This Rotisserie-Style Chicken recipe brings the flavors of the store-bought version straight to your home. With a crispy, golden-brown skin and juicy, tender meat, it’s a perfect choice for a family meal or for meal prepping throughout the week. The secret to achieving that rich flavor is a blend of spices rubbed all over the chicken, combined with slow roasting, allowing the meat to absorb every bit of seasoning. By making this at home, you can customize the flavor and control the ingredients, avoiding excess sodium and preservatives. This recipe will fill your kitchen with a mouthwatering aroma, making it hard to wait until it’s ready!
Ingredients:
- 1 whole chicken (4-5 pounds)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon chili powder (optional, for a bit of heat)
- 1 lemon, quartered
- 3 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
- Kitchen twine (for tying the legs)
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C).
- Prepare the chicken: Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. This step is crucial for getting crispy skin.
- Make the spice rub: In a small bowl, mix together the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, rosemary, salt, pepper, cumin, and chili powder.
- Season the chicken: Drizzle the olive oil all over the chicken and rub it in to coat the skin. Sprinkle the spice mixture evenly over the entire chicken, making sure to get some inside the cavity.
- Stuff the cavity: Place the lemon quarters and smashed garlic cloves inside the cavity of the chicken for extra flavor.
- Truss the chicken: Use kitchen twine to tie the chicken legs together and tuck the wing tips under the body. This helps ensure even cooking.
- Roast the chicken: Place the chicken on a roasting rack set inside a large roasting pan. Roast in the preheated oven for about 2 to 2 ½ hours, or until the internal temperature in the thickest part of the thigh reaches 165°F (75°C).
- Crisp the skin: For extra crispy skin, increase the oven temperature to 425°F (220°C) for the last 15-20 minutes of roasting.
- Rest before serving: Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for about 10 minutes before carving. This helps retain the juices.
Enjoy your rotisserie-style chicken with your favorite side dishes, or shred it for use in salads, sandwiches, or soups!
