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.
There is a reason this Homemade Rotisserie-Style Chicken has been the most popular recipe on Whole Food Bellies for about two years running. If you haven't tried it yet, then get excited, because this is all kinds of delicious!
What Makes A Homemade Rotisserie Style Chicken Better Than Store-bought?
I cannot emphasize enough how good this homemade rotisserie chicken is.
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, you aren't anticipating a quick meal anyway.
It usually takes an hour or so anyway, but trust me, this one is worth the extra time.
I promise.
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 mine, and then popped it back.
Gross.
Here's How Easy It Is
- Fill the cavity with garlic and lemon;
- Rub some oil and spices underneath the skin (this part gives you the most flavorsome crispy skin);
- Rub some oil and spices on the outside of the chicken;
- Throw it all in the oven and forget about it until the timer goes off!
See? Told Ya! Not too much work involved at all.
What About Prepping 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 night.
Perfect.
Organic vs 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 Do You Make Homemade Chicken Stock?
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 the local Farmer's Market, or wherever you get your chicken from, 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 Do I Do With Leftover 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:
- Bruschetta Chicken Zucchini Spaghetti from West Via Midwest;
- Leftover Light Chicken Salad from the Healthy Home Cook;
- Leftover Turkey Gumbo (but sub in rotisserie chicken) from Eating Richly.
Recipe
Homemade Rotisserie Style Chicken In the Oven
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
- 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
I love this served up with some Lightened-Up Creamy Pasta Salad or Maple Roasted Small Potatoes and a fresh salad, like this Zesty Tomato and Nectarine Salad.
Melinda says
Love the combination of spices! The smoked paprika and cumin are such a tasty way to season the chicken. It’s fun to enjoy “rotisserie” style chicken made at home, not the grocery store.
Nora says
What a great recipe! I love that you use paprika! It adds just the perfect touch of spice! So yummy!
Juliette says
Love the flavours in this recipe. Your instructions make it easy to follow too.
Tina says
This roast is sure to become a family favorite! So flavorful!
Mary says
I am so excited to try this recipe. We just went and purchased two fresh chickens and the herbs, now getting down to yummy business. I’ll update ya’ll on the results. Thank you, Donna, for sharing this yumalicious recipe with us! 😊
Donna says
Hope you enjoy!
Jaimie says
What a beautiful recipe - LOVE the addition of paprika! Thanks for. sharing 🙂
Cindy says
I made this a while ago and pinned it. I rediscovered this recipe today and thought I would try it again. Now I remember why I pinned it in the first place!!! So delicious! So tender and moist! Thanks for an amazing and no-fuss way to cook a chicken!
Donna says
Thanks for taking the time to pop back and let me know Cindy! This remains one of my favourite recipes ever, the house always smells so amazing, and it has worked out for me every single time 🙂
Marisol says
Hi I was wondering if anyone else had no juices to spoon over their bird? Its been in the oven about an hour and when I went to check on it there was nothing to spoon over it... It looks and smells heavenly. Should I consider adding some stock?
Donna says
You can always spoon a little bit of stock on top to stop it from drying out. I have made this around 25 times and always have liquid so I am not sure what has happened, but it should work out just fine.
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
It looks so perfect!!
Fleur Scott says
I made the chicken the other night and it was amazing. I am in hot Australia at the moment so we swam all afternoon while it filled the house with delicious smells. Served with salad. Night two. Made pressure cooker (instant pot?) Risotto with peas and left over chicken. It was amazing. Going to try turning left over risotto into Arancini. All recipes from this great site. I am going to batch make the rub for easy dinners
Donna says
Oh thank you Fleur, that made my day!! I am working on a post about making a few recipes from one, so I might have to use your ideas 🙂
Fleur Scott says
I made the chicken the other night and it was amazing. I am in hot Australia at the moment so we swam all afternoon while it filled the house with delicious smells. Served with salad. Night two. Made pressure cooker (instant pot?) Risotto with peas and left over chicken. It was amazing. Going to try turning left over risotto into Arancini. All recipes from this great site.
Vickie says
Will definitely try this recipe. Will a black enamel roasting pan work okay for this? What accounts for the amount of fat per serving - 42 grams! Won't stop me from trying it though! Thanks!
Donna1 says
Ha, thanks for pointing that out Vickie! Those nutrition label calculators are notoriously inaccurate, which is why I didn't use them for so long. I ran the ingredients again and updated 🙂 An enamel roasting pan should work just fine!
JoEllen says
Just found your recipe and I think I will give it a try. Thank you for sharing. My sister in law gave us one of her birds she raised and it dressed out at a whopping 12 lbs! What would the cooking time for that size be? (This is my first time baking a whole chicken)
Donna1 says
Oh wow, that is a HUGE bird!! I have never in my life cooked a bird that big, so unfortunately I can't give you an accurate cooking time. Just make sure the chicken is 165° Fahrenheit (75° Celsius) when cooked and you will be good to go. Good luck
JoEllen says
Thank you, I will need it! 😉
Jere Cassidy says
Three hours at 300 degrees makes so much sense on roasting a chicken, just low and slow, and the outcome is delicious. Will make this again.
Sam says
This was a fantastic recipe. Did not have avocado oil so used olive oil and tasted delicious. Meat fell off the bone and the skin was nice and crispy!
Donna1 says
Ha I literally made this chicken again tonight too 🙂 So good!!
Nicole Shillings says
I LOVE rotisserie chicken!! I buy them every now and then, I've never tried making it in the oven before.
Donna1 says
Us too, I can't buy the store bought versions anymore though since we started making our own, they are so much better!!
Marie-Pierre Breton says
Love roasted chicken! It's bring so much nice memories and this version would make nice memories also! I love the smoked paprika touch, it give it a rustic "done on the fire" flair! This crust and seasoning looks delicious!
Donna1 says
Oh thank you Marie! It is definitely a favorite around here, especially with the kids!!
Allison Hanson says
I love a Ggood ood roast chicken. I'm excited to try your version with a lower temperature a longer cook time than what I am used to thanks for sharing.
Donna1 says
It is so good, you won't go back 🙂
andrea says
this chicken looks amazing and the perfect way to cook a chicken for the family or for friday night dinners.
Donna1 says
YES! It is even great for meal prepping, if you want to shred it and use fir a few different meals during the week