Making a rotisserie chicken in the oven is so easy, how-to video in post! Tender juicy meat plus ultra-flavorful seasonings make this one amazing dinner.
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Everyone loves those convenient and delicious rotisserie chickens from the supermarket. But did you know you can make one yourself right at home? It's true! I made a video showing you just how easy it is to make rotisserie chicken in the oven.
I love the rotisserie chicken from the supermarket...but since we live about 20 minutes outside of town there is no way I'd be able to get it home before it was cold. So, after walking past them in the store and resisting the urge to purchase one, I decided to come up with my own version.
I love lemon and garlic roast chicken, but I also love the flavors that are found in the rotisserie chicken from the store. Plus, how can you beat that tender juicy meat?! I think this recipe does a good job of melding the two perfectly. The amount of lemon flavor you want is totally up to you, I used 2 whole lemons and then 1 lemon that I had juiced earlier in the week.
Yes...I save everything...I know...
I roast the chicken low and slow with the lid on, this method helps the meat stay tender and juicy. You can also use the recipe in the crockpot, just be sure the meat isn't drying out.
Basting is the other key to tender and juicy meat. Baste the chicken before you put it in the oven, and then baste the meat every hour. If you run out of melted butter mixture, that's supposed to happen! Baste with the liquid from the bottom of the pot instead. Basting the chicken should happen if you use the crockpot too.
The picture above is what the chicken looks like after it's finished cooking. If you want to crisp up the skin, broil the chicken for a few minutes and it will look more like the photo below.
I heart crispy skin, so I usually crisp it up a little before serving. Another important step is to let the chicken rest for 30 minutes before serving it. This lets all those delicious juices re-distribute in the meat. I just let it rest right in the pot with the lid on, but out of the oven.
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How to Make Rotisserie Chicken in the Oven
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken (about 5 pounds)
- 2 onions (quartered)
- 2-3 lemons (halve)
- 4 garlic cloves (crushed, whole)
- 4 tablespoons butter (melted)
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon season salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 teaspoon dried rosemary (4 teaspoons if using fresh)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
- Place onions and lemons in the bottom of a large dutch oven.
- Pat chicken dry, and remove anything that's inside the chest cavity (neck, heart, etc.)
- Place on top of onions and lemons.
- Drop garlic cloves around the chicken.
- Combine melted butter and all spices.
- Brush oven the chicken, there will be leftover.
- Place the lid on the dutch oven and bake for 3 hours, basting every hour with remaining butter mixture and/or juices from the bottom of the pot.
- For crispy skin, remove the lid and broil on hi for 3-5 minutes, until darkened.
Ryan
Hi I have a 4 pound recipe should I cook it for about 2 1/2 hours at 300?
Alli
Hi Ryan, you can follow the recipe as written in the recipe card at the bottom of the post!
Anonymous
I love love love this recipe. I used it for my first time cooking a whole chicken (which made me a little scared because I didn’t want to mess it up). It came out perfectly! I’m currently cooking it again because my husband has been requesting it for a while now. It’s super delicious and easy to follow.
Alli
I'm so happy to hear this!!! So glad you love the recipe. Thank you for letting me know!
Ali
Iaaking this right now and already can’t wait. Seems weird there is no lights in the pan. Is that right or did I miss something?
Alli
Hi Ali, I'm not sure what you mean by no lights in the pan?
Sammi Windley
This was so helpful! I always feel like my chickens are too dry.
Jennifer Derr
I am so happy you shared this one!!! So yummy! This is my new go to for cooking a whole chicken! I used the crockpot method just because I need to buy a dutch oven but it was wonderful! I also made the creamy chicken over noodles recipe the following night and loved that one too! Not only was the dish delicious but it was so easy to throw a good meal together for my family after a long day of working out in our yard. I'm on a roll with your recipes! Today I'm going to make your zucchini muffins for my boys who are on Spring Break =))
Alli
Ah! That means so much Jennifer!!! I'm so glad you and your family are loving the recipes. Thank you!! A crock pot is perfect for this recipe too, I just have an obsession with my dutch oven, ha! 🙂 Chicken over noodles is totally my sons favorite meal ever - I'm so glad it was a hit!
Heather
I did it! I followed your recipe and roasted my first-ever chicken. You were right - it was easy and delicious!
Alli
YAY! I'm so glad you liked it Heather!