Name: Rotisserie Chicken
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 80 min
Total time: 90 min
Ingredients: 1 recipe chicken brine (optional but highly recommended); 5 lb whole chicken; 6 tablespoons butter (softened); 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; salt and pepper to taste (go easy on the salt if you've brined your chicken); fresh herbs for garnish (optional)

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This homemade rotisserie chicken is brined, coated in seasoned butter, then roasted to golden brown perfection. The flavor is SO much better than store bought rotisserie chicken without all the preservatives and additives!

There’s nothing more satisfying than a home cooked chicken dinner, some of my favorites include braised chicken with carrots and potatoes, slow cooker whole chicken, and this tender and juicy rotisserie style chicken.

It’s so easy and convenient to pick up a rotisserie chicken at the grocery store, but I often find that the flavor is lacking and there are a lot of chemicals on the ingredients list. This homemade version is simple to make and one of the best chickens you’ll ever eat!

How do you make rotisserie chicken?

You don’t need a rotisserie to make authentic, flavorful rotisserie chicken at home. All you have to do is brine, butter and roast a whole chicken to get that same incredible taste. Brine a chicken with this brine and pat it dry with paper towels. Tuck the wings underneath the breast. Tie the legs together with kitchen twine.

Make the seasoning mix by combining in a bowl butter, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt and pepper. Generously rub this mixture on top of and underneath the skin of the chicken. Roast the chicken for about 1 hour and 20 minutes, until the thickest part of the thigh reaches 165 degrees F. Baste the chicken with its own juices occasionally. Cover the chicken with aluminum foil if it starts to get dark. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes after removing it from the oven and then serve it.

Tips for rotisserie chicken

This recipe calls for a 5 pound chicken. You can use a larger or smaller chicken, just be sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
You can make this chicken in a slow cooker. Simply rub the butter mixture over the chicken, then cook on HIGH heat for 3-4 hours. Place the chicken under the broiler to crisp up the skin.
You can add vegetables to your roasting pan such as carrots and potatoes for a complete meal.

HOW LONG DO YOU ROAST A CHICKEN?

Generally speaking, a whole chicken needs to cook at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes per pound. I cook my chicken at a higher temperature, 400 degrees F, to get that deep golden brown crispy skin, so it should take more like 15-16 minutes per pound.

HOW DO YOU PREPARE A CHICKEN FOR ROASTING?

To prepare a whole chicken for roasting, you’ll want to remove the giblet bag if there’s one inside the chicken cavity. The next step is to tuck the wings underneath the breast to prevent the wing tips from burning. Finally, tie the legs together with kitchen twine.

DO YOU HAVE TO BRINE A ROTISSERIE CHICKEN?

You do not have to brine a rotisserie chicken, that being said, I highly recommend taking the time to do it. Chicken is a naturally lean meat which mean it’s prone to drying out in the oven. When a chicken is placed into brine, it absorbs some of the brine which helps to both keep it moist and also to season it all the way through.

When you’re working with a brined chicken, even if you overcook it a bit, it will still come out tender and juicy. I’ve included my favorite chicken brine in the recipe card below. If you choose to brine your chicken, be sure to add minimal salt to your seasoned butter so that your final product is not overly salty.

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN A ROTISSERIE CHICKEN IS DONE?

The easiest way to tell when your chicken is done is to use a thermometer. A chicken is safe to eat when a probe thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken thigh reads 165 degrees F. I use an electronic thermometer which I insert into the chicken at the beginning of the cook time, and I monitor the progress throughout so that I know when to take my chicken out of the oven.

Once you try this rotisserie chicken, you’ll be hooked! Everyone will think you’re a gourmet chef when they taste this better than store bought chicken.

Side dishes to go with your chicken

A rotisserie chicken in a red skillet with sprigs of fresh herbs.

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