How to Make Rotisserie Chicken in the Oven

There’s nothing quite like a delicious Rotisserie Chicken, with its tender and juicy meat and perfectly cooked crispy skin, and this is one of the best chicken recipes out there! Whether you’re looking for a quick and easy dinner option or a crowd-pleasing dish for your next gathering, rotisserie chicken is a go-to choice that won’t disappoint.

What’s best is that it’s an incredibly versatile dish that you can enjoy with a variety of sides, including my delicious mashed potatoes or southern potato salad! But to give you the best combination, I’ve included a recipe for some delicious roasted vegetables that’ll make you fall in love with this dish over and over again!

The seasonings in my recipe bring out the natural flavor of the chicken and take it to the next level. Plus, it’s easily customizable, so you can change things up to personalize it according to your preferences. I’ve included great variation ideas in this post that you can try as well! 

What’s best is that it takes only 7 minutes to prepare this recipe! It’s way better than any store-bought version and includes no additives or preservatives! I’ve even included a video to help you make this delicious rotisserie chicken effortlessly.

WHAT IS ROTISSERIE CHICKEN?

Rotisserie chicken is a classic dish that has been around for generations. This type of chicken is cooked in a rotisserie oven, which uses indirect heat to cook the chicken from all sides slowly.

It creates a juicy, tender, and flavorful piece of meat that can be served as is or used to make other dishes such as soups and sandwiches. It’s truly a great and convenient way to cook chicken for a crowd or meal prepping.

Rotisserie chicken is also great as a main dish to pair with other side dishes. It is usually the centerpiece of a meal, with mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or baked bread as a few side options. This makes rotisserie chicken a very versatile dish! You can easily make a whole new dinner by changing the side dishes!

Leftovers are great to shred and use in a bunch of other recipes, giving you the perfect meal every single time you make it!

WHAT MAKES THIS ROTISSERIE CHICKEN RECIPE SPECIAL?

Easy: This rotisserie chicken recipe is simple to make with a short prep time. It’s a nice dish to pop in the oven while you’re getting other things done!

Customizable: Most of the flavor of rotisserie chicken comes from seasonings. Adding or changing some of them is almost like a whole new dish!

Versatile: Chicken is a great main entree to pair with side dishes, but it has other uses too. It goes great on sandwiches and in tasty salads.

HOW TO CLEAN AND PREPARE THE CHICKEN

There are three ways to clean the chicken so you can enjoy every bite of it. Remove the giblet bag if there is one before cleaning the chicken!

Method 1: Flour and Salt

Use the sharp side of a knife and run it gently all over the chicken skin; this will remove any filaments left on the skin. Wash the chicken with lukewarm water, add ¼ cup flour mixed with 1 ½ tablespoon salt, and rub vigorously for two to three minutes. Don’t forget to rub the chicken cavity too. Because the chicken is wet, the flour mix might turn into a wet dough, but that’s fine. Wash the chicken and pat it dry.

Method 2: White Vinegar and Cold Water

You must remove the filament from the chicken skin first using a knife as mentioned above. Wash the chicken and then rub it with vinegar for 2 to 3 minutes, and don’t forget the cavity! Wash thoroughly with cold water then pat the chicken dry.

Method 3: Salt and Vinegar

In a large pan, add enough water to cover half the chicken. Add three tablespoons of salt and three tablespoon of vinegar. Rub the chicken for 2 minutes, cover, and refrigerate for 15 minutes. Rinse with cold water and pat dry.

WHAT KIND OF ROASTED VEGETABLES CAN I SERVE WITH ROTISSERIE CHICKEN?

I have used onion, carrot, whole garlic, and potatoes to roast. When you cut the potatoes, make sure they are not bigger than 2 inches, or it might take a longer time to cook. To ensure that all the vegetables cook simultaneously with the chicken, I placed the vegetables after seasoning them in a 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pan. This way, the vegetables won’t go dry, and the moisture created between the vegetables cooks them slowly. Mixing the vegetables twice while cooking also ensures that the cooking is even.

I have used salt, black pepper, paprika, and cumin for the roasted vegetables. Add the vegetables to a large mixing bowl, sprinkle them with the spices, then toss them thoroughly to ensure all the veggies are coated with seasoning. 

🥘 INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED FOR ROTISSERIE CHICKEN

You can scroll down to the recipe card for further details and instructions.

For the Chicken:

You need 4 ingredients to make a delicious and juicy Rotisserie chicken; I’m sure you have all the ingredients in your kitchen, so you are set to go!

Whole chicken: We’re going to need a 3-pound (1400 gm) whole chicken. You can use a larger one if you prefer, just make sure to adjust the cooking time according to its weight. 

Black pepper: Black pepper will give our chicken a slightly spicy and earthy taste. For more flavor, use freshly crushed black pepper.

Salt: Salt draws out a little moisture from the chicken, creating a nice crispy skin while cooking. 

Oil: Try to use a flavorless oil, such as sunflower oil. We will be roasting the chicken for quite some time, and flavorless oil will not change the taste or cause it to burn.

For the Roasted Vegetables:

Potatoes: We’ll be using some potatoes as one of the vegetables for our roasted vegetable side. It’ll add the perfect carbs and make you enjoy the veggies even more!

Carrots: You’ll also need some carrots since they’ll add a sweet and delicious flavor to the roasted veggies, plus it’s packed with beta-carotene, which is incredibly good for you!

Onions: Adding some onions will add a nice, sharp flavor to each bite that’ll perfectly complement the flavors of the chicken.

Garlic: We’ll also be using some garlic to enhance the flavor to the next level. Trust me, it makes the biggest difference!

Spices and seasonings: For the seasonings and spices, we’ll be using paprika, black pepper, cumin, and oil for our delicious vegetables.

🔪 HOW TO MAKE ROTISSERIE CHICKEN

Making rotisserie chicken with roasted vegetables is super easy! What’s best is that my method will ensure that they both get done cooking at the same time for the perfect Sunday dinner meal!

The full instructions are in the recipe card below, but let’s look at the main steps to making this chicken meal.

Step 1: 

After cleaning the chicken, season it with black pepper and salt. Rub the seasoning well all over the chicken. Pour a tablespoon of oil on both sides of the chicken and do not rub. Place the chicken in a baking pan, and then prep the veggies before popping it into the oven.

Step 2: 

On the side, prep your vegetables. In a mixing bowl, add all the vegetables and seasoning and mix it all well. Then pour oil and mix it for a minute to make sure the oil is covering all the vegetables properly.

Step 3: 

Place the vegetables in a small baking pan and roast them in the oven along with the chicken. Both the vegetables and the chicken should cook at the same time because the vegetables are not spread on a sheet so this will make them take longer to cook which is perfect timing with our chicken!

Step 4:

Flip the chicken every 20 minutes. This is how you get a juicy chicken that has the same taste as rotisserie chicken!

Step 5: 

When the inner temperature of the chicken reaches 74C/165F, take out the chicken from the oven and cover it with aluminum foil. Let it rest for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.

Your delicious Rotisserie Chicken with Roasted Vegetables is ready to be served!

WHY IS RESTING THE CHICKEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER COOKING IMPORTANT?

Like a steak, the chicken needs to rest after roasting or grilling. If you cut the chicken immediately after you bring it out of the oven, all those fantastic juices will come out, and the chicken will become dry.

Allowing the chicken to rest for at least 20 minutes while covered with aluminum foil will let the meat hold onto those juices, giving you get a tender and juicy chicken. Resting the chicken also enhances its flavor.

💭 COOKING TIPS FOR ROTISSERIE CHICKEN

Thaw the chicken: Make sure your chicken is properly thawed before starting. If you are using frozen chicken, it should be thawed in the refrigerator overnight to ensure that it cooks evenly.

Marinate the chicken: Marinate it for at least two hours in your favorite marinade before cooking for an extra flavorful rotisserie chicken. Make sure to keep it in the fridge while marinating.

Check the temperature frequently: When roasting, check the temperature of the chicken every 15 minutes to ensure it is cooked through and not overdone.

📖 DELICIOUS VARIATIONS FOR ROTISSERIE CHICKEN

Rotisserie chicken is a versatile dish that can be made in many ways. Here are some delicious variations of the classic recipe:

• Barbecue sauce: Mix your favorite barbecue sauce with melted butter and brush it over the chicken before roasting. This will give your chicken an irresistible sweet and smoky flavor.
• Herb-crusted: For a delicious herb-flavored rotisserie chicken, mix herbs like rosemary, thyme, and oregano and spread it over the chicken before roasting.
• Lemon-garlic: Rub a generous amount of lemon juice and garlic onto the chicken before cooking for an easy flavor boost. This will give your rotisserie chicken a tangy yet garlicky taste.

🍲 MORE CHICKEN RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE

🌡️ HOW TO STORE LEFTOVER ROTISSERIE CHICKEN

We must be careful when dealing with meat because bacteria grow on it after 2 hours of cooking. It’s best to consume the chicken immediately after cooking or properly store it.

Refrigerating cooked chicken: When the chicken cools, place it in an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to 3 days.

Freezing cooked chicken: Place the chicken in an airtight container or a Ziplock bag. Make sure to write the date you have stored the chicken on the bag and the container. Remove excess air from the Ziplock bag and freeze the chicken for up to 3 months.

To use frozen cooked chicken, place the chicken in the fridge for a few hours to thaw, and then warm it in the oven or microwave.