Picking up a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store is one of the easiest ways to put dinner on the table, and the leftovers are the best for quick-and-easy meals. But grocery store rotisserie chicken can be hit-and-miss. Sometimes theyre juicy and moist, and other times theyre dry and. well, just underwhelming in general. For a fresher, more flavorful experience, make your own rotisserie chicken at home. If you want, you can use a grill with a rotating attachment. If not, you can use the cooker or the oven and the tools you already have to make one.
Rotisserie chicken is a staple meal for many families. The juicy, flavorful meat is hard to replicate at home using basic chicken breast. However, with a few simple tricks, you can easily make baked or grilled chicken breast taste remarkably similar to rotisserie chicken.
Brine the Chicken
One of the keys to rotisserie chicken’s signature flavor and moisture is that the meat is brined before cooking. Brining involves soaking the raw chicken in a saltwater solution, which allows the chicken to absorb extra moisture and seasoning.
To make a simple brine combine 1 cup of salt with 4 cups of water. Add any extra flavorings you like such as garlic, lemon herbs or spices. Soak the chicken breasts in the brine for at least 30 minutes up to overnight. The longer you brine, the more flavor the chicken will absorb.
Brining makes the chicken taste seasoned throughout while also helping it stay juicy when cooked. This mimics the effect of rotisserie chicken.
Use the Right Cooking Method
Rotisserie chicken is cooked slowly over a period of 1-2 hours. The low, slow cooking makes the meat incredibly tender.
To make this at home, don’t use quick-cook methods like grilling or frying. Instead, roast or bake the chicken at 325°F for 30 to 40 minutes, or until it’s fully cooked. Season the chicken and put it in a slow cooker. Set the temperature to low and cook for 4 to 6 hours.
The more gentle oven or slow cooker heat tenderizes the chicken to a similar texture as rotisserie chicken.
Season Generously
In addition to brining, rotisserie chicken is coated with oil and seasoning before cooking. Recreate this flavor at home by:
- Coating the brined chicken breasts with olive oil
- Generously sprinkling them with salt, pepper, paprika, oregano, thyme and other herbs/spices
- Rubbing the seasonings into the meat
Spices, honey, lemon juice, garlic, and herbs can all be mixed together to make a sauce that you can brush on the chicken while it cooks. The sauce makes the outside of the chicken taste like rotisserie chicken, which is juicy and seasoned.
Add Moisture
Since chicken breast meat can easily dry out when cooking, adding moisture is key. A few options for keeping chicken breasts tender and moist like rotisserie chicken include
- Placing chicken in a baking dish with 1/2 cup chicken broth
- Laying a few lemon slices under the chicken while it bakes
- Cooking chicken in a foil packet or covered roasting pan
- Basting chicken with pan juices every 15 minutes during roasting
- Misting chicken breasts lightly with water if they start to dry
Let It Rest
An important resting period after cooking allows the chicken juices to be reabsorbed back into the meat. Let chicken breasts sit for 5-10 minutes after removing them from the oven or slow cooker. The meat will continue cooking gently and become even juicier.
Carve Properly
Rotisserie chicken is cooked on the bone with the skin on to maintain moisture. To get a similar effect when serving boneless, skinless chicken breasts, slice the meat across the grain into thin slices. This gives you shreds and strips of chicken that mimic rotisserie chicken texture.
Add Juices and Sauces
Adding the chicken juices from the pan to the sliced meat brings back the moisture that was lost. Extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, or tasty sauces and glazes can also be used to dress the chicken. Some tasty options include:
- BBQ sauce or teriyaki sauce
- Lemon garlic sauce
- Herb vinaigrette
- Greek yogurt sauce with garlic and dill
- Pesto
- Salsa
Complementary sauces keep the chicken breast meat tender and packing rotisserie flavor.
To Sum Up:
The tastes of rotisserie chicken are easy to make at home. Brining, proper cooking technique and generous seasoning are key. Keep the meat moist while it’s cooking and let it rest afterward. This is the last step. Cut the chicken across the grain and add pan juices, drizzles, and sauces to it.
With a few simple tricks, you can make chicken breast with the same juicy texture and delicious flavors as rotisserie chicken. Your family will love this easy homemade version. Try out some of these tips the next time you cook chicken breasts for meals or salads during the busy week.
How to Make Rotisserie Chicken in a Slow CookerA
- 1 pound carrots, halved lengthwise and cut into 1-1/2-inch lengths
- 2 large onions, chopped
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 4 teaspoons seasoned salt
- 4 teaspoons poultry seasoning
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1-1/2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1-1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1-1/2 teaspoons salt-free lemon-pepper seasoning
- 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 broiler/fryer chicken (4 pounds)
How Long Does It Take to Rotisserie a Chicken?In general, chicken takes about 20 to 30 minutes per pound when it’s cooked between 300 to 350°F. That means a three-pound chicken will finish in an hour to an hour and a half. Timing helps for planning purposes, but we recommend using an
- 3/4 cup honey
- 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1/3 cup Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/4 cup chicken seasoning, divided
- 7 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 broiler/fryer chicken (3 to 4 pounds)
- 1-1/2 pounds baby red potatoes
- 1 pound carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 3 to 4 fresh rosemary sprigs
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 medium lemon, sliced
More uses for the Costco Rotisserie Chicken to come!! #costco #rotisseriechicken #easyrecipes
FAQ
How to make a chicken taste like a rotisserie chicken?
Classic rotisserie flavors are salt, pepper, garlic powder and SMOKED paprika. Works great.
How to make rotisserie chicken flavour?
Mix together salt, paprika, onion powder, thyme, white pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder in a small bowl; set aside. Remove and discard giblets from chicken. Rinse chicken cavity; pat dry with paper towels. Rub each chicken inside and out with spice mixture.
How to make chicken breast taste like restaurant?
To make chicken breast taste like a restaurant, focus on tenderizing and flavor-infusing techniques. Marinate the chicken, consider brining, and use a combination of flavorful herbs and spices.