How Many Carbs Are in Rotisserie Chicken?

Rotisserie chicken is a popular fast food that you can get at a lot of grocery stores and restaurants. It’s a whole chicken that has been seasoned and roasted on a rotisserie. The rotisserie lets the chicken cook evenly while basting itself in its own juices. But for people on low-carb or keto diets, this is an important question: how many net carbs is there in rotisserie chicken?

Total Carbs vs Net Carbs

When you look at carb content, you should know the difference between net carbs and total carbs.

• Total carbs includes all carbs – both fiber and sugar.
• Net carbs are found by subtracting the grams of fiber from the total carbs.

Fiber is a type of indigestible carb that our bodies don’t absorb, so we don’t count these carbs towards daily limits. Net carbs give a more accurate look at a food’s real carb impact.

Carb Content of Rotisserie Chicken

According to the USDA FoodData Central, a 100g serving of rotisserie chicken breast with skin contains:

• 0g of total carbs
• 0g of fiber
• 0g of sugar
• 0g of net carbs

Plain rotisserie chicken breast without the skin has no carbs at all, which makes it a great protein choice for people on keto or a low-carb diet.

However, the total carb count increases when including chicken skin or consuming dark meat:

• 100g rotisserie chicken breast with skin has 0.4g total carbs and 0g net carbs.
• 100g rotisserie chicken thigh with skin has 0g total carbs and 0g net carbs.
• 100g rotisserie chicken drumstick with skin has 0.7g total carbs and 0g net carbs.

As you can see, even chicken with the skin on is still extremely low carb due to its minimal sugar and high fiber content. The small amounts of carbs come from the seasonings and oils used for flavoring.

Whole Rotisserie Chicken Carb Count

The numbers are still very low in carbs when we look at a whole rotisserie chicken instead of just a breast or leg:

• According to Carb Manager, a small whole rotisserie chicken breast (bone and skin removed) has 0g total and net carbs per 150g serving.
• USDA data shows a 100g serving of roasted chicken (NS as to type of meat) has 0g total carbs and net carbs.

So while seasonings and skin add trivial traces of carbs, a whole roasted chicken still provides almost zero digestible carbs in a typical serving.

Watch Out for Glazes and Sauces

One thing to watch out for is added glazes, marinades or sauce coatings on flavored rotisserie chickens. For example:

• 100g of sweet and sour chicken sauce has 16.4g of total carbs and 15.3g net carbs (Carb Manager)
• BBQ sauce can have around 15g net carbs per 100g serving.
• Teriyaki sauce has about 18g net carbs per 100g serving.

So rotisserie chicken that uses sugar-based glazes or thick sauces will be much higher in carbs. Always check labels or ask about ingredients for flavored chickens.

Micronutrients in Rotisserie Chicken

In addition to being low carb, rotisserie chicken provides an impressive array of vitamins and minerals:

• High quality complete protein with all essential amino acids.
• Rich in B vitamins like niacin, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12.
• Contains selenium, phosphorus, choline and other micronutrients.
• Provides vitamin A, B vitamins, selenium, zinc and iron.

So rotisserie chicken gives you far more than just protein – it’s nutritionally well-rounded. The skin adds even more micronutrients like vitamin A, vitamin E, and additional minerals.

Tips for Low Carb Rotisserie Chicken

Here are some tips for keeping your rotisserie chicken low in carbs:

• Stick to plain roasted chicken or just basic seasoning like lemon pepper or cajun seasoning blends. Avoid sugars/honey-based glazes or sauces.
• Enjoy the skin to add flavor and nutrients without carbs.
• Pair it with low carb veggies like green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach or kale instead of carb-heavy sides.
• Shred leftovers to make chicken salads combined with mayo, avocado, cheese, etc.
• Use in lettuce wrap “sandwiches” or wraps instead of high carb bread.

The Verdict

The verdict is clear – plain rotisserie chicken is an amazing low carb and keto-friendly option. Both white and dark meat are virtually zero carb, providing top quality protein and nutrition. Just be mindful of added sauces and glazes that increase the carb count. So go ahead and enjoy your favorite grocery store rotisserie chicken guilt-free! It’s the perfect easy protein to keep your macros on point.

Nutrition Facts