follow the fat layer along the inner ribcage. After a few long slices, you should be able to use your hands to pull the breast apart.
You should follow the line along the rib cage to get as much meat as possible.
Step 6: Divide The Breasts
Cut the breast into two halves. You may have to use force to cut through the breastbone and cartilage down the center of the breast.
While you may decide to have the chicken cut at the grocery store, this is a better option for you and saves money.
You also end up with the backbone to make chicken stock
How To Cut A Whole Chicken Into 8 Pieces Video
I can type a lot more words to explain how to cut a chicken into 8 pieces, but a video of the whole process makes it so much easier to understand.
How To Cut Up A Whole Chicken In 8 Pieces
Equipment
- 1 Cutting Board
- 1 Knife
- 1 Poultry Scissors Optional
Instructions
- Step 1: Lay the Chicken on a Cutting board
- Step 2: Detach the Thighs from the Drumsticks
- Step 3: Detach The Wings
- Step 4: Remove The Backbone
- Step 5: Cut Right Through The Breastbone.
- Step 6: Divide The Breasts
Video
Notes
6 Steps To Cut A Whole Chicken Into 8 Pieces
Below are the six steps you need to cut a whole chicken into eight pieces. Remember to do it in a food-safe way. (1)Step 1: Lay the Chicken on a Cutting board
Lay the bird on its back with the drumsticks facing you to see where the joints meet the breast.In this first step, we will tackle the legs. Grab the first drumstick and make a little slice across the skin where you can see the joint is attached. Cut in between the joints till the leg is detached. Repeat for the second leg.
Step 2: Detach the Thighs from the Drumsticks
Take each leg and place it on the cutting board, skin-side down. Find where the drumstick and things are connected using your hands and knife to feel for the ball joint. You will cut the drumsticks and the thigh in half, right behind the fat line closest to the drumstick. You can also keep them attached and use them for my grilled chicken leg quarters recipe.Step 3: Detach The Wings
Turn the chicken on its side to cut off its wings. Wiggle each wing to determine where the joint attaches to the leg, then make a small cut on each side so you can easily pop the wing out. Use a sharp knife to cut through the ball joint where the wings meet the leg.Step 4: Remove The Backbone
Use your scissors to cut down the backbone. Start at the head and cut through the rib cage on each side of the spine. This is just a bonus piece that you can use later on for chicken stock.Step 5: Cut Right Through The Breastbone.
To get the breasts, follow the fat layer along the inner ribcage. After a few long slices, you should be able to use your hands to pull the breast apart. You should follow the line along the rib cage to get as much meat as possible.Step 6: Divide The Breasts
Cut the breast into two halves. You may have to use force to cut through the breastbone and cartilage down the center of the breast. While you may decide to have the chicken cut at the grocery store, this is a better option for you and saves money.So, there you have it…
You have successfully learned how to cut up a whole chicken into 8 pieces. Your eight pieces should include:
- Two drumsticks
- Two Chicken Wings
- Two Chicken Thighs
- Two Pieces of Chicken Breast
Cutting Up A Whole Chicken In 8 Pieces – My Experience
I have done this many times, and it saved me a lot of money. Not only do you have the 8 pieces of chicken but also the rest to make chicken stock out of.
Sometimes, a whole chicken is for sale for a very affordable price compared to chicken breast or thighs.
In about 3 minutes or even less, you have eight pieces of chicken you can cook with whatever recipe you like.
Eddie’s Tip! I try to buy several whole chickens when they are on sale and cut them myself.
This has saved me a lot of money over time.
If you are looking for recipes, I suggest reading my 10 chicken recipes for the BBQ post, and start there.
By the way, did you know that chicken is one of the most popular meats for BBQ?
Remember, you also have a backbone you can use for stock, and you would have saved a little extra cash, especially when you order your chicken online. So, what’s stopping you from trying this out?
Do you know that it is also easy to cut up a whole turkey? It uses the same method but just on a bigger bird.
Eddie van Aken – The Grilling Dutchman
Eddie van Aken is the founder of The Grilling Dutchman, where he teaches practical, no-nonsense BBQ and outdoor cooking. With years of hands-on experience working with grills, smokers, and live fire, he focuses on techniques that actually work in real backyards.
When he’s not cooking, Eddie tests and reviews outdoor gear and equipment for PracticalBackyard.com. Learn more about Eddie van Aken.