How to Debone a Chicken

While using a whole chicken may be the most economical way to prepare poultry dishes, it can be a little daunting when trying to figure out how to get the meat you need. There’s no need to be overwhelmed, though, since this tutorial will guide you through the steps of how to completely debone a chicken. So whether you’re making a stew, stir fry, or sandwich, this how-to guide will make sure you get all the delicious, tender chicken you need to prepare your signature dishes. You can also use the removed bones to make a rich, delicious chicken stock for soups or stews. For other methods of preparing chicken, check out our guide on how to spatchcock a chicken.

How to Debone a Whole Chicken

Our video walks you through how to debone a whole chicken step by step.

Step-by-Step Chicken Deboning Instructions with Pictures

• 1.

  Lay the chicken breast-side down with its legs towards you. Locate the backbone running straight down the middle.

• 2.

  Begin cutting along one side of the backbone down the entire length of the chicken. Do the same on the other side to fully remove the backbone.

• 3.

  Make a 1/2” slit through the cartilage in front of the keel bone.

• 4.

  Crack open the keel bone by folding the chicken outward.

• The keel bone is another name for the breastbone and is found at the front of the bird, opposite the backbone.


• 5.

  Remove the keel bone by breaking the delicate skin on either side with your finger and pulling it out.

• 6.

  Flip the chicken over.

• 7.

  Slice down the middle where the keel bone used to be, cutting the bird into halves.

• 8.

  Separate the thighs and breasts by cutting through the joint.

• Cutting through joints is easy to do. However, if you try to cut through bone, it will be much more difficult. Always try to position your knife so you're cutting where the bones meet.


• 9.

  Separate the legs, or drumsticks, from the thighs.

How to Debone Chicken Breasts

• 10.

  Cut off the wing tips. Discard.

• 11.

  Separate the wings and breasts at the “shoulder” joint.

• 12.

  Remove the rib bones. Discard.

How to Debone Chicken Legs

• 13.

  Score the leg around the "handle" of the drumstick.

• 14.

  Scrape the meat from the bone using your knife.

• Scoring is making small, shallow cuts through the skin or meat with a knife.


• 15.

  Make a slice through the meat to the bone.

• 16.

  Remove the bone by sliding the meat off. Discard the bones.

How to Debone Chicken Thighs

• 17.

  Score the thigh bones.

• 18.

  Scrape the meat from the bone using your knife.

• 19.

  Remove the thigh bones by cutting the meat where it is still attached. Discard the bones.