Remove the chicken from the packaging
Pat the chicken dry with paper towels
Place the chicken breast-side up on a cutting board
Remove any giblets from the cavity
Pull one leg away from the body
Cut through the skin between the leg and body
Pop the thigh joint out of the socket
Cut through the joint to remove the leg quarter
Repeat on the other side
Separate each leg into thigh and drumstick if desired
Pull one wing away from the body
Cut through the wing joint to remove the wing
Repeat on the other side
Locate the breastbone in the center of the chicken
Cut down one side of the breastbone to remove one breast half
Repeat on the other side
Split the breasts into smaller portions if desired
Trim any excess skin or fat
Wash hands and sanitize the cutting board and knife