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.
Homemade Rotisserie Chicken
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!
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.
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.
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.
Want some chicken that doesn’t take as long to make? Try this Air Fryer Fried Chicken next.
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.
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 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 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:
- 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.
Happy Eating
xx
Recipe
Homemade Rotisserie Style Chicken In the Oven
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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.
Christina says
This looks amazing! Also, great job on getting scheduled ahead. I am really trying to get better at that. I'm going to try this recipe for sure!
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks Christina, yes I have been trying with the scheduling thing for a while but it's just not me apparently 🙂 Hope you like it if you give it a go!
Tirralan - Tinseltown Mom says
This is such an awesome recipe an I needed a good Rotisserie chicken recipe!
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks Tirralan!!
Lauren White says
This sounds seriously amazing! I need to get on this ASAP! 🙂 Can I leave the recipe out and maybe my husband will make it for me on Mother's Day!?!?!
Whole Food Bellies says
Haha good luck with that Lauren!! Hope he takes the hint 🙂
Kim Seibert says
Cannot wait to try this!
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks Kim 🙂
Brittany Dickerson says
Definitely adding this to my menu this week! Sounds easy and delicious!
Whole Food Bellies says
Great Brittany! I hope it is fantastic for you 🙂
Meg @ Green With Decor says
This looks delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Whole Food Bellies says
You are very welcome Meg!
Tiara says
Ok, I shouldn't have read this before lunch! Looks amazing.
Whole Food Bellies says
Haha Tiara, hope you made it to lunch 🙂
Kat from curlsnchard.com says
I've never made a whole chicken myself - but this sounds so easy, I might actually try it!
Whole Food Bellies says
It's super easy Kat! Seriously, you can't stuff it up 🙂
Heather Dean says
Uh, YUM. Going to have to try this soon!
Whole Food Bellies says
I hope you do Heather!
Miranda @ Miranda Writes Blog says
I have never roasted chicken at home before but now I want to give it a try. It seems like it's a lot easier than I imagined. I would definitely add lots of cumin. Cumin is my favorite!
Whole Food Bellies says
It's sooo easy Miranda! Oh and yes, cumin is a must - the best spice ever 🙂
Aliza B says
This looks so good! I've never put seasoning between the skin and the breast meat of the chicken. That is definitely a tip I'm going to try. And I think this would be easy enough for my hubby to do for Mother's Day!
Whole Food Bellies says
Totally easy enough for him Aliza! If my husband can do it, anyone can 🙂 I only recently started putting the seasoning between the skin and breast and it really makes the world of difference! Good luck with Mother's Day!
Miss Angie says
Yum, that looks so delicious!
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks Angie!
Brittany says
This looks so good! I love that it can be used for more than one recipe - cook once eat twice - my fav!
Whole Food Bellies says
My favourite too Brittany - anything that spreads over more than one meal is good in my books!
Sam @ PancakeWarriors says
I am going to try this for my boyfriend, he would love if we could figure out how to make a whole chicken that he would enjoy!
Whole Food Bellies says
Oh I hope he likes it Sam!!
Debra says
I was looking for something like this - so thank you. AND by the way, I just LOVE the name of your blog. Perfect.
Whole Food Bellies says
You are so welcome Debra. Thanks for stopping by! Oh and thanks re the blog name, I like it 🙂
Lindsay AFM says
Ohh this sounds amazing!!! Thanks so much for sharing. I'm excited to try this out!
Whole Food Bellies says
You are very welcome Lindsay, I hope you try it!
Valerie says
Wow this looks so YUMMY! I love rotisserie chicken! Thanks for sharing, your pictures are great!
Valerie
x0
Whole Food Bellies says
Oh thanks Valerie 🙂
Rosemond Cates says
Looks delicious!!!
Rosemond
http://www.bighairandbooks.blogspot.com
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks Rosemond 🙂
Jackie says
Oh I'll have to give this combination a try.
You can't beat a roast chicken dinner.. Yum!!
Thanks for the share
Jackie @Style Me Petite
Whole Food Bellies says
I hope you do Jackie!
Lindsey says
yum! This is my husbands favorite!!
Whole Food Bellies says
Thanks Lindsey 🙂