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Home » Dinner » Rotisserie Chicken Recipe

Published: July 4, 2019 Last Modified: July 4, 2019 By Sara 47 Comments

Rotisserie Chicken Recipe

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Rotisserie Chicken Recipe | Roasted Chicken #chicken #dinner #dinneratthezoo #comfortfood

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.

Rotisserie Chicken Recipe | Roasted Chicken #chicken #dinner #dinneratthezoo #comfortfood Rotisserie Chicken Recipe | Roasted Chicken #chicken #dinner #dinneratthezoo #comfortfood

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

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.

A whole chicken in a pot of brine.

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.

Chicken coated in butter and spices.

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.

Rotisserie chicken in a skillet garnished with fresh herbs.

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.

Sliced roasted chicken on a serving plate.

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

  • Fried Corn with Bacon
  • Green Bean Salad
  • Grilled Mushrooms
  • Roasted Green Beans
  • Mushroom Rice
A rotisserie chicken in a red skillet with sprigs of fresh herbs.
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5 from 27 votes

Rotisserie Chicken

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!
Course Main
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Brining Time 8 hours
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 404kcal
Author Sara Welch

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

Instructions

  • Brine the chicken according to recipe directions. When the chicken is done brining, rinse it then pay dry with paper towels.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Tuck the chicken wings underneath the breast.
  • Tie the chicken legs together with kitchen twine.
  • Place the butter, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt and pepper in a bowl. Stir to combine.
  • Loosen the skin of the chicken breast. Rub the butter mixture all over the chicken, both on the outside of the chicken and underneath the skin.
  • Place the chicken in a roasting pan. Cook for approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes or until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F. 
  • Baste the chicken with pan juices every 20 minutes - if the skin is getting overly dark, cover the chicken with foil.
  • Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before carving. Serve with pan drippings and garnish with fresh herbs if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 404kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 166mg | Sodium: 228mg | Potassium: 394mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 705IU | Vitamin C: 16.3mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 2mg
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    Comments

    1. Deb says

      January 3, 2023 at 4:50 am

      5 stars
      This is delicious! I have made it several times and always happy with the results!

      Reply
    2. Kris says

      October 16, 2022 at 3:59 pm

      5 stars
      We made this today using the rotisserie on our gas grill. We brined it about 19 hours. It was so moist and delicious. This is definitely a keeper!!We’ll use the leftovers for my husbands chicken salad recipe.

      Reply
    3. Deb says

      March 28, 2022 at 4:11 pm

      5 stars
      This was, by far, the best rotisserie chicken i have ever tasted and I am a rotisserie chicken junkie! I did use the brine for 20 hours. Thank you for sharing this recipe!

      Reply
    4. Peggy says

      December 13, 2021 at 10:20 am

      5 stars
      I haven’t tried it yet but I know it’ll be delicious. I also don’t like store rotisserie chicken so your recipe will be a treat. Thanks so much.

      Reply
    5. beige says

      July 28, 2021 at 6:17 pm

      5 stars
      made this tonight. followed recipe exactly. a 3.75 lb chicken took exactly 60 minutes (basted every 20) and it was AMAZING!!

      Reply
    6. Tim says

      May 4, 2021 at 6:37 pm

      5 stars
      15 minutes a pound in rotisserie.
      PERFECTION

      Reply
    7. Erica W. says

      February 13, 2021 at 9:01 pm

      5 stars
      Oh my god, this recipe was perfect! I would not change a thing! I also followed the brine recipe and it was so worth it. It was the juiciest chicken I’ve ever had. Thank you thank you thank you for showing me the way, haha.

      Reply
    8. Candy says

      December 9, 2020 at 9:40 am

      I have an Napoleon grill with a rotisserie attachment. What temperature and amount of time would I use?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        December 9, 2020 at 4:53 pm

        I’d do 400 degrees F for about an hour and keep an eye on the internal temperature!

        Reply
    9. Rachell says

      December 1, 2020 at 9:43 pm

      The recipe looks DELICIOUS! I want to cook it in my indoor rotisserie – do I need to do anything differently?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        December 1, 2020 at 9:44 pm

        It should be the same just keep an eye on the temperature of the chicken so you know when it’s done!

        Reply
    10. Carol says

      November 23, 2020 at 6:45 pm

      5 stars
      Juicy and flavorful! My new favorite chicken recipe!

      Reply
    11. Anita says

      September 15, 2020 at 2:36 pm

      Can I use a 7 lb. Whole roaster?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        September 15, 2020 at 3:11 pm

        That should be fine, you may need to increase the cook time!

        Reply
        • Anita says

          September 16, 2020 at 11:59 am

          Thanks so much!!

          Reply
    12. Traci says

      September 10, 2020 at 11:24 am

      5 stars
      I have made this recipe twice and it is the best chicken I have ever eaten! I bring mine for 20 hours and it is glorious!

      Reply
    13. Lisa says

      September 7, 2020 at 3:42 pm

      5 stars
      After trying this I can’t ever make chicken again without using this method! It comes out so juicy and full of flavor. I do have a question.. I would like to do this for my Thanksgiving turkey. I usually get a 20 – 24 pound turkey. Can I double or even triple this recipe for the brine? Or add more water but same amount of ingredients?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        September 7, 2020 at 4:05 pm

        Glad you enjoyed it, I’d recommend trying my turkey brine recipe! https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/turkey-brine-recipe/

        Reply
    14. Roger Lund says

      August 14, 2020 at 7:59 pm

      5 stars
      Absolute perfection! The brine was so easy to make and made all the difference in the world. The next day I ran out of time and could not do the rotisserie, so I ended up roasting it. OMG! Served it to friends and we all agreed it was the best chicken ever. This is a keeper.

      Reply
    15. Tiffany says

      August 4, 2020 at 3:37 am

      5 stars
      It turned out so juicy and flavorful! Definitely recommend the brine, it’s easy and foolproof. I will be making this regularly!

      Reply
    16. Jen says

      July 30, 2020 at 8:03 pm

      5 stars
      My first time with brining. It really came out good!

      Reply
    17. Traci says

      July 29, 2020 at 11:25 am

      I have an actual rotisserie and need to know how long to cook it for and at what temp.

      Reply
      • Sara says

        July 29, 2020 at 3:17 pm

        Is this an outdoor grill rotisserie or appliance inside?

        Reply
        • Traci says

          July 30, 2020 at 3:21 pm

          Appliance inside

          Reply
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