Scrumptious Homemade Rotisserie Style Chicken (2025)

Author: Donna | Published: |

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Learn how to make a Homemade Rotisserie-Style Chicken right in your own oven. The absolute perfect alternative to store-bought rotisserie chickens with ALL of that great flavor. This homemade version is much healthier than store-bought and super easy to put together.

Scrumptious Homemade Rotisserie Style Chicken (1)

Homemade Rotisserie Chicken

There is a reason thisHomemade Rotisserie-Style Chicken has been the most popular recipe on Whole Food Belliesfor about two years running.

If you haven't tried it yet, thenget excited, because this is all kinds of delicious!

Ok, so you have to cook it for around 3 hours....it is definitely not a quick meal.

But really, if you are making a roast chicken, youaren't anticipating a quick meal anyway.

It usually takes an hour or so anyway, but trust me, this one is worth the extra time.

It is so easy, and it tastes so much better than the store-bought version. Plus you just don't know how long that store-made chicken has been sitting under those heat lamps, or if someone has carried it around the store for a while, changed their mind, and then popped it back onto the shelf.

Gross.

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How To Make Rotisserie Chicken At Home.

This is so easy, it's simply a matter of:

  • Filling the cavity with garlic and lemon;
  • Rubbing some oil and spices underneath the skin (this part gives you the most flavorsome crispy skin);
  • Rubbing some oil and spices on the outside of the chicken;
  • Throwing it all in the oven and forgetting about it until the timer goes off!

See?

Told Ya!

Not too much work involved at all.

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Can This Be Prepped Ahead Of Time?

Definitely!

In fact, dressing the chicken with the herbs and spices and trussing it up the night before lets the flavors really sink in there.

This way you just have to pop it in the oven on the day you want to eat it.

Perfect.

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Organic Or Non-Organic Chicken?

I don't buy everything organic.

I generally stick to the dirty dozen (read more about it here) which is basically those fruit and veggies containing the most pesticide residue.

Then my dairy and poultry.

There are usually a few other items, but these ones will always be organic in my cart.

I justify the extra expense by using the chicken for 2 purposes.

First, we enjoy it as a rotisserie chicken that can be used in LOTS of meals, and then I use the carcass to make the most amazing homemade chicken stock.

How To Make Homemade Chicken Stock

Making homemade chicken stock with the leftover chicken carcass is so easy, you simply:

  • Add the chicken carcass and skin (if you don't eat it) to a big pot, a slow cooker or a pressure cooker;
  • Add 8 cups of water, a couple of bay leaves, some cloves of garlic, salt and pepper;
  • Simmer on the stovetop for 1.5-2 hours, in a slow cooker for 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low, or in the pressure cooker for 45 minutes;
  • Cool, strain, and store in an airtight container in the fridge until you are ready to use it.

Do yourself a favor, next weekend head to thelocal Farmer's Market, or wherever you get your chickenfrom, grab a good one and make this homemade rotisserie chicken. For a family of four, it fed us two dinners, and lunch, and also made 8 cups of homemade chicken stock.

What To Do With Leftover Rotisserie Chicken

Leftover rotisserie chicken is fantastic in sandwiches or wraps.

It goes great thrown in a salad for lunch the next day and even better chopped up and thrown in some soup.

If you make up your own stock then make a chicken noodle soup with that. Yum.

If you need some recipes to use up that leftover homemade rotisserie chicken, then check these out:

Happy Eating

xx

Recipe

Scrumptious Homemade Rotisserie Style Chicken (5)

Homemade Rotisserie Style Chicken In the Oven

Whole Food Bellies

Learn how to make a Homemade Rotisserie Style Chicken right in your own oven. The absolute perfect alternative to store bought rotisserie chickens with ALL of that great flavor. This homemade version is much healthier than store-bought and super easy to put together.

4.74 from 145 votes

Print Recipe Pin RecipeSave Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 3 hours hrs

Total Time 3 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Course Main

Cuisine American

Servings 6 serves

Calories 71 kcal

Clicking any equipment link above will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Ingredients

  • 1 4 lb whole chicken (opt for organic where possible)
  • 2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • 3 tablespoon avocado oil or other cooking oil of choice
  • ½ lemon quartered
  • 6 cloves garlic peeled and smashed

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 300 degrees

  • Mix together the salt, paprika, oregano, black pepper, cayenne pepper and cumin in a small bowl

  • Give the chicken a rinse and remove giblets etc. Pat dry with paper towels

  • Pop the lemons and garlic into the cavity

  • Rub the breasts underneath the skin with 1 tablespoon of avocado oil and 1 teaspoon of the spice mixture. Try not to tear the skin, but don't worry if you do

  • Rub the remaining avocado oil on the outside of the skin and then season all over with the remaining spice mixture (if you have cooking twine then tie the legs together - I have done without and it was fine)

  • Pop the bird in a cast iron dutch oven or roasting pan and roast for 2.5 to 3 hours, basting once every hour (spoon any juices in the pan over the bird)

  • It will be a beautiful brown/red colour when done. Pull it out of the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes before serving

  • I served it up with some sweet potato fries and a salad but let your imagination run wild

Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.

Remember to use the bones for some chicken stock. Simply combine the bones with about 8-10 cups of water, some peppercorns, garlic, bay leaves and salt and:

  • boil on the stove top;
  • pop into the slow cooker for 3-4 hours on high;
  • or in the pressure cooker on high for 10 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 71kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 1gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 777mgPotassium: 43mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 408IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Leave a comment HERE and let us know how it was!

I love this served up with some Lightened-UpCreamy Pasta SaladorMaple Roasted Small Potatoes and a fresh salad, like this Zesty Tomato and Nectarine Salad.

Scrumptious Homemade Rotisserie Style Chicken (2025)

FAQs

What is Subway's rotisserie style chicken? ›

The new Rotisserie-Style Chicken sandwich is made with tender, all white meat chicken raised without antibiotics, and is hand-pulled in restaurant.

How do they make rotisserie chicken taste so good? ›

One of the key secrets to achieving juicy and flavorful rotisserie chicken lies in the art of brining. Brining involves soaking the chicken in a saltwater solution infused with herbs, spices and aromatics. This process not only enhances moisture retention but also imparts depth of flavor to the meat.

What does rotisserie style chicken mean? ›

Rotisserie chicken (named because it's cooked on a rotisserie, or rotating pole inside a hot oven) is cheap and pre-cooked, making it a popular choice among shoppers.

Is rotisserie style chicken healthy? ›

A rotisserie chicken is better than some of the other alternatives. Even with additives, a rotisserie chicken is a far healthier choice than a fast food run, says Allers. “It's still lower in fat and calories than fast food. It's serving its purpose – it's fast, but it can still help you create a balanced meal.

Is the rotisserie chicken at Subway real? ›

Our chicken is and has always been 100% real chicken. In response to these baseless allegations, we had two independent labs, one in the US and one in Canada, test our Canadian chicken products. Their results were clear (and you can view them here, here and here).

Does Subway have rotisserie chicken in 2024? ›

The new sauces and toppings are showcased on three new Subway Series sandwiches: Honey Mustard BBQ Chicken, Spicy Nacho Chicken and Cheesy Garlic Steak. Honey Mustard BBQ Chicken features rotisserie-style chicken with Monterey Cheddar cheese, vegetables and a blend of Honey Mustard and BBQ sauce.

Why do Costco rotisserie chickens taste so good? ›

The reason Costco's chicken is so juicy is because of a salt solution pumped inside, which is basically like super-brining.

What's the difference between a roasted chicken and a rotisserie chicken? ›

However, despite the fact that both dishes utilize dry heat, their preparation methods are actually a bit different: Roasted chickens are cooked in the oven at high heat, whereas rotisserie chickens are cooked on a rotating spit, allowing all parts of the bird to be heated evenly.

How do you keep rotisserie chicken moist? ›

To keep the chicken moist, pour a cup of chicken broth into the bottom of the dish. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and place it in the oven. Let the chicken roast for approximately 25 minutes. Remove the foil and let roast for an additional 5 minutes to crisp up the skin.

Which is healthier, rotisserie or grilled chicken? ›

Rotisserie chicken is much lower in calories due to being oven-roasted.

Why is Costco rotisserie chicken so tender? ›

Some people associate rotisserie chickens at Costco with a soft texture of meat and meat that falls off the bone. These are the result of the young age of the birds, coupled with the cooking method and injected solution.

Why are grocery store rotisserie chickens so juicy? ›

This is not only due to the addition of extra water but also additives including phosphate. These additives help the meat absorb and retain moisture before, during, and after the cooking process. As a result, every mouthful of the meat retains a succulent texture.

What to pair with rotisserie chicken? ›

To complete your rotisserie meal, here are some of the best side dishes to indulge in!
  • Mashed Potatoes. Mashed potatoes are one of the most loved side dishes - and for good reason! ...
  • Garlic Broccoli. Broccoli is packed with antioxidants, minerals and vitamins. ...
  • Buttery Cornbread. ...
  • Macaroni and Cheese. ...
  • Rice Pilaf.

Is it normal for rotisserie chicken to be pink? ›

Often meat of younger birds shows the most pink because their thinner skins permit oven gases to reach the flesh. Older animals have a fat layer under their skin, giving the flesh added protection from the gases. Older poultry may be pink in spots where fat is absent from the skin.

Which is healthier rotisserie or fried chicken? ›

Roasted chicken is a healthy choice, especially compared to fried chicken. The rotisserie method drains the fat, while fried chicken absorbs it. To make rotisserie chicken even healthier, remove the skin and stick to white meat.

What is the difference between rotisserie chicken and regular chicken? ›

However, despite the fact that both dishes utilize dry heat, their preparation methods are actually a bit different: Roasted chickens are cooked in the oven at high heat, whereas rotisserie chickens are cooked on a rotating spit, allowing all parts of the bird to be heated evenly.

How many calories in a Subway rotisserie chicken meat only? ›

Subway Individual Meats Rotisserie-style Chicken (1 serving) contains 1g total carbs, 1g net carbs, 3.5g fat, 21g protein, and 120 calories.

What percent of Subway's chicken is chicken? ›

The chicken in your Subway chicken sandwich might not contain very much chicken meat at all. A recent study conducted by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has found that the sandwich chain's chicken meat contains about only about 50 percent chicken DNA — or about half as much as fresh chicken from a supermarket.

What is a substitute for rotisserie chicken? ›

Roast chicken thighs offer a juicier alternative to rotisserie chicken in the same amount of time it takes to run to the grocery store.

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