Preparation:
Start by prepping your sauce. In a small bowl, empty half of the can of chipotle chiles in adobo, about 3 or 4 peppers worth. Mix that with about two tablespoons of honey. You may want to warm your honey to make it easier to mix. Then, squeeze the juice of one lime into your sauce and finish with a pinch of salt. Combine everything and put aside. From here, we'll focus on the chicken. Since raw chicken is a bacteria breeding ground, lay out everything you need ahead of time to minimize hand-washing and contamination risks. Have a baking dish ready, several paper towels, and a pair of kitchen scissors or a butcher's knife. I like to portion out a bit of salt in a small bowl that I can use with dirty chicken hands and then put immediately into the sink when I'm done. Start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees. Begin by drying your chicken with the paper towels. This will give a crispier skin. Butterfly the chicken. To butterfly, cut out the backbone with scissors or your knife. You can save this for stock. Using scissors, cut both sides of the wishbone through. This will allow the chicken to lie completely flat and permit a quicker, more even cook time. Salt both sides of the chicken. You can even do this ahead of time and let the chicken rest covered in the fridge for a few hours. This will help tenderize the bird. Now, to combine everything. Gently lift the skin around the breast and thighs and spoon in your sauce, including the whole peppers and a few cloves of garlic. Pour the rest of your sauce over the skin and smooth out for even coverage. Finish it off by squeezing the last lime over the skin. Transfer the bird to a baking dish (if you haven't already) and cover with foil before putting it in the oven. Let it cook for about 45 minutes before removing the foil. Bake for 30 more minutes or until the skin is crisp and brown. Always check to make sure your chicken is cooked through. The easiest way is to insert a digital thermometer into the breast. Poultry should be cooked through to at least 165 degrees. Set aside to cool and enjoy.
